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1. What does the Coroner's Office do?

The Coroner's Office is required to investigate the facts and circumstances of all sudden, violent, traumatic or unexpected deaths that occur within the County. This includes some deaths from apparent “natural diseases”, including certain infectious diseases such as COVID-19. The Coroner is also responsible for determining the individual’s identity and notifying the next of kin.  A Coroner’s investigation may or may not include:

• Review of medical records
• Interviews with family members, doctors and/or witnesses
• Photography of the deceased and/or the scene where death occurred
•  Autopsy of the body of the deceased 
• Toxicology testing of the deceased
• Collecting and holding any personal property from (or about) the deceased person

2. What are the types of deaths investigated by the Coroner's Office?

• A sudden death not caused by a readily recognizable disease or, if the cause of death cannot be properly certified, by a physician on the basis of prior recent medical attendance.
• A death occurring under suspicious circumstances, including if alcohol, a drug or another toxic substance may have had a direct bearing on the outcome.
• A death occurring as a result of violence or trauma, whether apparently homicidal, suicidal or accidental, including, but not limited to, a death due to mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical or radiational injury, drowning, cave-in or subsidence.
• A death in which trauma, chemical injury, drug overdose or reaction to a drug or medication or medical treatment was a primary or secondary, direct or indirect, contributory, aggravating or precipitating cause of death.
• A perioperative death in which the death is not readily explainable on the basis of prior disease.
• A death in which the body is unidentified or unclaimed.
• A death known or suspected to be due to contagious disease and constituting a public hazard.
• A death occurring in prison or a penal institution or while in the custody of the police.
• A death of an individual whose body is to be cremated, buried at sea or otherwise disposed of so as to be unavailable for examination thereafter.
• A sudden and unexplained infant death.
• A stillbirth.

Also, refer to the Pennsylvania Coroner Statutes which provides a full list of deaths investigated as well as other responsibilities and definitions in reference to the Coroner’s Office.

3. Where is the jurisdiction of the Chester County Coroner?

The Chester County Coroner's jurisdiction encompasses the entire County of Chester, Pennsylvania. Deaths pronounced in the County fall under the Coroner's jurisdiction regardless of where an accident or injury occurred.

4. How do I report a death?

When a person dies suddenly or unexpectedly, your first duty is to call 9-1-1 for medical assistance and guidance. All civilians or non-emergency services agencies shall use the following number: 610-383-7000 to request a response/service from the Coroner’s Office. This recorded line will be answered in the Chester County Communication Center. Emergency Services agencies shall access the Coroner’s Office through normal contact with the dispatcher.

5. How do I obtain a death certificate?

The Coroner's Office will send the medical certification to the funeral home. You can request a copy of the death certificate through your funeral home or you can call Vital Records with the Pennsylvania Department of Health at 724-656-3100 or 800-842-5040.

6. Can I see my loved one at the morgue?

Arrangements for viewing at the morgue cannot be granted. The Coroner's Office will work as quickly as possible to have your loved one taken into the care of the funeral home you have chosen.

7. What is an autopsy and why is one performed?

An autopsy is the external and internal examination of the body of a deceased person to determine a cause of death. An autopsy is not necessary in every case brought to the office’s attention.

If your family wishes to perform an autopsy and the Coroner’s Office does not need to perform one for their investigation, your family can make arrangements with the hospital where the death occurred or with a private autopsy service to have an autopsy performed at your expense.

8. How do I obtain the results of an autopsy or toxicology findings?

Next of kin who wish to have a printed unofficial copy of the autopsy and toxicology reports, as permitted by law, may do so by completing the Next of Kin Report Request Form. State-mandated report fees for official copies of the autopsy and toxicology reports are as follows:

• Toxicology Report     $100
• Autopsy Report         $500
• Investigative Report  $100
• Administrative Fee     $35

Attorneys, insurance companies, or medical providers who wish to obtain a copy of the autopsy and toxicology reports, as permitted by law, must fill out the Other Agencies Report Request Form and then contact the Coroner’s Office at 610-344-6165 (Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm) for instructions regarding prepayment of the state-mandated fees. Payment must be received by the Coroner’s Office before the reports can be mailed. The same state-mandated fees listed above apply.

Where there is a pending investigation being conducted by law enforcement, the District Attorney may request that certain records not be released. Further, in some cases, the District Attorney may petition the Court to seal the records of the Coroner’s investigation.

9. Who is considered the next of kin?

The legal next of kin is the closest living relative in the following order: spouse (unless divorced), adult child, parent, adult brother or sister, adult grandchild. Common law marriage was abolished in Pennsylvania as of January 2, 2005. This means you must be legally married in order to be considered a spouse, regardless of length of cohabitation or whether there are children who are issue of the relationship.

10. When will I know the cause of death?

This varies case by case, depending on the type and extent of the investigation. If autopsy or toxicology testing has been performed, it may be at least 6 weeks or more before we receive all necessary reports needed to issue the final cause and manner of death.

11. What does a "pending" case mean?

You may initially be informed that the cause and manner of death are "pending". The initial Death Certificate will note "pending" as cause of death; you may make funeral arrangements with this document. Pending simply means that the cause and manner are still under investigation. The next of kin will be notified of all completed pending cases. For this reason, if you move or change your phone number, please advise our office immediately.

12. How and when can personal property/possessions be claimed?

Most items are released to the funeral home with the deceased. Other items to be released can be retrieved from the Coroner's Office Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Please make contact with the Coroner's Office at 610-344-6165 for more information.

13. When will the body be released?

 Generally it only takes 1-2 days, but can vary depending upon the extent of the investigation. The funeral director will coordinate the release on your behalf.

14. What do I do now?

The next step for the next-of-kin is to select a funeral home or cremation service for your loved one. The Coroner’s Office will release your loved one to the care of a funeral home or cremation service of your choosing upon completion of our investigation. Inform the Deputy Coroner of which funeral home or cremation service you have selected, and be sure to inform the designated funeral home or cremation service that your loved one is in the care of the Chester County Coroner’s Office. The designated funeral home or cremation service will then contact the Coroner’s Office to make arrangements to transfer your loved one into their care.

15. What funeral home should I choose?

The Chester County Coroner's Office cannot endorse a particular funeral home and is prohibited from recommending a funeral director. A listing of funeral homes within Chester County is available from the Coroner's Office upon request by next of kin.