Overview of the Coroner’s Office
The Coroner’s Office investigates unexpected, unattended, unusual, unnatural, violent and suspicious deaths throughout the county. This is accomplished through varying types of investigations and examinations the Coroner deems necessary to determine cause and manner of death.
Responsibilities
The Coroner’s Office is responsible for:
- Identifying the deceased
- Locating next of kin
- Notifying next of kin
- Performing investigations and examinations
- Certifying Death Certificates
- Providing Mortuary & Donation Information
- Testifying in civil and criminal proceedings
- Distributing accurate and timely information to family members, health care professionals, insurance companies, and the public through the media and news releases
Services
The Boulder County Coroner’s Office serves to provide the best in public service to families during what are often the most difficult of times.
- Coroner’s Investigation Process
- Family Assistance
- Death Certificates
- Mortuary & Donation Information
- Forensic Examinations
Deaths Reportable to the Coroner’s Office
- Unnatural as a result of external influences, violence or injury;
- Result of intoxication by alcohol, drugs, or poison;
- Result of an accident, including at the workplace;
- Infant or child death when unexpected or unexplained;
- Unattended by a physician within the last 365 days;
- Attending physician is unable to certify;
- Within 24-hours of hospital admission;
- A disease which may constitute a threat to public health;
- Action of a peace officer, while in custody or while incarcerated;
- Sudden when in apparent good health;
- Unidentifiable, decomposed, charred or skeletonized;
- Coroner warrants further inquiry
Any death in which there is a question as to whether or not it needs to be reported, should be reported.
Hospital, hospice and care center deaths are generally not reportable to the Coroner unless it meets one of the above listed types of death.
It should be emphasized that, although a particular death may be “reportable” to the Coroner’s Office, an autopsy may not be necessary, depending upon the circumstances.
