Medical Examiner

The Los Angeles County CA Medical Examiner investigates certain sudden, violent, suspicious, accidental, and medically unattended deaths within the county. This guide explains how to search for a Medical Examiner case, understand case status information, work with a funeral home, request reports, handle personal property, obtain a death certificate, and follow the investigation process. It also clarifies what families can expect when an examination, autopsy, toxicology testing, or additional forensic review is required.

Start a Los Angeles County Medical Examiner Case Search

The official Los Angeles County Medical Examiner case search allows members of the public to look for cases handled by the Department of Medical Examiner. It is the most direct starting point when you need to confirm whether the department has opened a case or when you want to check available case details.

The search form provides several ways to narrow the results. Depending on the information available to you, you may search using:

First name
Last name
Age
Date of death
Medical Examiner case number

Search results may show the decedent’s name, case number, age, date of death, and place-of-death category. When a case has progressed further, additional case details may become available, including the assigned investigator, case status, final cause of death, final manner of death, or whether the remains are ready for release.

Use the Case Number Whenever Possible

A Medical Examiner case number is usually the most precise search method. Names may be entered differently, contain multiple parts, or produce several similar results. A case number identifies one specific investigation and can make communications with the Medical Examiner, funeral director, records staff, or other government offices more efficient.

Families should keep the case number with their important paperwork. It may be needed when arranging release of remains, requesting a Medical Examiner report, submitting authorization documents, or asking about property held by the department.

Understand What the Online Search Covers

The public database is a search of Medical Examiner cases only. It is not a complete index of every person who dies in Los Angeles County. Many deaths do not fall under the department’s legal jurisdiction and therefore will not appear in the Medical Examiner case search.

Some qualifying cases may also be temporarily unavailable online. The department states that cases will not be displayed when the next of kin has not been notified or when a security hold applies. A missing record does not always mean that the Medical Examiner is not involved.

Medical Examiner information displayed through the case search is treated as a public record and may be subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act. However, public access to a basic case entry does not mean that every investigative document, photograph, medical record, or law enforcement record is available through the same search page.

Know Why the Medical Examiner Takes Jurisdiction

State law requires the Department of Medical Examiner to investigate deaths that meet specified conditions. Its responsibility is to determine the circumstances, cause, and manner of death in cases within its jurisdiction.

The department may become involved when a death is:

Sudden or unexpected
Violent or apparently caused by injury
Suspicious or potentially connected to a criminal act
Apparently accidental
A suspected suicide or homicide
Unusual in its circumstances
Unattended by a physician for the period specified under state law

Jurisdiction does not automatically mean that a crime occurred. A person may become a Medical Examiner case because the death happened unexpectedly, the medical history is insufficient, the person had not recently been under a physician’s care, or the circumstances require an independent forensic determination.

The department’s death investigation process explains how a case may move through reporting, transportation, investigation, identification, examination, release, property handling, and records storage.

How the Reporting Desk Opens a Case

The Reporting Desk receives initial notifications from law enforcement agencies, health care providers, funeral directors, families, and other reporting parties. Staff review the circumstances to determine whether the death falls within Medical Examiner jurisdiction.

If the department accepts jurisdiction, it may begin a death investigation and arrange transportation of the decedent to its facility. If the death does not meet jurisdictional requirements, the department may decline the case and leave certification to the appropriate physician or other authorized party.

How Investigations Can Differ

Not every Medical Examiner investigation follows the same path. Some cases can be resolved by reviewing medical history, speaking with a treating physician, and confirming an expected death caused by a documented terminal condition. Other cases require a detailed scene investigation, interviews, identification procedures, evidence collection, an autopsy, toxicology testing, or consultations with forensic specialists.

Investigators may gather information about:

The location and circumstances of death
Medical and prescription history
Statements from witnesses, relatives, or caregivers
Recent injuries, illnesses, or medical treatment
Possible alcohol, medication, drug, or toxic substance exposure
Personal identification and next-of-kin information
Property found with the decedent

The scope of the investigation is based on the facts of the case. A complex investigation can continue after the remains have been released to a funeral home.

Follow the Examination, Autopsy, and Toxicology Process

A deputy medical examiner reviews the available evidence and determines the level of examination needed to establish the cause and manner of death. The examination may include an external examination, a full autopsy, laboratory testing, medical-record review, imaging, toxicology, or other forensic procedures.

