Usually, all you need to do is select a funeral home or crematory. The funeral director will take care of the remaining details. An investigator may contact you for information concerning the medical history of the deceased, funeral arrangements, date of birth, social security number and similar information. Rarely will investigation by the Medical Examiner delay funeral arrangements. Occasionally, law enforcement investigation or identification requirements may delay release until additional information has been obtained.
Legal identification is required for all deaths involving possible criminal charges.
This is usually accomplished by viewing a photograph, preferably by an acquaintance of the deceased rather than a family member, at the Department. Additionally, all bodies which, due to injury or decomposition, cannot be visually identified require identification by fingerprints, dental or other x-rays. An identification based on clothing, jewelry, tattoos, or similar presumptive evidence does not constitute a legal identification. Under certain circumstances release for burial may be delayed while legal identification is pursued. Unfortunately, the current building does not have a viewing facility nor is the Department staffed to accommodate viewing requests.