Family Brochure

By law, the job of the Coroner is to investigate the circumstances of certain types of deaths in order to determine the cause of death and the manner of death. Cases which require a coroner’s investigation are:

• Sudden, unexpected death when in apparent good health.
• Death of a person who is not under the recent care of a physician.
• Any violent death (homicide, suicide, accident).
• Any unusual or unexplained death.

Procedure when:

1. No Autopsy or Toxicology

Decedent is released to funeral home of family’s choice. Death Certificate will be filled out by the funeral home, sent electronically to the Coroner’s Office, signed, and sent electronically to the Baldwin County Health Department with Cause and Manner of Death listed.

2. No Autopsy, but Toxicology

Specimen taken and the decedent is then released to funeral home of family’s choice. Specimen is submitted to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. The Death Certificate will be filled out by the funeral home, sent electronically to the Coroner’s Office, signed, and sent electronically to the Baldwin County Health Department with cause and manner of death listed as Pending. Results for toxicology can take approximately 3 months. Once toxicology results are received the death certificate will be amended with cause and manner of death and sent to Vital Statistics in Montgomery. The amended death certificate will be available approximately 7-10 days after receipt.

3. Autopsy and Toxicology Completed

Procedures and samples completed by Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. Decedent is then released to funeral home of family’s choice. The Death Certificate will be filled out by the funeral home, sent electronically to the Coroner’s Office, signed, and sent electronically to the Baldwin County Health Department with cause and manner of death listed as Pending. Results for Autopsy and Toxicology take approximately 3 months. Once results are received the death certificate will be amended with cause and manner of death and sent to Vital Statistics in Montgomery. The amended death certificate will be available approximately 7-10 days after receipt.