REGISTRATION
What happens if the death is
referred to a coroner?
If a death is reported to the coroner which does not need to be the
subject of an inquest (when death is a result of natural disease or illness),
a certificate giving the cause of death will be sent to the registrar of
deaths on completion of the coroner’s enquiries. You can then go ahead
and register the death.
Contacting the
Oxfordshire
Coroner’s Service
In a small number of cases – where the cause of death is unnatural
or remains unknown – the doctor or hospital or Registrar will report
the death to the coroner. In this case registration of the death will be
delayed as an inquest will need to be held.
Oxfordshire Coroner’s Service
deals with deaths occurring
within Oxfordshire and
some military-related deaths
(including civilians).
Inquests
It is the duty of coroners to investigate deaths which are reported to
them and which:
• appear to be due to violence
• are unnatural
• are of unknown cause
• occur in legal custody.
The coroner will preserve confidentiality as far as possible but you
should remember that the system is based on public court hearings. If
you request it, the coroner will explain the reasons for the procedures
adopted in particular cases as long as the coroner is satisfied that the
person has a proper interest and a right to know.
An inquest is not a trial. It is an enquiry to establish who the deceased
was and how, when and where they died.
After the death the coroner will issue an interim death certificate to
enable the estate to be dealt with. On conclusion of the inquest, the next
of kin will be provided with an explanation about how, where and when a
copy of the death certificate can be obtained.
Deaths occurring in
Oxfordshire
Coroner’s Office
2nd Floor
1 Tidmarsh Lane
Oxford OX1 1NS
Tel: 0845 605 4174 or 01865
815020
Fax: 01865 783391
coroners.oxfordshire@
oxfordshire.gov.uk
The Oxfordshire Coroner
Darren M Salter,
HM Senior Coroner
Further information is available at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/coroner and
www.gov.uk
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ADVICE AND HELPLINE: 0845 129 5900