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Coroners Court

The State Coroner is a magistrate, with legal responsibility for ensuring that all reportable deaths are investigated. A death is considered reportable when a person dies:

• unexpectedly
• in a violent or unnatural way
• from an accident or injury
• during or as a result of an anaesthetic
• while held in care (for example, in prison, police custody or a psychiatric institution)
• when the deceased's identity is not known
• where a doctor has been unable to sign a death certificate detailing the cause of death.

The coroner investigating a death must find, if possible:

• the identity of the deceased
• how the death occurred
• the cause of death
• the details needed to register the death with the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

A coroner may comment on any matter connected with a reportable death, including issues of public health and safety or the administration of justice, in an attempt to prevent similar deaths occurring.

The Coroners Court of Victoria was established by the Coroners Act 2008, in order to administer the Coroners Court.

For further information on the Coroners Court, including the coronial process and free grief counselling and support services offered by the court, see the Coroners Court of Victoria website (link available in the menu on the right).