Coroner Inquests

Specialist coroner inquest lawyers with decades of experience in representing clients throughout sensitive and high-profile proceedings.

Talk to us

Legal Business Awards 2025, Regional/Offshore Firm of the Year, Winner trophy badge with black background and gold, blue and white text and accents.

Our team of inquest experts is here to protect your interests and ensure that your perspective is heard during coroner inquests.

We have extensive experience in providing legal representation at the full range of inquest hearings — including Jury and Article 2 Inquests — and frequently advise both organisations and individuals right from the initial referral of a death to the coroner all the way through to the conclusion of proceedings and any follow up that’s required post-hearing.

With a reputation for professionalism, empathy and clarity, we’re a trusted partner in navigating the inquest process for all our clients with confidence and care.

We provide comprehensive legal guidance at every stage of the inquest process, including:

Advising on evidence preservation for future proceedings.
Contributing to the scope of the inquest.
Securing Interested Person status.
Assisting with witness statements and preparing for oral evidence.
Responding to coroner enquiries.
Representing clients during the inquest hearing (or instructing Counsel to do so, where appropriate).
Drafting written submissions.
Addressing concerns regarding Prevention of Future Deaths.
Managing reputational risks and implementing necessary recommendations.

If you’ve received legal correspondence or need guidance through the inquest process, our experienced inquest lawyers are here to support you.

To discuss how we can support you, call 0333 004 4488, email hello@brabners.com or fill in our contact form.

A woman sits on a bed, holding hands with another person, in a room with natural light and beige curtains in the background.

Inquests — who we act for

Our extensive experience includes acting for:

Healthcare professionals (such as doctors, nurses and NHS Trusts) in cases that often involve detailed considerations of clinical care, safeguarding concerns and regulatory scrutiny.
Private prison providers in cases that often involve considerations of adequacy of healthcare provision, mental health support and risk assessments, as well as monitoring, staffing and resourcing.
Social housing providers in cases that often involve considerations about property condition and safety, vulnerable tenants and safeguarding, as well as communication and engagement.
Care home operators in cases that often involve considerations of medical care and monitoring, staffing and training, safeguarding and vulnerability, as well as communication and record keeping.
Corporate entities across a range of sectors, which may include considerations regarding duty of care and legal responsibilities, health and safety compliance and operational failures.
Bereaved families, ensuring that their voices are heard, their interests are protected and any failings are properly explored.

Our inquest work

Global medical device company

Supported a global medical device company following its late involvement in an inquest concerning a specialist bed used in a care home. We quickly prepared robust witness evidence and provided full inquest support, helping to protect our client from criticism. The coroner found no issues requiring action or mention in the Record of Inquest.

Housing provider

Represented a specialist housing provider at an inquest following the drug-related death of a service user. After securing Interested Person status, we prepared a detailed corporate witness statement and provided full support throughout proceedings. Our submissions helped to achieve a positive outcome — no adverse findings or Prevention of Future Deaths report were issued.

Family

Supported a family through a sensitive inquest following the tragic death of their baby. With compassion and clarity, we guided them through the legal process, ensuring that their concerns were heard and their perspective fully represented. Our involvement provided stability and reassurance, helping to achieve a thorough and respectful inquiry.

A healthcare professional wearing a stethoscope is writing on a tablet with a stylus, with a notebook in the foreground.

What is an inquest?

An inquest is a coroner-led legal proceeding with the family at its centre. It’s non-adversarial — meaning that there are no ‘sides’ and all parties work together to assist the coroner in establishing the facts. As a fact-finding process, an inquest doesn’t determine criminal or civil liability.

It’s a public judicial inquiry aimed at answering four key questions:

Who the deceased was.
When and where they died.
The medical cause of death.
How they came by their death.

However, since inquest hearings take place in courts that are accessible to the public and members of the press — and are often used to gather evidence to support a future civil claim — it’s imperative to understand the process, the potential risks and feel properly supported by those with more knowledge and experience.

A cluster of pink peony or rose flowers with delicate, layered petals against dark green leaves background.

The inquest process & role of the coroner

Coroners are independent judicial officers, appointed by local authorities. Deaths are reported to the coroner if they’re violent or unnatural (including a workplace fatality, for example), sudden or unexplained, occurred in custody or state detention or are due to industrial disease or medical negligence.

A coroner’s statutory duty is to determine:

Who the deceased was.
When and where they died.
How they died.
The circumstances surrounding the death.

The process begins with information-gathering, narrowing down key issues and setting the inquest’s scope. Coroners have discretionary powers to compel evidence, including the delivery of documents, the preparation of witness statements and summoning witnesses to court. In certain cases, they may impose criminal sanctions, including fines or imprisonment if evidence isn’t provided in-line with a coroner’s directions.

Once all relevant information has been gathered, the coroner decides who must give oral evidence in court. If evidence is uncontroversial, it may simply be read into the court record — so a clear, detailed statement can sometimes prevent the need to appear in person. If called to give evidence, witnesses testify under oath, reinforcing their duty to the court. The coroner and Properly Interested Persons (PIPs) — including the deceased’s family — may ask questions. Formalities are important. Witnesses must address the coroner as ‘Sir’ or ‘Ma’am’. Increasingly, courts allow witnesses to attend remotely. However, it’s crucial to treat any remote location as an extension of the courtroom.

A core function of the coroner’s court is to identify risks and prevent future deaths. If an investigation highlights ongoing concerns, the coroner issues a Prevention of Future Deaths (PFD) report. While the coroner may suggest that action should be taken, they can’t specify what that action must be.

Find out more about the coronial inquest process