Working with Police & the Coroner

Not every death involves police or the coroner. But when it does, the process can feel opaque and out of your hands. Understanding what's happening — and why — makes it easier to navigate.

When police are involved

In most states, law enforcement must be notified when a death is:

• Sudden and unexpected, with no doctor present
• Unattended — meaning no one was present at the time of death
• Due to accident, violence, or suspected foul play
• A suicide or suspected suicide
• In a public place

Deaths that occur at home under hospice care with a nurse present, or in a hospital or nursing facility with a physician available to certify the cause, typically do not require police involvement.

When you call 911, do not move the body. Officers will respond, assess the scene, and determine whether the medical examiner or coroner needs to be notified.

Coroner vs. medical examiner — what's the difference

The terms are often used interchangeably but refer to different roles depending on the jurisdiction.

A medical examiner is a physician — usually a forensic pathologist — appointed by the government. A coroner is an elected official who may or may not have medical training, depending on the state. Both investigate deaths that fall within their jurisdiction and certify the cause of death on the death certificate.

Whether your county uses a medical examiner or a coroner is determined by state law. The practical difference to families is minimal.

What the medical examiner or coroner does

Their job is to determine the cause and manner of death. Cause of death is the medical condition that caused death (e.g., cardiac arrest). Manner of death is the legal classification: natural, accident, suicide, homicide, or undetermined.

They may do this through a review of records alone, an external examination of the body, or a full autopsy — depending on the circumstances.

Once their investigation is complete, they release the body to the funeral home. This can take 24–72 hours for a straightforward case, and longer if an autopsy is required or the case is complex.

Autopsies

An autopsy is a surgical examination of the body to determine cause of death. It is required by law in some circumstances — typically homicides, suspected suicides, and deaths where the cause is unclear.

If an autopsy is not legally required, families may request one. Hospital autopsies are sometimes performed at no cost; medical examiner autopsies requested by the family may carry a fee. Private autopsies — ordered and paid for by the family — are also available and sometimes used when families disagree with an official cause of death determination.

Getting the official reports

Two documents come out of this process that families may need:

Death investigation report

The full investigation file — scene photographs, witness statements, toxicology results, and the examiner's findings. This is not the death certificate. Immediate family members can typically request this from the medical examiner's office once the investigation is closed. Some offices charge a fee; most require a written request and proof of relationship.

Toxicology results

If toxicology testing was performed, results typically take 4–8 weeks. They may be released as part of the full investigation file or separately. If cause of death was pending toxicology, the death certificate may initially list "pending" — it will be amended once results are available.

Impact on the death certificate

The medical examiner or coroner certifies the cause and manner of death on the death certificate. If the case is open — pending investigation or toxicology — the death certificate may be delayed or issued with "pending" listed. You can still proceed with funeral arrangements while the investigation is ongoing; a funeral home can work with a body released by the coroner before the certificate is final.