To obtain an autopsy report, submit a written request to the medical examiner or coroner’s office that performed the examination, along with a government-issued photo ID and, in most states, proof that you are the legal next of kin. Fees usually run $20 to $50, and the final report typically takes 60 to 90 days from the date of the autopsy because the pathologist has to wait for toxicology and other lab results before signing off.
Find the Right Office First
The office you contact depends on what kind of autopsy was performed. A forensic autopsy is ordered by a government authority when a death is sudden, unexplained, violent, or potentially criminal. The county or regional medical examiner or coroner performs the examination and holds the report. This is the situation most families are dealing with.
A hospital autopsy is different. It happens when the family consents to a post-mortem examination after a death during medical care, usually to confirm a diagnosis or study a disease. Those reports sit with the hospital’s medical records department, not with any government office. If the autopsy was done at the hospital, request it the same way you would any other medical record from that facility.
Who Is Allowed to Request the Report
Eligibility depends almost entirely on your state’s laws, and the range across the country is wider than most people expect.
Next of Kin
Every state gives the legal next of kin the strongest right to request the report. The priority order generally starts with the surviving spouse, then moves to adult children, parents, and adult siblings. If none of those individuals are alive or available, eligibility may extend to grandparents or grandchildren. The court-appointed executor or personal representative of the estate can request the report as well. An attorney or insurance company acting on behalf of the family can obtain a copy, but usually only with a signed release from someone in the next-of-kin chain.
Public Records Access in Many States
In a significant number of states, autopsy reports are treated as public records, meaning anyone can request one regardless of their relationship to the deceased. Alabama, Colorado, Hawaii, and Iowa, among others, make autopsy reports broadly accessible through their open records laws. Alaska, Connecticut, and Delaware treat them as confidential and limit access to next of kin, their legal representatives, or law enforcement. Most states fall somewhere in between: reports are available to the public, but exceptions exist for active criminal investigations, and autopsy photographs and recordings often remain restricted even when the written report is public.
Before you assume you need to prove a family relationship, check your state’s public records law or call the medical examiner’s office and ask. You may be able to file a straightforward open records request without any proof of kinship.
One clarification worth making: HIPAA does not control this. Government medical examiner and coroner offices are generally not HIPAA covered entities, so the federal medical privacy law does not govern their records. State law does.
What to Include With Your Request
Whether you’re requesting as next of kin or under an open records law, you’ll need to provide identifying information and documentation:
- The decedent’s full legal name, date of birth, and date and location of death. If you have the case number the medical examiner or coroner assigned (often on the death certificate), include it.
- A government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, passport, or military ID.
- Proof of relationship if your state restricts access to next of kin. A marriage certificate, birth certificate, or court appointment letter for an executor generally does the job.
- The office’s request form. Most medical examiner and coroner offices post one on their website. Some accept a written letter instead.
If you’re filing under a public records statute rather than as next of kin, you typically need only your ID and a written request citing the statute. No proof of relationship is required.
How to Submit and Follow Up
Most offices accept requests by mail, through an online portal, or in person. Send copies of your supporting documents, never originals. Hand-delivering has the advantage of letting you confirm on the spot that your package is complete.
Ask for a confirmation number or a receipt when you submit. If you haven’t heard anything within two weeks, follow up by phone. These offices carry heavy caseloads and requests occasionally get lost. A reference number or the name of someone you spoke with makes the follow-up call much more productive.
Fees
Fees vary by jurisdiction. Some offices give the legal next of kin the first copy free. Others charge a flat fee regardless of who is requesting. Expect roughly $20 to $50, with higher charges for certified or notarized copies. Call before submitting to confirm the current fee and accepted payment methods, since some government offices still don’t take credit cards.
How Long the Report Takes
This part catches most families off guard. A pathologist performs the physical examination in a matter of hours, and preliminary findings on the likely cause of death may be available within two to three days. The final written report is another matter. A medical autopsy typically takes about six weeks, and forensic autopsies usually take longer.1Cleveland Clinic. Autopsy: What It Is and Why Its Done Many forensic centers estimate 60 to 90 days from the date of autopsy, and complex cases stretch beyond that.
Toxicology is the main bottleneck. Postmortem toxicology screens take one to two months on their own, and state and regional lab backlogs push that further. The pathologist will not sign the final report until every lab result is back, because a toxicology finding can change both the cause and the manner of death. If the death certificate lists the cause of death as “pending,” lab results almost certainly haven’t come back yet.
Some offices will share a preliminary report or a preliminary cause of death with next of kin while the final report is still being completed. It’s worth asking if you need the information for insurance, estate administration, or peace of mind.
Military and Federal Deaths
If the death occurred under federal jurisdiction or involved a member of the armed forces, the autopsy was probably performed by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System (AFMES) at Dover Air Force Base, and the request process is separate from any state or county office. You’ll need to complete the AFMES autopsy request form and submit it by email, fax, or mail with a copy of your government-issued photo ID. The request must be in writing to comply with the Privacy Act of 1974.2DHA.mil. AFMES FAQs
- Email: dha.dover.afmes.mbx.operations@health.mil
- Fax: 302-346-8819
- Mail: Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, Attn: Forensic Pathology Investigations, 115 Purple Heart Drive, Dover AFB, DE 19902
If Your Request Is Denied
Denials happen, and they’re not always the end of the road. Your next step depends on why the request was refused.
Eligibility Problems
The simplest denial is when the requester doesn’t qualify as next of kin under a state that restricts access. Ask the office exactly what documentation they need. Sometimes the fix is providing a birth certificate you left out or getting a signed authorization from someone higher in the next-of-kin chain. If you’re not related but your state treats autopsy reports as public records, point the clerk to the relevant open records statute. Front-desk staff don’t always know the public records law as well as they know their internal procedures.
Holds for Active Investigations
When a death is part of an ongoing criminal investigation, the prosecutor’s office or law enforcement may place a hold on the report. The concern is that releasing details could tip off suspects or witnesses. These holds can last months or even years, and there is generally no fixed statutory deadline that forces release while the investigation remains active.
Ask the medical examiner’s office or the investigating agency for a point of contact who can give you periodic updates. Some offices will release a redacted version that omits sensitive details while the case is open. Once the investigation closes or charges are filed, the report typically becomes available through the normal process or through discovery in the criminal case.
Going to Court
If you believe the denial is improper or the hold has lasted unreasonably long, you can hire an attorney and petition a court for an order compelling release. It’s a real option, but not quick or cheap. Courts weigh the family’s interest in the report against any legitimate law enforcement concerns or privacy interests of other parties. In states where autopsy reports are public records, courts tend to lean toward disclosure unless the government can show a concrete, specific harm from releasing the document.