Frequently Asked Questions

California Law requires the Coroner to inquire into and determine the circumstances, manner, and cause of sudden deaths where the attending physician is unable to determine the cause of death or the death is the result of homicide, suicide, accidental or undetermined means. It also includes deaths where the decedent has not been seen by their physician within 20 days preceding the death. Not all deaths in Nevada County are reported to the Coroner’s Office.

Generally, natural deaths occurring in a hospital or medical facility and/or under a hospice physician’s care are not coroner cases which require a coroner death investigation. For more information please call 530-265-1321.

If the death is indeed a coroner’s case the deceased is initially taken to one of our contract mortuaries and then if required, to our morgue for autopsy. Autopsies are performed to determine the medical cause of death and to gather evidence for presentation in a court of law. In cases of natural death where the deceased had no physician, or in the case of a traumatic death where the cause of death is obvious, we may elect to do only an external examination of the body. For more information please call 530-265-1321.

It is common for the medical cause of death to be undetermined at the time of autopsy. If the cause of death is listed as "pending," it is because we have to do further testing on tissue and body fluid samples that are retained during the autopsy. This does not delay the release of the body for burial or cremation. However, you can expect that the cause of death will be pending for probably six to eight weeks. If you are in need of death certificates for legal matters other than life insurance you can order copies with the cause of death pending. Please speak to your mortuary or cremation service staff about ordering them. For more information please call 530-265-1321.

We will complete a portion of the certificate of death to include the date and time of death, place of death and the cause of death. When death is caused by an injury, we provide the injury information. The certificate of death is transferred electronically through the statewide Electronic Death Registration System (EDRS) to the funeral home and their staff completes the document before it is filed with the Health Department. The funeral home can order as many copies as you may require. For more information please call 530-265-1321.

Autopsies are usually performed within 24 to 48 hours after the death is reported. After autopsy the deceased is returned to the contract mortuary and is available to the next-of-kin for burial or cremation. For more information please call 530-265-1321.