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1. How do I obtain a Coroner’s report, autopsy report and toxicology report?

In most cases the Coroner’s report is available within three business days. However in conjunction with any law enforcement agencies ongoing criminal investigation a Coroner’s report may be withheld to prevent any disclosure of privileged information that could harm the efforts of the investigation. Simple autopsy reports such as heart attacks or strokes, where the cause of death is obvious are normally ready within thirty days.

An autopsy report may take as long as 26 weeks, depending on the level and type of test being done.

Obtain Autopsy Reports

To obtain autopsy reports from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), please direct your Open Records Act requests (under O.C.G.A. 50-18-70) to the Open Records Unit:

• By Mail:
  Open Records Unit
  Georgia Bureau of Investigation
  3121 Panthersville Road
  Decatur, GA 30034
• By Fax: 404-270-8529
• By Email:
  Email your request to Open Records

Information to Include

To assist you in obtaining the information that you need, please provide the following information in your request:

• The date of the investigation or incident associated with your request
• The Georgia county or city where the incident occurred
• The names of the subjects or victims of the investigation or report
• Your contact telephone number (and fax number if available)
• Your full name
• Your mailing address

All records requests are subject to the Georgia Open Records Act and may result in the requestor being billed for the requested information before the records are released. If you have questions, contact the GBI Open Records Unit at 404-270-8527.

2. How do I get a death certificate?

The funeral home selected by the family will generate a death certificate and send it to the Coroner’s Office for signature; we sign the certificate and return it to the funeral home which in turn files it with the Georgia Department of Health, Vital Records section.

3. Who decides if an autopsy is required?

The law. According to the law, the cause and manner of death must be determined for every death. In most non-violent cases, we use medical information from the decedent’s medical record and family history to establish the most likely cause of death. If medical evidence cannot be established from these sources, then an autopsy is required.

4. What happens to the personal property of the deceased?

Once the closest next of kinship has been established or a court order is issued naming an individual as the administrator of the estate, all property is released to that person or persons.

5. What happens to the prescription drugs issued to the deceased?

Federal Law states that it is a violation to be in possession of drugs not issued to you by prescription. Therefore, when a person dies, all drugs issued to the deceased person are removed and destroyed.

6. Does the Coroner's Office assist with funerals?

No. It is the family’s responsibility to assume custody of the decedent and bury the body. Even if there is no insurance on the decedent, it is not the responsibility of the Coroner’s Office to bury the family member.

7. What happens to unclaimed bodies?

If the death has occurred within the last couple of hours and the body can be or has been removed to a refrigerated (morgue) room and no next of kin is located the body may be turned over to science for research or teaching purposes. Some unclaimed bodies are cremated.