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Report Requests

Last updated on July 10, 2023

The Coroner's Report

After an investigation, a coroner produces a Coroner’s Report (pursuant to s. 16(1) of the Coroners Act). This document sets out the coroner’s determination of who the deceased was; how, when, where and by what means the deceased died; and any recommendations of the coroner.

Requesting a Coroner's Report

You can obtain a copy of the Coroner’s Report if you are deemed to have a valid interest in the findings and recommendations contained in the report or the Chief Coroner has determined that release of the report is in the public interest (s. 69 of the Coroners Act).

There are no fees for a Coroner’s Report. 

Include the reasons for your request and why your interest in the report should be considered valid. Not doing so could result in release to you being delayed or denied. If you are acting on someone’s behalf, you will need to prove you have authority to do so by completing and returning the below form:

The name of the decedent is required to assist us with your request. If you do not provide a name but are able to provide sufficient information for us to locate the record, the report may be provided with identifying and personal information redacted.

You can request a copy of the Coroner’s Report in the following ways:

Media representatives can submit a request by email to CoronerMedia@gov.bc.ca.

To obtain a report concerning a death that occurred before 1971, please send your request to the Provincial Archives.

Timeline for Receiving a Coroner’s Report

Coroners strive to produce their reports as quickly as possible. If you are requesting a report for a closed file, in most cases, it will be sent within 5-10 business days. If the coroner’s investigation is ongoing, timelines for completion of the report will vary.

Timelines for coroners’ investigations may be impacted by a number of factors, including the complexity of the investigation, concurrent investigations by other agencies, related judicial processes, and caseload volumes. Currently, the average timeline for completion of a Coroner’s Report is 16 months. As noted, this may vary depending on a number of factors.

Autopsy/Toxicology Reports

In some investigations, an autopsy or toxicology report may be available upon the conclusion of the investigation. Access to these reports is restricted to:

  • The decedent's Appropriate Person/Nearest Relative
  • Applicants with written authorization from the Appropriate Person/Nearest Relative pursuant to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act Regulations.

You can request a copy of these reports in the following ways:

If the above options are not feasible, or if you require assistance in completing the form, you may contact 1 866 200-2676 (toll free)

Insurance Forms

If you are an insurance company requesting the completion of an insurance form on behalf of the family, please attach the Authorization Form with the request and click on the Agencies and Professionals tab on the BC Coroners Service website or email to BCCSConnect@gov.bc.ca