About inquests

If there is an inquest into your relative’s death

An inquest is a legal process that looks into certain deaths. For many families, this is the first time they have been involved in an inquest.

Reason for an inquest

By law, a Coroner must open an inquest if there is reason to think that a death:

• was unnatural or violent, or
• happened in custody or state detention

An inquest is a public hearing. Its purpose is to find facts, not to place blame.

The Coroner will establish:

• who the person was
• when and where they died
• how they died

The Coroner will also:

• confirm the medical cause of death
• record the details needed to register the death
• reach a conclusion based on the evidence

An inquest cannot decide who is to blame or whether anyone is legally responsible. Criminal or civil cases are handled by other courts.

Complaints about care should be addressed to the organisation concerned. 

When a jury is needed

Some inquests are held with a jury. Others are not. The Coroner must sit with a jury if:

• the death happened in custody or state detention and was violent, unnatural or of unknown cause
• the death may have been caused by an act or failure of a police officer while on duty
• the death relates to a notifiable accident, poisoning or disease
• the Coroner believes there is another strong reason to have a jury

Opening an inquest

The Coroner must open an inquest as soon as possible. This is done at a short public hearing in the Coroner’s Court. The inquest will be adjourned to a later date for review or for the final hearing to allow time for investigation and information gathering.  

It is not necessary for you to attend the opening of the inquest, but you can do.

At this hearing, the inquest is usually paused until a later date.
This allows time for:

• investigations
• gathering reports and statements

You do not need to attend the opening hearing, but you are welcome to if you wish.

We aim to hold the full inquest within six months of the death. Sometimes this takes longer, for example if:

• the case is complex
• another investigation is taking place

Your Coroner’s Officer will keep you informed about progress.

List of inquests 

See a list of all hearings on our list of inquests webpage.

Gathering information and sharing evidence

The Coroner decides what the inquest will cover and what enquiries are needed.

Once all reports and statements are received, they are shared with Interested Persons, and the Coroner decides which witnesses need to give evidence.

Some witnesses are required to attend the inquest hearing to give evidence either in person or remotely via video link and whose evidence can be read into the record in their absence.

Interested Persons

Section 47(2) of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 sets out a full list of those considered to be Interested Persons. 

These include:

• close relatives of the person who died
• anyone whose actions may be questioned
• anyone else the Coroner believes has a sufficient interest

Interested Persons will have the opportunity to ask relevant questions of witnesses either in person or through a representative.