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Burials | Coroners | Cremations | Doctors | Exhumation | Funeral directors | Help with funeral expenses from the DSS | Professional Associations | Registration | Repatriation to England or Wales | Repatriation to a foreign country | What to do initially after a death

A Coroner is a doctor, solicitor or lawyer responsible for investigating deaths. If the case is referred to the coroner he will carry out an investigation into the death. You will be unable to register death until he has concluded his findings. A case will be referred to the coroner if:

The deceased has not seen the doctor in the last 14 days
The death was violent, unnatural or is uncertain
The cause of death is not known or is uncertain
The death occurred whilst the person was undergoing an operation or under the effects of anaesthetic
The death was caused by an industrial disease
The death occurred in prison or in police custody

Cases are initially referred to the coroner by the doctor who is called when death occurred. The coroner will conduct an investigation into the cause of death consisting of a post-mortem examination and possibly an inquest. Consent from the family is not necessary for a post mortem examination to take place but the family can choose for a doctor to be present. If the post-mortem concludes that death was due to natural causes the coroner will issue a Pink Form (Form 100). This form will be sent to the registrar or maybe given to the family to deliver. If a cremation has been chosen the Coroner will issue the Certificate for Cremation (Form CR6).

An inquest is an enquiry into the medical cause and circumstances of death. An inquest will be held if the death was:

Violent or unnatural
Caused by an industrial disease
The death occurred in prison
The cause of death remains uncertain after a post mortem examination.
Inquests are held in these circumstances even if death occurred abroad and the body is returned to Britain.
If an inquest is held the Coroner will inform the following people:
Married partner of the deceased
Nearest relative (if different)
Personal representative (if different from above)