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When a death will be reported to the coroner

If death occurs in any of the following circumstances, the doctor may report it to the coroner:

• after an accident or injury
• following an industrial disease
• during a surgical operation
• before recovery from an anaesthetic
• if the cause of death is unknown
• if the death was violent or unnatural - for example, suicide, accident or drug or alcohol overdose
• if the death was sudden and unexplained - for instance, a sudden infant death (cot death)

In addition to this, if the deceased was not seen by the doctor issuing the medical certificate after he or she died, or during the 14 days before the death, the death must be reported to the coroner.

Anyone who is concerned about the cause of a death can inform a coroner about it, but in most cases a death will be reported to the coroner by a doctor or the police.

What happens once a death is reported to the coroner

The coroner may be the only person able to certify the cause of death. The doctor will write on the Formal Notice that the death has been referred to the coroner. The Formal Notice is issued to you by the attending doctor and is a document which explains how you register the death.

The coroner will then decide whether there should be further investigation into the death - and the registrar cannot register the death until notified of the coroner's decision. This means that the funeral will usually also be delayed. Where a post-mortem has taken place, the coroner must give permission for cremation.

Post-mortems

In some cases, the coroner will need to order a post-mortem. This is a medical examination of the body to find out more about the cause of death. In these cases, the body will be taken to hospital for this to be carried out.

You do not have the right to object to a post-mortem ordered by the coroner, but you should tell the coroner if you have religious or other strong objections. In cases where a death is reported to a coroner because the person had not seen a doctor in the previous 14 days (28 in Northern Ireland) the coroner will consult with the deceased person's doctor and will usually not need to order a post-mortem.

If a post-mortem shows that death was due to natural causes, the coroner will issue a notification of this (called a Pink Form B - Form 100), so that the death can be registered. The notification is usually sent directly to the registrar, but in some cases, it may be given to you to deliver. If the body is to be cremated, the coroner will also give you the form which allows this to take place (called Certificate of Coroner - Cremation Form 6).

Inquests

An inquest is a legal inquiry into the medical cause and circumstances of a death. It is held in public - sometimes with a jury - by a coroner, in cases where the death was:

• violent or unnatural
• took place in prison or police custody

or when

• the cause of death is still uncertain after a post-mortem

Coroners hold inquests in these circumstances even if the death occurred abroad (and the body is returned to Britain). If a body is lost (usually at sea) a coroner can hold an inquest by order of the Secretary of State if death is likely to have occurred in or near a coroner's area of jurisdiction.

If an inquest is held, the coroner must inform:

• the married or civil partner of the deceased
• the nearest relative (if different from the above)

and

• the personal representative (if different from the above)

Relatives can also attend an inquest and ask questions of witnesses - these questions can only be about the medical cause and circumstances of the death. Relatives can also ask a lawyer to represent them, but there is no legal aid available for this.

It may be particularly important to have a lawyer to represent you if the death was caused by a road accident, an accident at work, or other circumstances which could lead to a claim for compensation. You cannot get legal aid for this.

• Download 'A guide to coroners and inquests' (PDF, 113K) Opens new window

• Help with PDF files

More useful links

• Download Jury service at an inquest (Ministry of Justice) (PDF, 99K)

• Bereavement counselling and support from Cruse Bereavement Care Opens new window

• Inquest website - free, independent advice after a death in custody Opens new window