The Coroner may
become involved when someone dies. Investigations may be carried
out to establish the cause of death and the circumstances
surrounding the death.
The Coroner's Service will
investigate sudden or unexplained deaths such as the death of
a person in custody or one resulting from their
occupation.
A registrar may have to
involve the Coroner in a range of circumstances.
If you are collecting a
Medical Certificate Cause of Death from a doctor or
hospital before registering a death, you will need to
know whether the doctor has discussed the matter
with the Coroners Service. The Register Office will need to
know this and will make an appointment which allows time for
the necessary paperwork. Your Funeral Director would also need to
know.
If no doctor is able to
certify a death, or where the cause of death is uncertain, the
Coroner may be able to provide the necessary information so that
the death can be registered.
Once made aware of the
death, the Coroner may determine that there is no need for further
investigations and the death can be registered from the doctor's
certificate or 'uncertified' using information given to the
registrar by the Coroner.
Alternatively the Coroner
may order a post mortem examination to determine the cause of death
or he may open an inquest.
Most contact with the
Coroner's Service is through a Coroner's Officer. He or
she will liaise with the bereaved and others following a
death. They will normally be able to advise what steps are being
taken by the Coroner in connection with the death.
The Coroner's Officers can
be contacted on 0117 9529685
If you need to contact the
Coroner's office directly, their details are:-
The Coroners Service for the District of Avon.
Coroner's Court
Old Weston Road
Flax Bourton
Bristol BS48 1UL
Telephone: 01275 461 920
Fax: 01275 462 749
The
Registration Service will be happy to make enquiries on
your behalf if you are unsure about the Coroner's involvement.
For further information visit
The Coroners’ Society of
England and Wales website.
