See the below information in a diagram.
First steps
After a death, a person's body will be taken to either Glebe Mortuary, John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle or a regional hospital, depending on the type of death. At this time, the family or friends may contact a Funeral Director to commence funeral arrangements. The Funeral Director should be told that the Coroner's Office is involved.
Identification
A family member or friend will be asked by the Police to formally identify the person’s body, or to obtain information about medical details or the name of a dentist who has treated the person.
The Coroner will decide whether an autopsy needs to be performed. If you want to object to an autopsy, contact the Coroner's Office immediately or express your objection to the Police Officer.
At this point you may be contacted by Donor Organisations to discuss with you options for organ or tissue donation.
The postmortem
The postmortem (or autopsy) is ordered by the Coroner to ensure they can deliver a balanced, accurate finding regarding the cause of death. It is a detailed examination of the body by a doctor who has special training and experience in this field.
See the Postmortem FAQs for more information.
Getting tissues and organs returned
In some cases, the Coroner decides that organs should be kept for a more thorough examination, in order to detect finer details of disease or damage.
If you would like to request the tissue or organs be returned for later burial or cremation, contact a Coronial Information and Support Officer on (02) 8584 7777.
The investigation
Every coronial investigation is different. It is up to the Coroner to decide what investigation is necessary. This may involve:
- a review of the person's medical history and the circumstances of the death
- an autopsy and pathology tests
- specialist reports from experts and external investigators such as police, doctors, engineers, the fire brigade, air safety officer etc
- statements from witnesses, such as family and friends.
Most investigations are finalised by the Coroner without the need for an inquest (a court hearing to resolve any issues the Coroner has). The family and other interested parties will receive a letter telling them that the case is finalised. A copy of the 'brief of evidence' can be requested from the Coroner's Office.
Inquest
An inquest is a court hearing where the Coroner considers evidence to determine the identity of the deceased and the date, place, manner and medical cause of death of the deceased. At this hearing, the Coroner may call witnesses to give evidence of their knowledge of the circumstances of the death.
At the end of the inquest the Coroner will make a 'finding'. This can vary in length, from a single page to many pages for a case involving an inquest. The finding can be sent to the contact family member, and other people as directed by the Coroner. The Coroner's finding is a different document from the postmortem report.
Should an inquest be held, the family will be notified in writing. The FAQ page has more information about inquests.
The Death Certificate
Usually the Funeral Director completes the application for a Death Certificate. The application is sent to the NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages and the certificate is sent out 2 - 3 weeks later.
How can I find out what's happening with the coroner's investigation?
You can contact the Coroner's Office to ask about the current status of the investigation.
For more information
The Coroner's Court brochure can provide more information, or you can contact the Coroner’s office.
