Request coronial documents
You may request coronial documents that are not publicly accessible.
Before you apply for coronial documents, please consider that it may be upsetting to read details about a loved one's death. Some information may be distressing and graphic in its detail.
Download the application for access to coronial documents/inquest transcript (available to the right).
Are you connected with the investigation? Apply to become an interested party.
Are you from the media? Read our guidelines on accessing court documents.
Find out more about accessing coronial documents in our factsheet.
What documents can you request?
You may request common coronial documents such as:
- the Medical Examination Report
- toxicology report
- the coronial brief
- witness statements
- transcripts from an inquest
- coronial findings (that are not already publicly available).
Who can request access to court documents?
- Senior next of kin or family of the deceased
- Victoria Police
- Insurance agents
- Healthcare professionals
- Legal practitioners
- Government agencies and statutory authorities
- Approved interested parties to an inquest
- Media
- Other persons approved by the coroner.
Considering your request
In considering your request, the investigating coroner must be satisfied you have sufficient interest in the case.
A coroner may refuse an application, for example, if a criminal prosecution is in progress or if the person who has applied has insufficient interest in the matter.
We will contact you and advise in writing to let you know if the request has been approved by the coroner. At this point we will provide a quote for the cost of fulfilling the request, if applicable.
Requests may take some time to process, particularly if they are not time sensitive and not considered to be part of the court’s core duties.
The coroner in most cases will impose conditions of release of a document. Penalties may apply if you break these conditions.
Researching your family tree?
If you are researching the death of a predecessor, please provide as much information as possible about them. Their country of birth (if not Australia), place of death and names of other family members can all be helpful in tracking down their file.
These requests are generally a lower priority for the court and may take some time to process.