What is a Coroner:
A coroner is a judge, who is appointed by the Crown? The coroner’s role is to hear the evidence presented by witnesses and experts, to determine the causes or circumstances of someone’s death.
As independent judicial officers, coroners must have a legal background. To become a coroner, you must be a barrister or solicitor with at least five years’ experience, some coroners also have a medical qualification in addition to their legal training.
What does a Coroner do?
A coroner is responsible for sending all relevant documentation to
the registrar.
The coroner can provide you with an interim death certificate to prove the person has died, as you cannot officially register the death until after the inquest if required. You can use this interim certificate to let organisations know of the death and apply for probate if required.
It is the coroner’s responsibility to find out how, when and where the person died, this is for the benefit of the bereaved as well as for official records.
In cases where the coroner decides the cause of death is clear, they will issue a certificate to the registrar stating that a post-mortem examination is not required. At this point you will then be able to register the death with the registrar.
If the cause of death or circumstances surrounding the death are not clear a coroner may decide that a post-mortem examination is needed.
Post-mortem
Post-mortem examinations are conducted by a pathologist and involve studying the body for evidence of how the person died. A Post-mortem is sometimes called an autopsy,
If the post-mortem is successful and reveals the cause of death, the coroner will inform the registrar, stating the cause of death. They will then be able to release the body so that a funeral can take place.
If the post-mortem report fails to find the cause of death or suggests that a crime may have been committed, then the coroner will begin an inquest.
What is an inquest?
An inquest is a legal investigation into a death. The coroner must hold an inquest if they believe that the person died of a violent or unnatural death, or if the person died in police custody or prison. An inquest is also required if the post-mortem did not find the cause of death.
Can you hold a funeral before an inquest?
You cannot register a death until the inquest is complete. However, the coroner can provide an interim death certificate, which will allow you to apply for probate and hold a funeral.
Inquests sometimes require the assistance of a jury, and if the investigation reveals that the death was the result of a criminal act, prosecution may take place.
There are also a variety of tasks that may need taken care of, the government has a great website for this https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/what-to-do-when-someone-dies