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Practical Help
- Pre-Death PlanningGetting prepared ahead of time when expecting a loss.
  - Estate PlanningHow to prepare and distribute left assets.
  - Will Writing ServicesThe importance of writing will and a review of the Will writing options.
  - Trust FundsInformation on various types of trust funds that can be set up.
  - Lasting Power of AttorneyA step-by-step guide on how to appoint an LPA and the importance of doing so.
  - Covering Funeral CostsGet help for funeral arrangement costs.
  - Finding a Suitable Funeral DirectorGet help organising and planning a funeral.
- Legal SupportUnderstand your legal obligations around bereavement.
  - Laws of IntestacyDetermines who is entitled to inheritance by law.
  - Making Changes to InheritanceChanging how inheritance is distributed at this stage requires a Deed of Variation
  - Bona VacantiaWhen there is no living blood relatives, ownerless assets default to the crown.
  - Debts after DeathWhat happens to debts after someone dies.
  - Inheriting DebtThe circumstances where someone may inherit the debts of the deceased.
- Probate SupportHelp with probate and inheritance.
  - Getting Help with ProbateHelp for those unclear on the probate process.
  - Grant of ProbateHow to get a grant of probate and when you need one.
  - Probate in Northern IrelandAdvice for Northern Ireland residents needing help with probate.
  - Probate in Scotland (Confirmation)Advice for Scotland residents needing help with probate, known as ‘Confirmation’.
  - Inheritance TaxWhen and how to pay inheritance tax.
  - DIY ProbateHow and when to carry out probate by yourself.
  - Executor of Will DutiesList of duties required by the distributor of the deceased’s estate.
  - Find Unclaimed Assets of a Deceased PersonHelp for finding unclaimed assets left in wills or from dying intestate.
  - Selling a Probate PropertyAdvice on the process of selling a property in probate.
  - Probate FeesGuidance and advice on the fee costs you may incur in during the probate process.
  - Problems With ProbateAdvice on problems and disagreements that can arise during probate.
  - Deed of VariationChange details about how inheritance is distributed.
- Practical Tasks after a DeathThings to do after someone dies.
  - Death RegistrationWho to contact to register a death.
  - Finding a Funeral DirectorGet help finding a suitable director to arrange a funeral.
  - Covering Funeral CostsGet help paying for a funeral.
  - Paying Inheritance TaxHelp on when and how to pay inheritance tax.
  - Benefits CalculatorFree assessment of benefits you may be entitled to.
  - Stopping Junk Mail After Someone DiesHow to reduce mail and correspondence to the address of a deceased person.
  - When Coroner is InvolvedAn explanation of the coroner’s process and their involvement.
- Getting Practical & Legal HelpSpeak to someone about the practical or legal aspects of bereavement.
Emotional Help
- GriefNavigating and managing the experience of grief.
  - Managing GriefGet ideas on managing the experience of grief.
  - Traumatic BereavementHelp for managing a traumatic bereavement or PTSD associated with bereavement.
- Specific RelationshipsSupporting grief for relationships and partnerships.
- Supporting OthersHelping others through their bereavement.
  - Supporting ChildrenGet help for explaining the loss of a grandparent or elderly relative to a young child.
  - Supporting EmployeesHelp for employers on how to support employees through bereavement.
- Sharing the NewsHelp with communicating bereavement.
  - Social Media MemorialisationHow to create memorialised social media accounts.
  - Explaining to Young Children
- Getting Help & CounsellingUseful organisations for emotional wellbeing and mental health support.
Quick Guides
Workplace & Training
About NBS
- About NBS
- Donate
- News
- Research
Contact NBS

Coroners Post-Mortem Examination

At a Glance

Key Details

When coroners are involved: A coroner must be notified if a death is unexpected, unexplained, unnatural, or occurs in state custody (e.g. prison, police cell, detention centre, psychiatric hospital).

Post-mortem examinations: These are carried out by a pathologist to establish cause of death, always treating the body with respect. Families are informed, can usually view the body afterwards, and delays to funerals are explained.

Inquests: If further investigation is needed, a coroner holds an inquest – a court hearing to establish who has died and how. Families are kept updated, can attend, and after the inquest the death is formally registered so certificates can be purchased.

Quick Navigation

Notifying coroners
Unexpected, unexplained or unnatural deaths
Post-mortem examinations
Inquests

Notifying coroners

Whenever death is unexpected, unexplained, or unnatural, the coroner must be notified, usually by a doctor or the Police.

Unexpected, unexplained or unnatural deaths

Most of these deaths will be determined to be completely natural, for example, a heart attack in someone who seemed healthy. There are a few other circumstances in which deaths must be referred to the coroner, such as someone detained by the state in a Police cell, prison or detention centre, or sectioned in a psychiatric hospital.

The coroner and their staff will gather information from family, doctors and any other relevant person to decide if a doctor may issue a certificate of cause of death, or whether a post-mortem examination must be carried out.

The closest family member to this person or their appointed representative will be kept informed of all decisions and the reasons for them. Usually, there is little to no delay to funeral arrangements. If there must be a delay, the reason for this will be fully explained to the family.

Post-mortem examinations

A post-mortem examination is a thorough external and internal examination of the body of someone who has died. It is carried out by a pathologist – a doctor who is trained for this work. The doctor will be assisted by anatomical pathology technicians during the examination. These are professional people who will always treat the body with respect. In most cases, it will be possible for a family to view their relative after the examination if they wish to do so.

If a post-mortem examination reveals a natural cause of death, the coroner will send the necessary information to the registrar of births and deaths and an appointment should be made by the family to register the death.

Inquests

Alternatively, a coroner may decide further investigation of the death is required and will hold an inquest – a formal court hearing to establish who has died and the cause of their death. Sometimes the investigation may be carried out by other agencies, such as the Police following a homicide, or the Health and Safety Executive in the case of an industrial accident.

The family will be kept informed of the investigation at regular intervals and will be invited to attend the inquest. If there is to be an investigation of the death leading up to an inquest, the coroner issues a document to the family that can be used to administer an estate, which replaces the certified copy of the death certificate.

After an inquest, the death is registered by the coroner and the family can purchase certified copies of the death certificate.

Here is the link to the Government’s own Guide to Coroner Services.

Here is the link to the Coroners Support Service website, which is an excellent source for more information.

To understand more about coroners, post-mortem examinations and inquests, you can call one of our experienced bereavement advisors for free* at 0800 024 6121.