When a death is reported to the coroner

Information about investigations, inquests and post mortems

Why a death is reported to the coroner

Not all deaths are reported to the coroner. In most cases the doctor is able to provide a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). You can then register the death.

Some deaths must be reported to the coroner, such as:

  • violent or unnatural death
  • sudden deaths with no known cause
  • reported deaths in custody

For a full list of what types of deaths need to be reported, see the Revised Notification of Deaths Regulations 2019 guidance on GOV.UK (published 26 March 2020).