A coroner’s involvement
Here you will find information on when a coroner is involved when someone dies.
When someone dies, it is a legal requirement for all deaths to be referred to the Coroner if a Doctor has not seen the deceased in the last 14 days. This does not necessarily mean that a post-mortem will be taking place, sometimes, it is just a conversation between the Doctor and the Coroner to confirm that the Doctor can issue the paperwork.
If the cause of Death is not ascertained, a post-mortem will be likely to take place, the purpose of the examination is to determine the cause of Death. If the Coroner has decided to do an examination, this may delay the funeral, and the Coroner may advise not to book a funeral date until all the examinations have been completed and the relevant paperwork issued to the funeral director.
Once the Coroner has finished their investigations, they will notify the next of kin and give them advice and information on what happens next.
Please find below the address and phone numbers of local Coroners’ Offices.
If you need further information, please do not hesitate to contact H.J. Newington Funeral Directors on 01273 030717.
Who is H.M. Coroner?
His Majesty’s Coroner is an independent judicial officer who follows laws that apply to coroners and inquests.
When will a Coroner investigate a death?
It is the duty of the Coroner to investigate deaths reported to Them if they think that the:
- The cause of Death is unknown
- The Death was violent or unnatural
- The Death was sudden and unexplained
- The person who died was not visited by a medical practitioner during their final illness.
- A medical certificate isn’t available.
- The person who died wasn’t seen by the Doctor who signed the medical certificate within 14 days before Death or after they died
- The Death occurred during an operation or before the person came out of anaesthetic
- Medical certificate suggests the Death may have been caused by an industrial disease or industrial poisoning
What information will the Coroner find out?
It is the responsibility of the Coroner to make enquiries which will establish the following:
- who the deceased was
- when and where they died
- how they died
If a death was sudden or unexpected and the deceased had died in the district of Brighton and Hove, then they may be taken to the Brighton & Hove City Mortuary by the Coroners Transport Service or by a local funeral director contracted to do so, and the Coroner informed.
Please note that you are not required to use the funeral director that brought your loved one into the Coroner’s care.
What will happen if the cause of death is unclear?
If the Coroner decides that the cause of Death is clear:
- The doctor signs a medical certificate.
- The medical certificate will be sent to the registrar.
- The coroner issues a certificate to the registrar stating a post-mortem isn’t needed.
What happens if a post-mortem is needed?
If the Coroner decides a post-mortem is needed to find out how the person died:
- This can be done either in a hospital or a Coroner’s mortuary.
- You can’t object to a coroner’s post-mortem – but if you’ve asked, the Coroner must tell you (and the person’s G.P.) when and where the examination will take place.
If no inquest is needed:
- The Coroner will release the body for a funeral once they have completed the post-mortem examination and no further examinations are needed.
- The Coroner will send a form (‘Pink Form – form 100B’) to the registrar stating the cause of Death.
- The Coroner will also send a ‘Certificate of Coroner – form Cremation 6’ if the body is to be cremated.
Who are Coroner’s officers?
Coroner’s Officers work under the direction of the Coroner and liaise with bereaved families, police, doctors and funeral directors.
It is the Coroner’s officer’s role to assist the Coroner in providing vital evidence for the Coroner to make an informed decision about what happens to a loved one next.
Helpful Resources & Local Information
For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are available on hand 24 hours a day.
Contacting The Coroner & Bereavement Office
H.J. Newington has provided a comprehensive list of essential contact details, including coroners, hospitals, and bereavement officers, to support you.
Brighton City Mortuary
Viewings are strictly by prior appointment only.
Coroner’s Officers East Sussex
Police Station
Hammonds Drive Patrol Centre
Eastbourne
BN23 6PW