Recognize the Difference Between Cause and Manner of Death

The cause of death is the injury, disease, or medical condition that ultimately resulted in death. Examples may include a specific injury, poisoning, cardiovascular disease, infection, or another identified condition.

The manner of death describes how the cause came about. Medical examiners generally classify manner of death as:

Natural: Death resulting entirely or almost entirely from disease.
Accident: Death caused by an injury or event without evidence of intent to cause harm.
Suicide: Death resulting from an injury caused with intent to produce self-harm or death.
Homicide: Death caused by the volitional act of another person.
Undetermined: Available evidence is insufficient to assign another manner with reasonable certainty.

A homicide classification is a medical determination and does not by itself establish criminal guilt. Questions about arrests, criminal charges, police reports, or prosecution must be directed to the law enforcement or prosecuting agency handling that part of the matter.

What Happens During a Medicolegal Autopsy

A medicolegal autopsy is designed to document injuries, identify disease, collect evidence, and reconstruct events that may have contributed to the death. A forensic pathologist performs a careful external and internal examination and records findings in a standardized manner.

The examination may include collection of blood, urine, vitreous fluid, bile, tissue sections, or portions of organs. These biological specimens may be tested for medications, drugs, alcohol, poisons, disease, or other substances relevant to the investigation.

The department may retain tissues, organs, body fluids, or evidence after the body is released when continued analysis is necessary. Retained material is handled and disposed of under applicable California law and departmental procedures.

When an Autopsy Is Not Automatically Required

Acceptance of a case does not mean that a full autopsy will always be performed. The medical examiner decides what level of examination is medically and legally necessary. A case may sometimes be completed through an external examination, medical-record review, and other supporting information.

If the department does not require an autopsy for its official investigation, the legal next of kin may ask whether an autopsy can be performed at the family’s expense. The department decides whether it can accommodate the request and what documentation or payment requirements apply.

Prepare for Deferred Cause-of-Death Findings

The pathologist can sometimes determine the cause and manner of death shortly after the examination. In other cases, the final determination depends on toxicology, microscopic examination, medical records, investigative findings, or specialist consultation.

When additional testing is pending, an interim or deferred death certificate may be issued. This allows the family to proceed with funeral arrangements even though the final cause or manner has not yet been completed. After the necessary testing and review are finished, the death certificate may be amended with the final findings.

The department’s published guidance states that toxicology results commonly take approximately two to four months, with some cases taking longer. The total timeline depends on the testing required, case complexity, laboratory workload, records availability, and whether additional investigation is needed.

Take the Right Steps After a Relative Becomes a Medical Examiner Case

Families generally do not need to travel immediately to the Medical Examiner facility. The most important early step is to select a funeral home and tell the funeral director that the death is being handled by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.

The department does not select funeral homes and does not make funeral arrangements. The funeral director typically communicates with the department, obtains the required release authorization, and coordinates transportation after the remains are ready for release.

The official Medical Examiner information for families provides instructions on release authorization, viewing, death certificates, personal property, county disposition, and other immediate concerns.

Choose a Funeral Home and Provide the Case Number

After choosing a mortuary or funeral home, provide the funeral director with the decedent’s name and Medical Examiner case number. Ask the funeral director to notify the department that the funeral home will handle the arrangements.

The legal next of kin normally signs the authorization permitting release of the remains. The mortuary generally supplies the form, obtains the proper signature, and submits the documents to the department.

The person authorized to direct disposition of the remains may not always be the same person who has authority over financial, estate, or other legal matters. Families dealing with disagreements over who may authorize release should obtain appropriate legal guidance rather than assuming that possession of a will, power of attorney, or estate document automatically controls disposition rights.

Authorize Another Person to Handle Arrangements

When someone other than the legal next of kin will make arrangements, the department requires written authorization signed and dated by the legal next of kin. The authorization generally must identify:

The decedent’s name
The Medical Examiner case number
The authorizing person’s name and telephone number
The authorizing person’s relationship to the decedent
The selected funeral director or funeral home

The department may require notarization. When remains will be shipped to a mortuary outside Los Angeles County, both the local mortuary and the receiving mortuary should be specifically identified in the authorization.

Do Not Go to the Facility for Routine Identification

Visual identification is not required in most cases. Identification may be established through documents, fingerprints, photographs, medical or dental records, or other accepted methods. A Medical Examiner representative will contact the family if an in-person visit, medical record, dental record, X-ray, or other identification material is needed.

The Medical Examiner facility is not designed for family viewing. Families who want a viewing should discuss arrangements with the selected funeral home after the remains have been released.

