Deaths Referred to the Coroner Occasionally, deaths will be flagged by the Medical Examiner to be referred to the Coroner. This does not always result in a post mortem. The decision for a post mortem by the Coroner is purely to ascertain the cause of death if it isn’t clear or is unknown. The MEO will inform you if a referral is required and explain the reasons why. Once in the Coroner’s hands, a Coroner’s officer will call you to explain their procedure and give you an approximate timing of completion. Once a post mortem is completed, the Coroner’s office will raise all paperwork and will call to let you know. Once you receive this call you can then make an appointment at the register office to formally register the death (The paperwork will be sent electronically to the register office). The Coroner also holds inquests where the cause of death maybe known but there are unanswered questions/ circumstances surrounding the death so further investigation is carried out. Usually in these cases an interim certificate is produced (again electronically) by the Coroner’s office so the death can be registered and the funeral service held with the final results following later. Sometimes it may be necessary for the Coroner to hold a post mortem and an inquest. The death cannot be registered until the post mortem is complete. The Coroner’s office can be contacted by email on kentandmedwaycoroners@kent.gov.uk
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