Show All Answers

1. Who is the Coroner?

Timothy Carson was elected Coroner in November 2021 and took office January 1, 2022.

2. What are the duties of the Coroner?

The Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office investigates the facts and circumstances of deaths that occur within the county, regardless of where the cause thereof may have occurred. The purpose of the investigation shall be to determine the cause of any such death and to determine whether or not there is sufficient reason to believe that any such death may have resulted from criminal acts or criminal neglect of persons other than the deceased.

3. Where is the jurisdiction of the Coroner?

The Westmoreland County Coroner's Office will only assume jurisdiction of those deaths that occur within the limits of Westmoreland County.

Pennsylvania Law prohibits the Coroner from assuming jurisdiction of deaths that occur outside of his/her county limits.

The Coroner, Chief Deputy or Deputy Coroner may conduct interviews, serve subpoenas, or otherwise conduct investigative procedures outside of the county as long as the death occurred within the county.

4. Who notifies the Coroner's Office of a death?

Emergency Medical Service providers, Police Investigators, or Healthcare Facility Personnel, typically notify the Coroner's Office when a death occurs.

The general public should call 911 to report a death.

If the decedent is under hospice care, it is appropriate for the family to contact the funeral director of their choice or hospice nurse without calling 911. The hospice nurse or funeral director must then report the death to the Coroner's Office.

5. Are all deaths reported to the Coroner?

No. In Westmoreland County the following deaths are not reportable:
Decedents who are in-patients of a hospital for at least (24) hours following admission and die as the result of ONLY natural causes.
Decedent's who die of ONLY natural causes as a resident of a skilled nursing facility.

The following deaths ARE reportable to the Coroner in Westmoreland County:
Sudden deaths not caused by readily recognizable disease, or wherein a physician on the basis of prior medical attendance cannot properly certify the cause of death.
Deaths occurring under suspicious circumstances including those where alcohol, drugs, or other toxic substances may have a direct bearing on the death.
Deaths occurring as a result of violence or trauma, whether apparently homicidal, suicidal, or accidental.
Any death in which trauma, falls or fractures, chemical injury, asphyxia, exposure, fire, drug overdose, or reaction to drugs or medical treatment was a PRIMARY or SECONDARY, DIRECT or INDIRECT, CONTRIBUTORY, AGGRAVATING, or PRECIPITATING cause of death.
Operative and peri-operative death in which the death is not readily explainable on the basis of prior disease.
Any death wherein the body is unidentified or unclaimed.
Deaths known or suspected as due to contagious disease and constituting a public health hazard.
Deaths occurring in a prison, penal institution, or in the custody of police.
Deaths of persons whose bodies are to be cremated, buried at sea or otherwise disposed of, so as to be thereafter unavailable for examination.
Any sudden infant death.
Stillbirth.
All residence (including hospice), personal care home, and emergency room deaths.

6. Are all Coroner records available to the public?

No. The Coroner Report of Investigation, Autopsy, and Toxicology Reports are not public record. These reports contain information that is protected by Federal and State Laws.

The Coroner Dockets are the only records that are made available to the public. State law requires that ONLY the following information be made available for public view:

Name of the decedent, age of the decedent, cause and manner of death, date and time of death, Coroner's name and seal.

7. How do I obtain a Coroner's Report? Autopsy Report? Toxicology Report?

One "Official" copy of each report is made available to the legal next of kin, providing that the investigation is complete and the case is closed.

Insurance or legal requests for reports may be made in writing. Requests must accompany a written authorization release from the legal next of kin and a check or money order made payable to the "Westmoreland County Coroner" for requested reports.

(Please verify which reports are available before sending a check. Cash is not accepted at any time).

8. What is the cost for reports?

One "Official" copy of each report is made available to the legal next of kin at no charge.

A fee is charged for additional copies at the following rates:

Coroner Report of Investigation - $100.00 Toxicology Report - $100.00 Autopsy Report - $500.00

9. How do I obtain a copy of the death certificate?

Depending on how much time has elapsed, a certified copy of the death certificate can only be obtained from either the funeral home who was in charge of the arrangements or the Pennsylvania Department of Health.  The Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office does NOT issue copies of death certificates to the public. 

Death certificates can be obtained in person at:

411 7th Street, Suite 360

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Instructions for ordering a copy of a death certificate can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s website at https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/certificates/Pages/Death-Certificates.aspx

10. Who can retrieve the personal effects recovered from a decedent?

Personal effects are typically released to the funeral director along with the decedent.

The legal next of kin, or legal designee, may pick up items not released to the funeral director during normal office hours and by appointment only.

Recipient must present a valid government issued photo ID and sign a release.

11. Do I need to identify or can I view my loved one at the Coroner's Office?

No, due to biohazard and public health concerns, as well as insurance regulations, the general public is not permitted to enter the morgue facility.

If identification of a decedent is necessary, additional forensic methods will be utilized.

Arrangements to view a decedent should be made with the funeral director handling the final disposition.