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Coroners Court

The State Coroner is a Judge of the County Court, 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
• following a medical procedure where the death may be casually related to the procedure and where a medical practitioner would not have reasonably expected the death to occur as a result of the procedure
• 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, to help prevent similar deaths occurring.

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

For further information about the Coroners Court of Victoria, including the coronial process and free grief counselling and support services offered by the court, see the court website.