Coroner's Office

Function of the Coroner's Office

The function of the Coroner’s Office is to determine cause, manner, and circumstance of death under the Georgia Death Investigation Act.

The Coroner is required to investigate when a person dies:

  • as a result of violence
  • by suicide or casualty
  • suddenly when in apparent good health
  • when unattended by a physician
  • in any suspicious or unusual manner, with particular attention to those persons 17 years of age and under
  • after birth but before seven years of age if the death is unexpected or unexplained
  • as a result of an execution carried out pursuant to the death penalty
  • when an inmate of a state hospital or a state, county, or city penal institution
  • after having been admitted to a hospital in an unconscious state and without regaining consciousness within 24 hours of admission

Autopsies are not mandatory to determine cause of death except in situations where death cannot be reasonably explained, or the death is a child under the age of seven. In 1990, the Georgia General Assembly enacted legislation that required each county in the state to establish a committee to develop local protocols to prevent child abuse. These "Child Abuse Protocol Committees" were also instructed to review unexpected or unexplained deaths of children under the age of 18, determine is any could have been prevented, and to make recommendations to prevent future child deaths. The coroner serves on this committee.

Coroners may pronounce someone dead under certain conditions at the scene of death. Coroners must authorize a release of bodies before they can be cremated, transported across the state line or autopsied.

In order to take office, all coroners are required to attend a 40-hour course at the Georgia State Patrol Training Center in Forsyth and receive 24 hours of in service training each year on various death investigation procedures.

The Coroner’s Office is part of the judicial system and has the power of subpoena. The Coroner’s Office may conduct court in the form of an inquest to help determine cause of death and the outcome may be used for criminal procedures. The coroner is often called upon as a witness in criminal court.

The coroner is elected at large to four-year terms.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation

Georgia Bureau of Investigation
404-270-8148

The Medical Examiner's Office of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation provides complete forensic pathology services to 153 of Georgia’s 159 counties in deaths which qualify as coroner cases under the Georgia Death Investigation Act. The Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Georgia oversees the GBI’s medical examiner (M.E.) program and also establishes policies and guidelines for all Georgia coroners and local medical examiners.

Services:

Anthropology
The examination of human skeletal remains involving crime scenes, mass disasters, and other types of casualty investigations directed toward the analysis and personal identification of human remains.

Autopsy
The Division of Forensic Sciences provides a complete service in Forensic Pathology under the authority of the Georgia Death Investigation Act.

Histology
Histological examination of tissues to document natural disease processes that are grossly apparent is at the discretion of the medical examiner and is dependent on the nature of the death.

Legal Services:

The Legal Services Division is staffed with six full-time employees, including two attorneys (the director and deputy director); an assistant deputy director (ADD and a records managemenemen); an assistant deput technician.

Open Records

The Open Records Unit, which includes archives management, is within Legal Services and functions under the direction of the ADD. The ADD has a legal assistant and a records management technician to assist in the processing of open records and archives requests. Requests pursuant to the Georgia Open Records Act have continued to increase, from 2,445 in FY'03 to 2,904 in FY'04. In addition to the requests, the Open Records Unit processed 97 subpoenas, 62 court orders, 105 production of document requests, and orchestrated the release of more than 140 biological specimens.

The Open Records Unit continued to provide training sessions to various criminal justice agencies throughout the state regarding the Open Records Act. More than 900 personnel were trained on this subject throughout the year.

GBI Investigative Reports, Crime Lab Reports, Etc.

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

Open Records Unit
Georgia Bureau of Investigation
3121 Panthersville Road
Decatur, Georgia 30034

Or

Fax your request to 404-270-8529

Or

Email your request to OpenRecords@gbi.state.ga.us

The Coroner works with medical and law enforcement personnel in the investigation of death. The Coroner has the power to subpoena, administer oaths, and compel attendance at the Coroner's inquest. It is the Coroner's duty to issue a death certificate for persons whose death becomes a coroner case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is my loved one taken?

In most cases the deceased are released to a funeral home of the family's choice. Should a funeral home be unavailable to receive the deceased, the Coroner’s Office will transport to our county morgue. 

If further examination is required; autopsy; the deceased are transported to the Georgia Bureau of Investigations office in Decatur, Georgia. Autopsies are performed by pathologists/forensic pathologists. Upon completion of all investigations the Coroner’s Office will release the deceased to the funeral home of the family's choosing.

Why is the Forsyth County Coroner’s Office involved?

State Law requires the Coroner to be notified when a death occurs under certain circumstances, the Coroner performs an investigation and arrives at the cause and manner of death, and either completes or arranges the completion of the death certificate. Georgia Law requires the County Coroner to investigate the circumstances and determine the cause and manner of death of all deaths that are:

  • Sudden, when a person is in apparent good health
  • Not under the care of a physician
  • Suspicious, unusual or unexplained
  • The result of violence
  • Unlawful or due to criminal neglect

Will an autopsy be performed?

Autopsies are performed when additional investigation is needed to establish the cause and manner of death; autopsies are ALWAYS performed in suspected homicides. Staff pathologists or specialized forensic pathologists are used for autopsies. Each case is unique and handled respectfully on an individual basis. Family consent is not required for an autopsy to be performed; it is the authority of the coroner—possibly in consultation with a pathologist—to order an autopsy.

What is an autopsy?

