Initial steps after a

death is reported to
the Coroner
 Understanding the NSW coronial jurisdiction
The NSW coronial jurisdiction serves the community through
investigating circumstances and causes of death in a respectful
and professional manner.
It is a very painful experience when the death of a relative or friend
occurs suddenly, unexpectedly, or in traumatic circumstances.
We acknowledge that for deaths reported to the Coroner, there may
be added distress in having to deal with the legal processes as well
as the natural grief.
Coroners and their support staff offer you and your family our
sincere condolences. We are here to provide support to you. We
will treat you, and your relative in our care, with dignity and respect.
This brochure contains information you need to know
immediately after the death of your loved one is reported
to the Coroner. Further information about the coronial
jurisdiction is available on the Coroners Court website at
www.coroners.justice.nsw.gov.au

The role of the Coroner

In Sydney, the State and senior
Coroners are located at the
Coroners Court at Lidcombe.
In regional areas, Coroners sit
as Magistrates in Local Courts
around NSW.
The Coroner is required by
law to investigate sudden,
unexpected and unnatural
deaths to determine the identity,
date, place, circumstances and
medical cause of death. In some
cases the Coroner can make
recommendations following an
inquest to improve public safety
and prevent future deaths.

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Initial contact and admission you should have this role and
proof of your relationship to the
Police report sudden, unexpected
deceased (where possible).
or unexplained deaths to the
Coroner. In Sydney your loved The senior next-of-kin is
one will be taken into the care of advised of the types of medical
the forensic medicine service at examinations or tests that
Lidcombe. In regional areas, your are required. When these are
loved one will be taken into the completed your loved one will
care of the local hospital pending be released into the care of the
a decision by the Coroner in regard funeral director nominated by
to a post mortem examination. the senior next-of-kin. The senior
If a post mortem examination next‑of-kin is also assisted and
is required your loved one will supported by specialist social
be taken into the care of either workers throughout this initial
the forensic medicine service at admission process.
Newcastle or Wollongong.
Examinations that may be
If you are the senior next-of-kin,
ordered by the Coroner
coronial support staff will usually
contact you within 24 hours to All deaths reported to the Coroner
let you know what is happening. are reviewed by specialist forensic
You may be asked to formally medicine and investigative teams.
identify your loved one, and These teams gather medical and
provide further information about other information about your
the circumstances surrounding loved one to avoid unnecessary
the death. examinations or transfers,
particularly in regional areas.
The role of the senior The role of the team is to gather as
next‑of‑kin much evidence as is necessary to
The senior next-of-kin (or their enable the Coroner to determine
nominee) is a person confirmed the cause of death using the least
as the main point of contact invasive method. This evidence
throughout the coronial can involve any of the following
investigation. The senior types of examination: a review of
next‑of‑kin is determined by law. the medical records, computed
If you are not the senior next‑of‑kin tomography (CT) scanning, blood
and think you should be, please toxicology testing, an external
email the Coroners Court where examination, a coronial post
the death was reported. Include in mortem examination, or a
the email reasons why you think combination of any of these.

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 The majority of examinations next-of-kin advising they have 48
ordered by the Coroner are hours to apply to the Supreme
minimally invasive. In some cases Court for an order preventing the
where the cause of death cannot post mortem. Legal assistance
be found, a coronial post mortem may be needed to make a
is required. A coronial post Supreme Court application. Senior
mortem is performed by a highly next-of-kin are requested to inform
specialised forensic pathologist. coronial support staff immediately
It is similar to a surgical operation if they do not wish to proceed to
and includes examination of the Supreme Court.
internal organs.
Organ retention and
When deciding the type of tissue samples
examination required, the
religious and cultural needs of As part of the post mortem process,
the family will be considered. tissue samples may be collected to
The senior next-of-kin will be determine the cause of death. In a
informed before any examination small number of cases, organs may
commences and they will have need to be retained for more testing.
an opportunity to object. If this is required a coronial support
officer will contact the senior
If there is an objection, senior next‑of-kin to obtain their consent.
next-of-kin are requested to
inform the Coroner (at the If the senior next-of-kin objects to
court to which the death was the organ retention they will need
reported) by email as soon to send their objection by email
as possible. to the Coroner. If the Coroner still
determines the organs need to
Objection to a post be retained, notice will be sent
to the senior next-of-kin advising
mortem examination
they have 48 hours to apply to
The senior next-of-kin can the Supreme Court for an order
formally object to a post mortem preventing retention of the organ.
examination by sending
written advice by email to the Support services
Coroner stating their reasons
Specialist social workers are
for the objection.
available through the forensic
If the Coroner decides a post medicine service to assist you and
mortem is still required after your family with emotional and
considering the written reasons, practical support.
notice will be sent to the senior

