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Just Ivy warns against naming people as next of kin without their consent
13th September, 2026 10:25 AM
Content creator Just Ivy has warned people against naming others as their next of kin, emergency contacts, guardians, executors or trustees without first asking for their consent.
She said people should not assume that someone will be willing to take on such responsibilities simply because they are close to them. According to Just Ivy, the decision to include someone in important life paperwork should come after a conversation with that person.
“Before you name someone as your next of kin, ask them. Before you name someone as your emergency contact, ask them. Before you name someone as guardian to your children, ask them,” Just Ivy said on Sunday, September 13, 2026.
She also urged people to have the same conversation before choosing someone for roles linked to their will, trust or job applications. She said these decisions should not be made without considering whether the person is ready to take on the responsibility.
“Before you name someone as executor of your will or trustee, ask them. Before you name someone as a referee on your job applications, ask them,” Just Ivy explained.
The cost of choosing someone
Just Ivy said people should stop presenting such responsibilities as an honour when the person being selected has not agreed to take them on. She explained that each role can come with responsibilities that may affect the person being named.
“We need to stop giving people life-altering responsibilities and then calling it ‘an honor’. Each one comes with a real cost: unpaid admin, legal liability, a 2 am decision with no context, credit tied to someone else’s choices, a role they never agreed to carry,” Ivy said.
She stressed that surprising someone with such a responsibility should not be confused with showing trust. According to her, people should have a conversation before placing another person’s name in important paperwork.
“A surprise is not the same thing as trust,” Just Ivy said.
She also cautioned people to think carefully about who they choose for the different roles. She gave examples of relationships and personal situations that may make someone unsuitable for specific responsibilities.
“Someone you’ve dated for six months is not your next of kin. The jealous friend is not your referee,” Just Ivy said.
She further advised against choosing people who may not be suited to handling financial responsibilities or family matters. She said a person’s ability to manage their own affairs and their relationship with the family should be considered before giving them such roles.
