Code of Federal Regulations Title 32. National Defense § 32.724.115 Next of kin

The person or persons in the highest category of priority as determined by the following list (categories appear in descending order of priority):  Surviving legal spouse;  children (whether by current or prior marriage) age 18 years or older in descending precedence by age;  father or mother, unless by court order custody has been vested in another (adoptive parent takes precedence over natural parent);  siblings (whole or half) age 18 years or older in descending precedence by age;  grandfather or grandmother;  any other relative (precedence to be determined in accordance with the civil law of descent of the deceased former member's state of domicile at time of death).