The Plight of Widows - Who is Your Next of Kin and Beneficiary? 

This topic is perceived as controversial, and I really wonder why.

By the way, listeners out there, do you know there is a difference between Beneficiary and Next of Kin?

Next of Kin is the person closest to you, your spouse, parent or child, that you have appointed to be notified first in an emergency. Beneficiary is the person to whom you leave your possession (s) or money at your death.

The Next-of-Kin relationship is important in determining inheritance rights if a person dies without a will and has no spouse and/or children.

The term usually means your nearest blood relative. In the case of a married couple or a civil partnership, it usually means their husband or wife. Next of Kin is a title that can be given, by you, to anyone from your partner to blood relatives and even friends.

In most cases, the Next of Kin happens to be the Beneficiary. In the case of marriage, what is the ideal? If the ideal happens not to be the case, what are the reasons why it is so?