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Frequently Asked Questions
A
message from Craig Newton , Newberry County Coroner
We at the
Newberry County Coroner's Office, extend our deepest sympathy to you
during this difficult time. We hope that the information contained on
this website will assist you by providing answers to commonly asked questions.
Where will my
relative/friend be taken?
He/She will
be taken to the Coroner's facility for an autopsy, or to be held
until the attending physician can be contacted. You can contact our
office at 803-321-2211 or by 24 Hour Emergency Number 803-321-2222.
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Is it necessary for me to come to the
Coroner’s Office to identify the body?
No, visual
identification is not required. Should it become necessary, our
office will require x-ray or dental records. Our staff may contact
you to obtain information regarding any doctor or dentist who may
have the necessary material.
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Is viewing allowed?
No. The
Coroner's facility is not designed to accommodate viewing.
Arrangements can be made at the funeral home for viewing.
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How long will it take before my relative/friend
is released from your office?
Generally
it should not take more than a day or two. Your Funeral Director will
coordinate the release on your behalf.
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Why is the coroner involved?
When
any person dies as a result of criminal or other violent means, by
casualty, by suicide, or in suspicious or unusual manner, or when any
person, including a child under two years of age, dies suddenly when
in apparent good health, the physician called in attendance, or any
member of an ambulance service, emergency squad, or law enforcement
agency who obtains knowledge thereof arising from his duties, shall
immediately notify the Office of the Coroner of the known facts
concerning the time, place, manner, and circumstances of the death,
and any other information which is required .
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Will an autopsy be performed?
The Coroner
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".
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What about tissue/organ donation?
The Coroner
reserves the right to approve or disapprove the removal of any organ
in Coroner cases, which may create conflict with the legal
responsibility of the Coroner. Such permission will be decided on an
individual case basis.
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My relative/friend was in the military. Who can
I contact for information?
Persons who
have served in the Armed Forces, were honorably discharged, and meet
other service requirements are entitled to a Veteran's burial. For
information on Fraternal Society, Military, Veteran's, or Social
Security benefits contact your funeral director.
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What should I do now?
As soon as
possible, select a funeral home and inform the funeral director that
the death is being handled by the NewberryCounty Coroner's Office.
Ask them to please notify us. Our 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
contact us for a faxed copy of our release form and he/she may send a
fax directly to our office. Should the next of kin be local, this
release can be signed at the funeral home. The funeral home will then
bring or fax the form to us for our release. In the event someone is
making the arrangements for the next of kin, the Coroner's office
must be provided with a written authorization, signed by the next of
kin, to release any and all information to that person
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How and when can personal possessions be claimed?
Any
personal possessions in the custody of the coroner may be claimed by
the legal next of kin. Governmental documents (driver's license,
passports, military identification cards) will not be released. These
documents will be returned to the issuing agency for disposition. To
avoid any inconvenience to you, call the Coroner's Office at
803-321-2211 before coming into the office. The Coroner's Office
staff will advise you if any documents will be needed and of any
other requirements. The Coroner's Office is open from 8:30am to
4:00pm, Monday through Friday. The office is closed on weekends and
holidays. In emergency, our staff is available 24 hours a day by
office by phone at 803-321-2222. Sometimes personal possessions are
taken into custody by other law enforcement agencies at their
request. You will need to deal with those agencies to recover
personal possessions in their custody.Clothing is not usually
considered property. Unless there is a need to hold clothing as
evidence, it is released to the funeral home recovering the deceased.
Clothing that presents a health hazard may be disposed of for the
safety of all persons involved .In certain deaths where firearms are
involved, the firearms must be delivered to the proper authority for
disposition or destruction.
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I need to enter my
relative/friend’s residence, but it is sealed. What do I do?
In order to
enter you need to call the law enforcement agency. If you do not know
what agency is involved, contact our office and we will assist you.
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When will I be notified of the results of the autopsy?
The
Coroner's Office will contact the legal next of kin when we receive
the results. You need to make sure we are able to get in touch with
you. Provide your contact information to our staff at 803-321-2211 or
by the Our 24 hour line at 803-321-2222.
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How long does it take to get the final report?
When
toxicology testing is involved, the final report may take as long as
sixteen weeks. In these cases, a pending death certificate is issued.
We will notify the legal next of kin about the result.
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Will the autopsy reports be available?
Yes. You
may obtain a copy by calling the Coroner's Office at (803) 321-2211,
Monday through Friday, from 8:30am through 4:00pm. At that time, you
will be informed of the cost of this service and how this document or
any Coroner's record can be obtained.
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Is there a charge for the autopsy?
No. The
County takes care of all charges unless one
is not
needed and family members request one
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Where can I obtain a copy of the death certificate?
Death
Certificates are filed with the Newberry County Health Department -
Office of Vital Records. Should you require certified copies, they
can be ordered through your funeral home or they may be purchased
from the Newberry County Health Deparmtent , at 2111 Wilson Road,
Newberry, SC 29108, (803) 321-2170.
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There are no funds for burial. What can I do?
If the
deceased or the legal next of kin do not have sufficient funds for
burial, the alternative may be County disposition. In these
circumstances, proof of indigency is required. The legal next of kin
should contact the Coroner's Office at 803-321-2211 or by 24 hour
emergency phone at 803-321-2222 and additional information will be
made available. If County disposition is authorized, there may be
substantial delays in receiving death certificates and, as a
consequence, certain benefits. Should funds or assets later be
discovered, the County reserves the right to recover on those funds
or assets.
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We
hope the advice and counseling provided by your Funeral Director and
the information provided on this website will help you during this
time of loss. However, should you need additional assistance, please
telephone our office at 803-321-2211
Craig Newton , Coroner
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