Reporting a death to the Coroner

We are very sorry that you are going through this difficult time.

When someone dies, we know it can feel confusing and worrying.

We are here to help you understand what happens next.

When a death must be reported

A death must be reported to the Coroner when:

• a doctor cannot issue a certificate stating the cause of death, or the cause of the death is not known

OR

• the death may have been caused by an act of violence or something else unnatural, for example:
• an injury
• an accident at work
• the effects of drugs

OR

the person who has died was in prison or some other place where they had been legally detained

In these situations, the Coroner needs to decide whether they need to hold an inquest into the death. Sometimes this means a post mortem (an examination of a deceased person to establish the cause of death) may be needed.

After looking at the information they have, including the post mortem report where there is one, the Coroner will decide one of two things:

1. The death is from natural causes

If this is the case, the Coroner gives the details to the Registrar of Births and Deaths, and the death can be registered. But if the person who has died was in prison or some other place where they had been legally detained, an inquest must be held into their death, even if the death is from natural causes.

2. An inquest is needed

An inquest is a hearing in court that records facts about the death, including the name of the person who has died and when, where and how they died.

Where the coroner decides an inquest is needed, the death cannot be registered until after the end of the inquest hearing.

While the coroner is deciding whether an inquest is needed, a member of the coroner team called a Coroner’s Officer will keep you informed about what is happening.

How we will support you

We understand this is a difficult and emotional time.

The Coroner, their officers, and all staff will always:

• treat you with politeness and respect
• treat you with care, patience and sympathy
• respect your loved one’s religion and culture as much as they can while doing their jobs in the way the law requires

The Coroner’s role is to be impartial, fair and independent, and to find out the facts about the death in the way the law requires.

We keep sensitive information as confidential as possible.

We can help with any questions you or others may have, as long as the Coroner is sure that any person asking for information has a “proper interest” in the inquest. If needed, the Coroner’s Officer can explain whether a person asking for information has a “proper interest” in the inquest.

Funeral arrangements

We know how important funeral plans are for families.

In every case, we do everything we can to avoid delays and avoid you having to change your funeral plans.

Sometimes, however, changes cannot be avoided, and we are sorry for any distress this may cause.

How to contact the Coroner’s Office

If you need to report a death to the Coroner, please complete the GP Electronic Coroner’s Death Referral Form here, and send it by email to: coronersofficeeast@wakefield.gov.uk