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They can help you with a range Personal possessions
of things such as:
Personal possessions, such as
• speaking with your family mobile phones, jewellery and other
doctor, school or workplace valuables are generally collected
• understanding the coronial by police at the place of death and
process, reports and timeframes returned to the senior next-of-kin
• a referral to other support or later. Occasionally, police may keep
local counselling services. some items for forensic examination.
You may want to view your relative Any personal possessions with your
or friend who has died. This is loved one when they are admitted
usually arranged with your funeral into our care are given to your
director, however viewing can nominated funeral director when your
be done at one of the specialist loved one is taken into their care.
forensic medicine facilities at Any enquiries concerning your
Sydney (Lidcombe), Newcastle loved one’s property should be
or Wollongong. directed to the police officer who
reported the death to the Coroner.

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6
 Planning the funeral
You can contact the funeral director of your choice at any time
to start planning the funeral. However, do not set a date for the
funeral until you receive confirmation of the date your loved
one is able to be released from our care.
Medical examinations and testing are usually carried out within
three days (excluding weekends) of your loved one being admitted
into our care. In more complex cases this can be longer.
If your loved one died in regional NSW, coronial support staff will
arrange transport of your loved one, with our contracted provider,
to your chosen funeral home in regional NSW.

Obtaining a death certificate In some circumstances

organisations such as banks,
Death certificates are issued
real estate agents, or Centrelink
by the NSW Registry of Births
will accept a confirmation of death
Deaths and Marriages. An interim
letter issued by coronial support
certificate can be issued even
staff. If you require this document,
though the Coroner has not yet
please email your request to the
determined the cause of death.
Coroners Court where the death
Your funeral director completes
was reported.
all the paperwork and registers
the death with the NSW Registry
of Births Deaths and Marriages.
If the Coroner has not determined
the cause of death in the initial
stages, an interim certificate can
be issued on request. Once the
cause of death is determined by
the Coroner, please return the
interim certificate and the NSW
Registry of Births Deaths and
Marriages will issue a standard
death certificate.

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HELPFUL CONTACTS

Coroners Court Lidcombe Legal Aid Coronial

Inquest Unit
1A Main Avenue,
Lidcombe 2414 T: (02) 9219 5000
T: (02) 8584 7777 W: www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/
E: Lidcombe.coroners@ what-we-do/civil-law/
justice.nsw.gov.au coronial-inquest-matters
W: www.coroners.justice.nsw.
gov.au Centrelink Bereavement
T: 13 23 00
Local Courts in regional NSW W: www.humanservices.gov.au
W: www.localcourt.justice.nsw. /individuals/subjects/
gov.au/courtlocations what-do-following-death

NSW Health Pathology Translating and

Forensic Medicine Service Interpreting Service
Newcastle T: 13 14 50
T: (02) 4935 9700
NSW Mental Health Line
Sydney (Lidcombe)
T: (02) 9563 9000 T: 1800 011 511 (24hrs)

Wollongong Lifeline
T: (02) 4222 5466 T: 13 11 14 (24hrs)
W: www.pathology.health.nsw.
Support after Suicide
gov.au
W: www.supportaftersuicide.
NSW Registry of Births org.au
Deaths and Marriages
T: 13 77 88
E: bdm-webmail@
justice.nsw.gov.au
W: www.bdm.nsw.gov.au