Finding support » Practical information for the bereaved » What is an inquest?
What is an inquest?
Inquests are legal enquiries into sudden, unnatural and violent deaths. They answer four key questions:
- Who died?
- Where did they die?
- When did they die?
- How did they die?
What it is not
Inquests do not determine culpability. Coroners are prohibited from deciding criminal liability or civil liability on the part of any named person (Rule 42, Coroners Rules 1984). Civil claims do not depend on the outcome of the inquest.
Who is the coroner?
Coroners must be either legally or medically trained. They are usually solicitors but they may be doctors, or both. Under the new Coroners and Justice Act, coroners will have to be legally trained. Coroners are independent and the way bereaved families are treated varies widely between Coroner Courts.
What do Coroners do?
In addition to conducting the inquest, they organise the post mortem, authorise the release of the body of the deceased for cremation or burial and arrange the death certificate.
What do Coroner Officers do?
Coroner Officers are the first and main point of contact for bereaved families. Coroner Officers are often retired police officers and their positions may be funded by the police.
What support is available for bereaved families at inquests?
Some Coroners’ Courts have Coroner Courts Support Services (CCSS) volunteers, a off-shoot from Victim Support. CCSS volunteers will assist the family with practical questions, such as where toilets or parking facilities are. They do not answer any technical questions about the inquest and these should be referred to the Coroners Officers.
