His Majesty's Coroner

Coroner referrals can be distressing and can often cause delays in the funeral process. Please contact us or speak to one of our advisors for guidance on your specific case. We will be happy to provide information on the process involved and how to work with the Coroner, including information on invasive post mortem and the use of CT (Computed Tomography), often referred to as virtual autopsy.

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Where the death is reported to the Coroner to be investigated,  the following advice should be noted:

Always ensure that a single person from the family of the deceased is appointed as the main contact.

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Do not inundate the Coroner or their staff with enquiries about completion of the post mortem examination or about when the body of the deceased will be released. The Coroner understands and is sensitive to the needs of certain faiths and their need for early burial. Be rest assured they will make contact with you as soon as the body of the deceased is released.

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Who is the Coroner?

His Majesty’s Coroner holds office under the Crown and is an independent judicial officer.

The Coroner has qualifications and will have substantial experience as a lawyer, a medical doctor, or sometimes both.

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What is the Coroner's role?

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Coroners are appointed by local authorities to investigate when the circumstances surrounding a death are unclear or unknown. This may include when:

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• The cause of death is unknown

• The death was unnatural or violent

• The person died in prison or custody

• The identity of the person who has died is uncertain or unknown

• A medical certificate isn’t available

The Coroner’s job is to find out how, when and where the person died for official records, as well as for the benefit of the bereaved family.

The Coroner may be able to ascertain that death was due to a natural cause and that there is a doctor who is able to certify the cause of death. If this is not the case the Coroner arranges to have the body removed for an examination to be made.

The examination often shows that the death was due to natural causes and in such a case there is no inquest. Instead, the Coroner sends a certificate to the Registrar of Deaths so that the death can be registered. Alternatively, after registering the death, the Registrar can issue a certificate for burial or cremation.

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The following guidance is helpful in understanding the Coroner and the processes they undertake.

Coroner Guidance 

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What is a Post Mortem?

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A post mortem is ordered when no doctor has treated the deceased during his or her last illness; or when the doctor attending the patient did not see him or her within 28 days before death. A post mortem can also be ordered when a death occurs during an operation or immediately after or when the death was sudden and unexplained or by suspicious circumstances. Deaths as a result of an industrial injury or lifetime diagnosis of industrial disease will also result in a Coroners investigation and a post mortem.

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Virtual Autopsy - CT Scan

From 1st November 2017, if a post-mortem investigation is required by HM Coroner for Leicester City and South Leicestershire to establish the cause of death, pathologists at the Leicester Royal Infirmary will determine what approach is required. 

The least invasive approach, including using PMCT will be taken whenever possible, although where there are important questions that PMCT cannot answer, a traditional invasive post-mortem examination will still need to be performed.

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Documentation

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A' certificate (Form 100A) - When a doctor has informed a coroner of the death but the doctor has been given permission by the coroner to issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD),  you will receive the MCCD and Formal Notice. There may also be an ‘A' certificate. This is a form from the coroner informing the registrar that they are aware of the death but no further investigation is necessary and permission has been given to the doctor to issue the MCCD. In Leicester, this is delivered by the coroner's service direct to the registrar of births and deaths. 

​Notification by the Coroner (Pink form B / form 100B) - If the coroner has ordered a post mortem examination but there is no requirement for an inquest, the coroner will send this to the registrar. This is instead of the MCCD from a doctor.

Order for Burial (form 101) - When there is to be an inquest and the person is going to be buried the coroner has to give permission for the funeral to proceed. This is usually collected by the funeral director from the coroner's service on your behalf.

Removal Notice (form 104) - When the body is going to be moved out of England and Wales. This is sometimes called the ‘Out of England' form and will often be collected by the funeral director on your behalf.

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If the coroner cannot issue Form 100B because the post-mortem examination results are inconclusive so the coroner's investigation is ongoing or there is to be an inquest, there is also a form to help you with the administration of the estate called a Coroner's Certificate of the Fact of Death. This is often referred to as an interim certificate as it takes the place of a certified copy of the death certificate until the coroner's investigation or inquest is concluded and the death can be registered.

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