Allow the Funeral Director to Coordinate Release

Remains generally become available for release after the required examination has been completed and the department has received proper authorization. The family’s funeral director handles the release process on the family’s behalf.

The department indicates that release often occurs within two to three days, but this is not a guaranteed deadline. Identification issues, evidentiary needs, unusual case circumstances, holidays, documentation problems, or other investigative requirements can extend the process.

Check Case Status and Complete Online Transactions

The department’s Medical Examiner online services provide access to several case-related functions. These services can help families and authorized requesters check information without making an unnecessary trip to the department.

Available online functions may include:

Searching for a Medical Examiner case
Reviewing available cause and manner information
Checking whether a case is ready for release
Viewing the assigned investigator when displayed
Paying a transportation and handling invoice
Purchasing eligible Medical Examiner documents
Ordering a Proof of Death letter

Before submitting a payment or document request, verify the decedent’s name and case number carefully. A request submitted under the wrong case may delay processing and require additional communication with the department.

Request Autopsy, Toxicology, and Investigation Records

Medical Examiner case records are stored by the department’s Records Section. A completed case report usually includes the autopsy report and investigation report. Depending on the case, it may also include toxicology, criminalist, gunshot residue, or consultant reports.

Medical Examiner records should not be confused with police reports, emergency medical service records, hospital records, or other agency files. The Department of Medical Examiner does not provide law enforcement reports or outside medical records. Those records must be requested from the agency that created or maintains them.

Wait Until Required Reports Are Complete

A full case report may not be ready while toxicology or other testing remains pending. Families can monitor the public case status and contact the Records Section when they need information about report availability.

Older cases may be archived and may have different retrieval procedures or fees. The department’s published information also states that photographs are not included with the standard Medical Examiner report. Release of photographs is restricted and may require a court order, even when the requester is the legal next of kin.

Understand a Proof of Death Letter

A Proof of Death letter is a certified departmental letter documenting basic facts such as the decedent’s name and the date and place of death. It may be useful while other documentation is pending, but it does not replace a certified death certificate.

Before ordering one, ask the requesting bank, employer, insurance company, government agency, or other institution whether it will accept a Proof of Death letter. Some organizations require a certified death certificate and will not accept an alternative document.

Get a Death Certificate From the Correct County Office

The Department of Medical Examiner investigates qualifying deaths and determines cause and manner, but it does not maintain or distribute certified death certificates.

For a death that occurred within the preceding year, certified copies are generally handled by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. After the applicable period has passed, responsibility transfers to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. A funeral home may also order certified copies for the family as part of the funeral arrangements.

A death certificate is the official legal record of death. Certified copies may be requested for:

Life insurance claims
Social Security matters
Bank and investment accounts
Retirement or pension benefits
Property transfers
Probate and estate administration
Employer benefits
Vehicle title changes

When the cause of death is deferred, the initial certificate may show that the final determination is pending. An amendment can be issued after the Medical Examiner completes the investigation and submits the final cause and manner.

Recover Personal Property Held by the Medical Examiner

Personal possessions held by the Department of Medical Examiner may generally be claimed by the legal next of kin. Families should contact the Personal Property Section before traveling to the facility because staff may require identification, relationship documents, authorization forms, or other paperwork.

Government-issued documents belonging to the decedent, such as a driver’s license, passport, or military identification card, are not normally released to relatives. They are returned to the issuing government agency for disposition.

Some property may be held by a police department, sheriff’s station, hospital, Public Administrator, or another agency rather than the Medical Examiner. The family must contact the agency that has custody of the item.

Clothing is not usually treated in the same manner as personal property. Clothing may be released to the mortuary unless it must be held as evidence. Items presenting a health or safety hazard may be disposed of according to departmental procedures.

Use the Correct Authorization Form

The department publishes release declarations, next-of-kin authorizations, exposure requests, evidence-retention requests, and other documents on its official Medical Examiner forms page.

Commonly referenced forms include:

Order for Release
Declaration pursuant to California Government Code requirements
Durable Power of Attorney for release of remains or property
Next of Kin Authorization
Hospital and nursing care facility reports
Exposure and confidential testing requests
Extended evidence retention requests

Read the instructions before signing. Some forms may require notarization, witnesses, supporting identification, or proof of relationship.

Respond When a Residence Has Been Sealed

A residence connected to a death investigation may be sealed by the Department of Medical Examiner, the Public Administrator, or another investigating agency. Family members should not remove, break, or bypass a government seal.

