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Office of the Medical Examiner FAQs

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1. Print a PDF version of the Information for Next of Kin pamphlet:

Click here.

2. Why is the Office of the Medical Examiner involved?

Arizona Revised Statute (A.R.S.) §11-593 requires that the following deaths be reported to the Office of the Medical Examiner:

• Death when not under the current care of a health care provider as defined pursuant to section §36-301.

• Death resulting from violence.

• Unexpected or unexplained death.

• Death of a person in a custodial agency as defined in section §13-4401.

• Unexpected or unexplained death of an infant or child.

• Death occurring in a suspicious, unusual or nonnatural manner, including death from an accident believed to be related to the deceased person's occupation or employment.

• Death occurring as a result of anesthetic or surgical procedures.

• Death suspected to be caused by a previously unreported or undiagnosed disease that constitutes a threat to public safety.

• Death involving unidentifiable bodies.

It is up to the medical examiner to determine if a case meets jurisdictional requirements to further investigate and certify the cause and manner of death on the Death Certificate.

3. Why is the death being investigated?

Medicolegal death investigations are conducted for the best interest of the public at large and only under the circumstances listed above. Not all investigations require examination of the body or a forensic autopsy.

4. How are bodies transported for examination, and where?

If it is determined that the body requires examination, we will make arrangements for transportation to our office at:
701 West Jefferson Street
Phoenix, AZ 85007

5. What comprises an 'examination' and when is it performed?

Each case is investigated on a case by case basis. If an examination is needed it will be completed by a medical doctor who specializes in Forensic Pathology. The examination may include an autopsy, an internal examination of the body to help determine facts about the death. An autopsy may be required due to the circumstances surrounding the death and may be necessary to assist in determining cause and manner of death. Exams generally are conducted within 72 hours of the decedent arriving at the Office of the Medical Examiner.

6. What if I do not want an autopsy of my family member?

Please make the Medicolegal Death Investigator (MDI) – the Office of the Medical Examiner representative who responds to the scene - aware of any specific requests you have regarding the examination. The Investigations Section also is staffed 24/7 and can be reached at 602-506-1138. The Office of the Medical Examiner will attempt to honor the family’s wishes if possible; however, an internal examination may be required in order to meet our statutory duties and mission.

7. Can I request an autopsy of my family member?

If the Medical Examiner has assumed jurisdiction of the Death Certificate, you may request an autopsy. Please make the Medicolegal Death Investigator (MDI) – the Office of the Medical Examiner representative who responds to the scene - aware of any specific questions you have about the death as an autopsy may or may not be the best way to answer them. The Investigations Section also is staffed 24/7 and can be reached at 602-506-1138. The Medical Examiner will attempt to honor your wishes; however, this is not always possible and an autopsy may not be completed on every case, even if requested.

8. Is an open casket viewing possible after an autopsy has been completed?

Our procedures do not typically limit the ability to have an open casket viewing. Your funeral service provider will be able to provide the best information about the ability to view once they have received and prepared the body.

9. How is the time of death determined?

The time of death is documented as the time the decedent is discovered or pronounced dead.

10. What is toxicology testing?

Toxicology is the detection of drugs and/or poisons in biological tissues and is different from hospital drug screening in that it is forensic testing and more rigorous and comprehensive. The Medical Examiner will decide if toxicology testing is necessary; not all cases require testing. Testing can take several months to complete.

11. Do I have to identify my family member at the Office of the Medical Examiner?

No. In fact, the Office of the Medical Examiner is a forensic medical and laboratory setting and family members are not permitted in these areas. Your family member will be identified through visual comparison to a legal form of identification, by family using photograph(s), or by other forensic means including fingerprints, dental charts, unique identifying marks, or DNA.

12. Can I request a viewing of my family member?

We do not allow viewings at our facility; however, in situations where an immediate family member questions the identification or otherwise wishes to assist in the identification process, that person may make a written or electronic request for an “Identification Meeting” pursuant to A.R.S §11-597.01 (Abby’s Law).

