Our experienced team are here to help families through every step of the coroner’s procedure. Although the process can sometimes appears daunting, the coroner’s office are responsive and can help you answer any questions you may have.
The coroner’s procedure can seem an arduous process for bereaved families. Understanding the system, your rights and what is expected, may help to ease the strain at a difficult time. If your loved one's passing has been referred to the coroner please don’t worry, as there are a number of reasons why a death may be reported or referred, none of which should necessarily give cause for concern. All deaths are now subject to review or investigation.
If a loved one has been taken into the coroner’s care, a date for the funeral cannot be made until the investigation is complete. The coroner will review the information and will discuss the case with the deceased’s doctors. If there is to be no port-mortem, and the coroner has no reason to open an inquest, the coroner will instruct the doctor to issue the MCCD to the Medical Examiner. Reasons for referral to a coroner include:
You, or anyone else, may report the death to the coroner if you have concerns about it. Doctors or medical examiners, the police and registrars of births and deaths will report deaths to a coroner in the circumstances listed above. If you have any knowledge or concerns about the how the death happened you should tell the coroner’s office as soon as possible. This information may be important for the medical investigation and tests that are carried out. Under the law, the coroner has temporary legal control of the body while they are carrying out their investigation.
A death may be reported to the coroner who investigates and then decides that no further action is required. The coroner would then instruct the doctor to issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). From this point the normal registration procedure can be followed.
If the coroner decides that a MCCD cannot be issued then a post mortem examination would be performed. Following this examination the cause of death may be clear, which if so, the coroner would release the deceased into the care of the funeral director. The coroner would send notification directly to the registrar regarding the cause of death, therefore no MCCD would be issued. From this point the normal registration procedure can be followed. If a cremation has been chosen a Green Certificate would not be issued by the registrar.
If the coroner cannot establish the cause of death following the post-mortem examination, if the death was a result of violence, an unnatural death or if the death occurred in prison or police custody, then an inquest will be opened and adjourned, once the coroner is satisfied that sufficient evidence has been gathered. At this point the coroner would release the deceased into the care of the funeral director and issue the appropriate paperwork for the funeral to take place. Interim Certificates of Fact of Death would be issued to the relatives. These can be used to notify organisations such as banks etc. The death cannot be registered until after the inquest has been held. The coroner will send the appropriate paperwork to the registrar and inform them of what to put in the register. The family will not attend the registry office.
With a proud sixty year history, our funeral directors will care for your loved one as if they were our own, our family caring for yours. Cliff Bradley & Sons is an appointed representative of Golden Charter Limited trading as Golden Charter Funeral Plans, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN:965279).
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