NSW reforms next-of-kin laws after woman blocked from burial for nearly seven weeks
Caitlin Thornton's family couldn't bury her. Her alleged abuser held legal priority as next of kin.
Caitlin Thornton died on March 8, 2023, after years of coercive control by her partner. Caitlin's family could not bury her for nearly seven weeks.
Under NSW law, a spouse or partner had legal priority over children, parents and siblings. Caitlin's mother Kylie Bailey campaigned for three years and gathered nearly 70,000 signatures for change.
Parliament introduced reforms on Tuesday to the Coroners Act 2009. Coroners will now have a say in who becomes next of kin.
Before, they simply had to follow the legal order. The change will protect families in domestic violence cases.
It also recognises extended family structures in Indigenous and other communities.
- 21 years old
- Caitlin's age
- nearly seven weeks
- Burial blocked
- three years
- Campaign length
- nearly 70,000
- Petition signatures
Why it mattersPrevents families of abuse victims from suffering added trauma. This can happen when abusers control decisions about their child's burial.
AustraliaCloses a legal loophole that left NSW families of domestic violence victims at the mercy of abusers during their most vulnerable time.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 d ago
