Inquests

A Coroner will hold an inquest into the death of a person in order to make findings on the identity of the deceased, the date and place of death, and the cause of death (Suicide/ Accidental Death/ Natural Causes/ Unlawful Killing etc.). It is important to note that a Coroner cannot attribute civil or criminal liability nor can they absolve any party.

If a Coroner has not yet called for an inquest, the family of the deceased can contact the Coroner outlining their suspicions/concerns regarding the death and their reasons for requesting that an Inquest to be carried out.

Whilst there is no requirement to have legal representation at an inquest, it can often be the case that families have concerns over certain care that has been provided and therefore seek legal assistance at the inquest in order to explore any mismanagement that may have occurred. Although no liability can be construed or alleged during the Inquest process, obtaining vital information is a very real possibility.

If you need advice or representation regarding an Inquest we would encourage you to contact us at the earliest possible date. This will enable us to prepare properly which may for example require us to obtain medical expert opinions or witness statements.