Request for an “Identification Meeting” must be made in writing to the Office of the Medical Examiner by an immediate family member. “Immediate family member” is defined in §11-597.01 as a person 18 years of age or older who is the decedent’s:
- Spouse
- Child
- Parent
- Grandparent
- Grandchild
- Sibling
- Legal guardian

The request may be delivered via mail, in person during normal business hours (8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday - Friday), or faxed to 602-372-8696.

For additional information on this process please call 602-506-3322. Note: only a photograph for identification can be provided; we do not allow physical viewings.

13. When and how is my loved one released to a funeral home or mortuary?

Your loved one can be released after completion of the examination. To initiate this process, the family needs to contact a service provider (funeral home, mortuary, cremation society, transportation provider), also letting the Office of the Medical Examiner know which provider has been selected. This chosen service provider will contact the Office of the Medical Examiner, on the family’s behalf, to coordinate release. Your service provider also will request certain vital statistic information from the family that must be recorded on the Death Certificate.

14. If I cannot select a funeral home or mortuary will the Office of the Medical Examiner provide one?

No. Once you have selected a service provider you will need to notify the Office of the Medical Examiner at 602-506-1138. If one is not selected within 72 hours of the examination then a rotation funeral home will be used. The family may be subject to any fees accrued by the rotation funeral home.

15. How do I receive personal effects?

Any personal effects obtained by the Office of the Medical Examiner will be released with the body to the selected funeral home/mortuary unless those items are deemed evidence, in which case they will be released to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

16. How quickly will cause and manner of death be determined?

Cause and manner of death may be determined the day of the examination. However, further testing or investigation may be required to accurately determine cause and manner of death.

You can check cause and manner of death online.

17. How do I obtain a copy of Medical Examiner Reports? How long does it take?

The length of time required for the completion of reports will vary depending on the agency caseload as well as the complexity, circumstances, and need for additional testing or investigation required for each individual case. In many cases, cause and manner of death are determined the day of the examination. However, further testing or investigation may be required to accurately determine cause and manner of death. In these situations, the death certificate may have a cause of death listed as “Pending”. To provide the most accurate cause and manner of death possible requires a thorough death investigation and this can be a time-intensive process.

While we cannot provide an exact closure time for any individual case, 90% of reports are completed within 3 months. If, after 3 months, you have not received your requested report, please contact the office at 602-506-3322 to check the status.

Reports are available to the public following completion of the case. If you wish to receive a copy of the report(s), please complete the online

Public Records Request form.

18. How do I receive death benefits if the cause and manner of death is pending?

The “pending” death certificate is legal proof of death. Some insurance companies and financial institutions may accept pending death certificates for the purpose of paying benefits or handling other accounts. The Family Advocate is available to assist you with matter. She can be reached at 602-506-3176.

19. How do I obtain a copy of the Death Certificate?

The Office of the Medical Examiner does not maintain Death Certificates. To obtain a copy of the Death Certificate, you may contact your designated funeral home or mortuary to assist you with this process or you can contact the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, Office of Vital Registration.

The Medical Examiner’s portions of the Death Certificate are filled out within 72 hours after the examination, excluding weekends and holidays in compliance with A.R.S. §36-325. In some cases, after examination, a specific cause and/or manner of death is unable to be determined without further laboratory testing or investigation. In those instances the cause and manner of death will be listed as “Pending” and an amendment to the Death Certificate will be filed with the Office of Vital Registration once the death investigation is concluded.

For additional information, please call 602-506-6805 or visit the Maricopa County Office of Vital Registration website.

20. I still have questions or need assistance regarding the death of a loved one. Who can help me?

When someone suffers a loss, it is not uncommon to feel overwhelmed or like your life is out of control. The Family Advocate can be reached at 602-506-3176. She is available to speak with families, answer questions, and provide emotional support resources, including:
• Current case status updates
• Liaison assistance with Office of the Medical Examiner and outside agencies
• Counseling services and support group referrals
• Youth Services referrals
• Community information and referral services