What is the purpose of the inquest?

An inquest is an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding a death. The purpose of the inquest is to find out who the person was and how, when and where they died, and to find out the details the Registrar of Deaths need to register the death.

What happens at the inquest?

An inquest is an investigation into the facts of how your relative has died. A coroner will look at different information and decide the cause of death. The coroner will tell the next of kin, or the personal representative, when your relative’s inquest will take place.

What are the types of inquest?

There are four types of inquests:

• Police inquest.
• Magistrate inquest.
• Coroner inquest.
• Medical Examiner’s system.

Who orders an inquest?

The Coroner
The Coroner is expected to open an inquest where there is reasonable suspicion that the deceased has died a violent or unnatural death, where the cause of death is unknown or if the deceased died while in custody or state detention as defined by section 1(2) of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.

Who can attend an inquest?

Inquests are open to the public and journalists are usually present. From 2013 most inquests should take place within 6 months of the death but this may take some time to implement as some parts of the country have rather longer waits.

Who is present at an inquest?

Inquests are held in open court. That means that any friends and family of the deceased are welcome. The Coroner will often require one particular member of the family to attend. This will be the person who made the background statement to the Police, which means it may not be the closest relative or next of kin.

What happens after an inquest?

At the end of the Inquest, the Coroner will give his/her Conclusion and this will appear on the final Death Certificate. The death can then be officially registered.

How long does a inquest take?

If an Inquest is to take place, it can be months (or even years) before the final hearing, depending on the complexity of the legal and medical issues. Most Coroners aim to complete Inquests within 6-9 months of the initial report of the death.

Why do they do an inquest after a death?

An inquest is an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding a death. The purpose of the inquest is to find out who the deceased person was and how, when and where they died and to provide the details needed for their death to be registered. It is not a trial.

Can family attend inquest?

The family and other interested persons can be represented by a lawyer but it is not a requirement and most inquests take place without such representation. It is not necessary for the bereaved relatives to attend the inquest if they do not wish to as sometimes the death may need to be dealt with in graphic terms.

How long does an inquest last?

In certain circumstances there will also be a jury. Inquest hearings can last anything from 30 minutes to several weeks. It depends what has happened and what issues need to be explored. Most inquests take half a day or less.

What does it mean to have an inquest?

An inquest may be called at the behest of a coroner, judge, prosecutor, or, in some jurisdictions, upon a formal request from the public. A coroner’s jury may be convened to assist in this type of proceeding. Inquest can also mean such a jury and the result of such an investigation.

When did inquests start in England?

Larger inquests can be held into disasters, or in some jurisdictions (not England and Wales) into cases of corruption. The inquest, as a means of settling a matter of fact, developed in Scandinavia and the Carolingian Empire before the end of the tenth century.

What happens at a coroner’s inquest?

The Coroner has the final decision about calling witnesses and who can be represented at an Inquest. We will do our best to make sure the Coroner hears all the evidence that is important to your case. Usually an Inquest is held before a Coroner alone. Sometimes there will be a jury, for example, if a person has died in prison or police custody.

Do you need an autopsy for an inquest?

Conducted by a judge, jury, or government official, an inquest may or may not require an autopsy carried out by a coroner or medical examiner. Generally, inquests are conducted only when deaths are sudden or unexplained.