An autopsy is a post-mortem medical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of the body in order to determine or assist in determining the cause and manner of a person's death; it can also provide information on the presence of diseases or injuries that may have been contributing mortality factors. An autopsy is performed by a pathologist or forensic pathologist.

How long before my loved one is released from the Coroner's Office?

Each case is unique, but under normal circumstances a case not involving autopsy will result in release within 24 hours. Depending on what time of day the Forsyth County Coroner’s office is notified and takes jurisdiction, the medical information available to the Coroner at that time, and the circumstances surrounding the death, the body may be released the same day or later on the next day. In cases of suspicious deaths or deaths that require further investigation, your loved one’s remains may be held for additional time. 

If an autopsy is required, the investigation may take considerably longer, particularly if identification of the individual is an issue. You may contact the Coroner's Office at (770) 205-3011 to inquire about the status of your case.

Am I required to identify the body?

Identity of the deceased is usually determined through methods other than visual identification by family or acquaintances, and a visual ID is not required. Only in very rare cases are such identifications required. In the majority of cases, visual identification is not required. If visual identification is required, you will be notified by the Coroner’s office.

Is viewing allowed?

The Coroner's Office strongly discourages viewing prior to the deceased being released to a funeral home. Should a decedent require further investigation by the medical examiner; no viewing is permitted. This process is required for maintaining proper medical legal protection.

How will I get my loved one's personal possessions back?

Personal effects that are on the body in a coroner's case are the jurisdiction of the Coroner's Office, while other personal effects that may be collected are part of the evidence collection of the involved law enforcement agency (e.g. city police department; Sheriff's Office). All coroner case personal effects are logged and accounted for, and are released with the body; there are specific chain-of-custody procedures for the release of valuables. Occasionally clothing will need to be stored as evidence or disposed of if it presents a biohazard.

Will I still be able to have an open casket service if an autopsy is performed?

YES – Autopsies are performed in a professional manner that does not interfere with the viewing of the deceased in a normal manner.

Do I have to pay for an autopsy to be done?

NO – There is no charge to the family for autopsies performed under the Coroner’s jurisdiction.

How long will it take before my loved one is released from the Forsyth County Coroner’s Jurisdiction?

Depending on what time of day the Forsyth County Coroner’s office is notified and takes jurisdiction, the medical information available to the Coroner at that time, and the circumstances surrounding the death, the body may be released the same day or later on the next day. In cases of suspicious deaths or deaths that require further investigation, your loved one’s remains may be held for additional time.

Why are tubes and other medical devices left in place on the body?

Part of the autopsy is to investigate the proper application of therapeutic devices. Blood, soil and other material may sometimes not be allowed to be washed off as it may hinder the investigation.

Who contacts the funeral home?

Once you have selected a funeral home, please let them know that the body is under the jurisdiction of the Coroner. Once a funeral home is selected, you must call the Coroner’s office as soon as possible to inform them of your choice. The Forsyth County Coroner’s office will then contact the funeral home when the body is ready for release.

How do I obtain a certified copy of the death certificate?

The Coroner’s office does not issue copies of the death certificate. Copies can be requested from the funeral home when arrangements are made. As a courtesy to the family, funeral homes offer to obtain the certificates from the Forsyth County Probate Court (770) 781-2140. The Probate Court charges a fee for each copy obtained and any additional copies may be obtained directly from them. The State of Georgia charges $25.00 for the first copy and $5.00 for each additional copy of the death certificate.

When will the autopsy report be ready and how do I obtain a copy?

Autopsy reports are generally available three(3) to four(4) months from the date of death. The results of Toxicology and other studies can take longer. One copy of the autopsy report is available at The Georgia Bureau of Investigation Open Records Department. Immediate next of kin means one of the following in this order: spouse, adult child, parent, brother/sister, niece/nephew. Please submit your request in writing to the Georgia Bureau of Investigations Open Records Office.

Open Records Unit
Georgia Bureau of Investigation
3121 Panthersville Road
Decatur, Georgia 30034

Or

Fax your request to 404-270-8529

Or

Email your request to OpenRecords@gbi.state.ga.us

What should I do now?

As soon as possible a funeral home must be selected to handle funeral arrangements for the deceased. These professionals are aware of the difficulties you are experiencing and the stresses that you are under, and will assist you with arrangements.

When you contact the funeral director, advise them that the deceased is under the Coroner’s jurisdiction. The funeral director will, in turn, contact our office and make arrangements to pick up your loved one.

 If you have any questions or if we can assist you, please call (770) 205-3011.

What if I can't afford funeral arrangements?

If your loved one did not have burial funds, the next-of-kin may ask for assistance in government and private sources. Your funeral home can provide you that information.

What about military benefits?

People who served in the Armed Forces may be entitled to veterans benefits. Seek more information from the Veterans Administration (VA) at www.cem.va.gov. Your funeral home will also have that information.

Support Numbers

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY DIAL 911

Georgia State Medical Examiners Office:
404-244-2600
Fulton County Medical Examiner:
404-730-4400
Cobb County Medical Examiner:
404-528-220
Dekalb County Medical Examiner:
404-508-3500
Gwinnett County Medical Examiner:
770-995-5558

Contact

Paul Holbrook
Coroner

Phone: (770) 205-3011
Report Death: (770) 781-3087

Location

Coroner's Office
110 East Main Street
Cumming, GA 30040

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PRIVACY STATEMENT