H.M. Coroner

The Coroner is automatically involved when someone dies in certain circumstances.

These include:

• No Doctor attended the deceased during his or her last illness
• The cause of death appears to be unknown
• The death occurred during an operation or in the days immediately following
• The death occurred at work or was due to industrial disease or poisoning
• The death was sudden or unexpected
• It is suspected that the death was due to violence or neglect
• The death was in other suspicious circumstances
• The death occurred in prison or in police custody

The Coroner’s involvement, in most cases, is a formality and an examination would normally be made to ascertain the cause of death.

In circumstances where the Coroner feels the death is not due to natural causes, or is a result of an industrial disease, a formal inquest may be held. If this is the case, you will be kept informed by the Coroner’s Officer of the necessary procedures.

The purpose of the Coroner’s service, when a death is reported, is:

• To establish whether a Coroner’s inquest is required
• To establish how, when, and where the person came by their death
• To assist in the prevention of future deaths

For further information on the Coroners service and Inquests, please click here.

If the Coroner is involved you do not have to wait for the Coroner's verdict prior to contacting us, in most cases the funeral can still be arranged.

The death cannot be registered until after the Coroner has issued the necessary paperwork direct to the Registrar. If there is a Coroner’s Inquest, please see below.

Burial When The Coroner Is Involved

If there is no requirement for an inquest, then the death must be registered as soon as possible in order for the funeral to take place. The Registrar will email us the necessary form for the funeral to take place. Please Click Here for instructions on registering a death.

Cremation When The Coroner Is Involved

If there is no requirement for an inquest, then the Coroner will email us with the necessary form for the funeral to take place. The Coroner will tell you when you can register the death.

Coroner’s Inquest For Burial Or Cremation

The Coroner will email us with the necessary form for the funeral to take place. In this case you do not need to register the death, this is done automatically through the Coroner. The Coroner will send interim death certificates to you (you will need to request how many certificates you require).

These certificates look and function the same as normal death certificates, except the cause of death is not confirmed.