These publications are for the general public, and coroners and people who work in the legal system.
What to do if someone dies suddenly
A leaflet is available which provides information for the next-of-kin and
their families in the hours and days immediately following a sudden death,
where a coroner is involved. It was compiled with the help of people themselves
bereaved in such circumstances. The leaflet contains information on who
coroners are and what they do, post mortems, when a funeral can be held
and the process involved. It is not intended to be a full explanation of
coroner law and it covers England and Wales.
The leaflet is also available in the following languages by request if you email us: Bengali, Chinese, Gujurati, Hindi, Punjabi, Somali, Urdu and Welsh.
Download
the When Sudden Death Occurs leaflet 
[PDF 120kb, 9 pages]
Below are circulars issued to coroners by the Department for Constitutional Affairs.
For coroners' circulars issued by the Home Office, which had responsibility for coroners until May 2005, please email us.