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The County of Los Angeles California, USA |
| Department of the Coroner |
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| Anthony T. Hernandez Director |
Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran, M.D. Chief Medical Examiner Coroner |
| 1104 N. Mission Road, Los Angeles, CA 90033 | |
We at the Los Angeles County Department of the Coroner extend our deepest sympathy to you during this diffcult time. We hope that the information contained in this pamphlet will assist you by providing answers to commonly asked questions.
Where will the remains be taken?There are three L. A. Coroner's facilities:
| Main Facility 1104 N. Mission Road Los Angeles, CA 90033 (323) 343-0714 |
Santa Clarita Office 14445 Olive Drive Sylmar, CA 91342 (818)364-3323 |
High Desert Antelope Valley 44900 N. 60th West Lancaster, CA 93536 (805)945-8566 |
Identification of
the RemainsIn a majority of the cases, visual identification is not required. Should it become necessary for you to come in or bring other records or x-rays, you will be contacted.
Viewing of the RemainsThe Coroner's facility is not designed to accommodate viewing the remains. Arrangements can be made at the funeral home for viewing.
The Involvement of the
L. A. CoronerState law requires the Coroner to inquire into and determine the
 | Circumstances |
| Manner |
| and Cause |
of ALL deaths that are, or seem to be
| Sudden |
| Violent |
| Unusual, or |
| Deaths where the decedent has not been seen by a physician 20 days prior to death |
The deceased will be taken to the Coroner's Office and examined by a physician to discover the cause of death
| A death certificate is issued after the examination is completed |
| Occasionally, more extensive testing is required; in which case an interim death certificate is issued which will allow the family to make funeral arrangements |
| A final death certificate will be issued following completion of special testing |
The Autopsy DecisionThe Deputy Medical Examiner will decide if an autopsy is necessary to establish the cause and circumstances of death. We may not perform an autopsy if the cause of death can be determined to be from "natural causes" and the deceased has a physician who knows the medical history and will furnish the Coroner with an acceptable probable cause of death.
Tissue and Organ DonationThe legislative consent law permits corneal removal for transplantation purposes if there is no known objection. With next of kin consent, certain other type of tissues may also be donated and thereby help others. You may be
| Contacted by a tissue collection representative | ||
| Interested in authorizing tissue donation
|
Release of the RemainsGenerally it should not take more than two to three days. Your Funeral Director will coordinate the release on your behalf.
What should I do right NOW?As soon as possible, select a funeral home and inform the funeral director that the death is being handled by the Coroner's office.
ASK THEM TO NOTIFY US - AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
Written AuthorizationOur office does not select funeral homes nor do we make arrangements. In the event someone is making the arrangements for the family, the Coroner must be provided with written authorization to release the deceased, signed by the legal next of kin. Should he/she reside at a distant location, they may send a FAX directly to our office using the following format:
- TO: CORONER, LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
| Release the Remains of: My (Relationship): Case Number: |
TO:
| Local Funeral Director (NAME) (If a the remains are to be shipped to a mortuary outside the County, the local mortuary, as well as the distant mortuary must be identified) |
TO THEN BE RELEASED TO:
| Distant Funeral Director (NAME) |
SIGNED: (name) (X)__________________________________________
RELATIONSHIP:
Coroner FAX numbers
| (323) 223-5786 |
| (323) 222-7041 |
Autopsy Report AvailabilityYou may obtain a copy by calling
| Coroner's Document Desk
|
At that time,you will be informed of the cost of this service and how this document or any Coroner records can be obtained.
Coroner ServicesThe County is required to assess certain fees for transportation and storage. You will receive written correspondence to this effect when and if they apply.
Death CertificateThe Death Certificate is filed with the Health Department by the Funeral Director. Should you require certified copies, they can be ordered through the funeral home or they may be purchased from
| Los Angeles County Health Department
|
| Hall of Records
|
Military InformationPersons who have served in the Armed Forces, were honorably discharged, and meet other service requiremerits are entitled to a Veteran's burial. For information contact
| L.A. County Veteran's Affairs Office
|
For information on Military, Veterans or Social Security benefits, contact your Funeral Service Practitioner.
No Available Funds For
BurialIf the deceased does not have sufficient funds for burial, the next of kin may apply for County disposition. In these circumstances, proof of indigence is required. The family should contact the Coroner's office at
| (323) 343-0755 |
Re-Claim Personal PossessionsAny personal possessions in the custody of the Coroner, may be claimed by the legal next of kin. To avoid any inconvenience to you, call before coming into the office.
| Coroner's Personal Property Section
|
The Personal Property Clerk will advise you if any documents will be needed and of any other requirements. The Personal Property section is open
| 8 AM - 4 PM |
| Monday through Friday |
| Closed on Weekends and Holidays |
Clothing is not usually considered property. Unless there is a need to hold clothing as evidence, it is released to the mortuary recovering the deceased. Clothing that presents a health hazard may be disposed of for the safety of all persons involved.
Residence Is SealedIn order to enter you need to obtain permission from the agency listed on the seal. If the seal indicates
| Public Administrator involvement
| ||
| Coroner's Office
|
Additional InformationWe hope the advice and counseling provided by your Funeral Director and the information provided in this pamphlet will help you during this time of loss. However, should you need additional assistance, during regular business hours, please telephone our office at
| (323) 343-0512 |
| The Board of Supervisors Chief Administrative Officer David Janssen |
|
| Gloria Molina First District |
Yvonne B. Burke Second District |
| Zev Yaroslavsky Third District |
Don Knabe Fourth District |
| Michael D. Antonovich Fifth District |
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