Look at the notice attached to the door and identify the agency named on it. Permission to enter must come from the agency responsible for the seal. A yellow Public Administrator seal and a blue Medical Examiner seal involve different offices and should be handled through the telephone number printed on the notice or the appropriate county office.

A seal may be used to protect property, preserve evidence, prevent unauthorized entry, or allow the responsible agency to complete required duties. The existence of a seal does not by itself establish that a crime occurred.

Search for an Unidentified Person

The standard case search is most useful when the decedent’s name is known. When a person has not been identified, the department provides a separate Los Angeles County unidentified persons search.

The unidentified-person database may be searched using criteria such as:

Sex
Ethnicity
Date found
Estimated age
Case number

Entries may contain limited descriptive information because identification remains under investigation. Anyone who believes an entry could be connected to a missing relative should communicate directly with the Department of Medical Examiner or the law enforcement agency handling the missing-person report. Do not rely only on a visual or demographic similarity.

Handle Religious Objections and Special Family Requests Promptly

A family that objects to an autopsy for religious reasons should notify the department immediately. The department may try to accommodate family wishes when legally and medically possible, but an autopsy may still be required.

California law provides a process for an adult to execute a Certificate of Religious Belief concerning postmortem anatomical dissection or specified procedures. The certificate must meet legal requirements, including clear language, the individual’s signature and date, and signatures from the required witnesses.

A religious objection is not absolute. It may be overridden when the law permits, including circumstances involving reasonable suspicion of a criminal act or a contagious disease that could create a public health hazard. Religious-belief exemptions also cannot be created on behalf of a person who was under 18.

Use County Disposition When Burial Funds Are Unavailable

When the decedent and legal next of kin do not have sufficient funds for burial or cremation, County disposition may be considered. Proof of indigence is required, and the family must complete the applicable county process.

Under County disposition, Los Angeles County may cremate the remains and hold the cremated remains for a period before interment in a common gravesite at the county cemetery. Families should understand that County disposition can involve substantial delays, including delays affecting the availability of a death certificate and related benefits.

Veterans may qualify for burial benefits when military service, discharge status, and other eligibility requirements are met. Families should communicate the decedent’s military history to the funeral director and contact the county office responsible for military and veterans affairs.

Contact the Correct Los Angeles County Office

For case-specific assistance, use the department’s official Medical Examiner contact page. Have the decedent’s full name and Medical Examiner case number available before calling whenever possible.

County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner
1104 N. Mission Road
Los Angeles, CA 90033
(323) 343-0512
After Business Hours: (323) 343-0714

Records Section
(323) 343-0695

Personal Property Section
(323) 343-0515

Transportation and Handling Payments
(323) 343-0572

Medical Examiner Examination Information
(323) 343-0520

Public Administrator
(213) 974-0460

Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
(213) 765-9681

Los Angeles County Medical Examiner FAQs

Can a family hold an open-casket service after an autopsy?

An autopsy does not automatically prevent an open-casket funeral. Whether viewing is appropriate depends on the condition of the remains, including injuries, decomposition, illness, or other circumstances affecting preparation. The selected funeral director can evaluate the remains after release and explain whether restorative preparation or a limited viewing may be possible. Because the Medical Examiner does not operate a public viewing facility, all viewing decisions and arrangements must be made with the funeral home.

How much does a Medical Examiner case report cost?

The Department of Medical Examiner states that a standard case report currently costs $32, while an older archived case report costs $94. A report may include the autopsy, investigation, toxicology, criminalist, gunshot-residue, or consultant reports available for that case. Prices and availability may change, so requesters should confirm the applicable amount before ordering through the county’s Medical Examiner online services. Police reports, hospital records, and other outside-agency documents are not included.

What should families do with the decedent’s prescription medications?

The county advises families to take unused prescriptions to a local pharmacist for proper disposal. Medications should not be kept for another person, shared, flushed, or placed loosely in household trash. A pharmacist can explain the appropriate disposal method and whether a medication take-back option is available. Prescriptions retained by investigators as evidence should not be removed or disposed of unless the responsible agency releases them.

Are Medical Examiner instructions available in languages other than English?

Yes. The department publishes family fact sheets and videos in multiple languages, including Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Eastern Armenian, Korean, Vietnamese, and Tagalog. American Sign Language video material is also available. Families can review the official Medical Examiner fact sheets for families to find instructions in a preferred language before completing case-related steps.