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1. Does the Coroner investigate every death?

The coroner investigates only sudden, suspicious, violent and unexplained deaths. This includes deaths of persons who may appear to have died from natural causes but are not under a doctor's care or do not have a significant medical history. The Coroner's office must also review all deaths of "persons whose bodies are to be cremated, buried at sea or otherwise disposed of so as to be thereafter unavailable for examination" before final disposition by the funeral director.

2. Is an autopsy always necessary in a Coroner's case?

Each case is evaluated independently to determine the cause and manner of death. If the Coroner is unable to determine the cause and manner of death, the law requires that "he shall perform or order an autopsy".

3. Must the family give permission for an autopsy to be done?

If the Coroner orders an autopsy because he is unable to establish the cause and manner of death, the family does not have to give permission. If the Coroner does not order an autopsy, the family always has the right to have one done at their own expense.

4. Does the Coroner perform autopsies?

The Coroner hires Pathologists or Forensic Pathologists to perform autopsies and report their findings to the Coroner.

5. Who pays for the autopsy and/or tests ordered by the Coroner?

The taxpayers of Cumberland County pay for services ordered by the Coroner as part of his official duties. These expenses are included in the Coroner's annual budget.

6. What income does the Coroner's Office return to the county?

The only income generated by the Coroner's office is fees charged for copies of reports and for cremation releases. Generally these reports are requested by insurance companies and/or attorneys to help them to verify the circumstances of the death. Actually the fee is for the information in the report, as it is often used to help determine whether to pay an insurance claim, whether double indemnity applies or whether a lawsuit may be successful.

7. Why does the Coroner charge a fee for a cremation release?

The release for cremation is required for all persons whose bodies are to be cremated, buried at sea or otherwise disposed of so as to be thereafter unavailable for examination (usually those who are donating the body to science). The great majority of these deaths are certified by the attending physicians and would not otherwise fall under the jurisdiction of the Coroner. Each of these deaths must be reviewed and often contact must be made with the physician's office or the medical records department of the facility where death occurred. This additional workload justifies a specific fee to be paid by the users of the specific service rather than by the taxpayers in general.

8. What responsibilities do Deputy Coroners have?

Deputy Coroners can perform all of the duties of the Coroner, in his place, and have the same authorities, subject only to internal office procedures.