Laws by State

Autopsy Laws by State 2025

# of Characteristics Which Require an Autopsy

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State
# of Characteristics Which Require an Autopsy
Autopsy Required at Coroner Discretion
Iowa Flag
Iowa14Discretionary
New Jersey Flag
New Jersey11Required
Florida Flag
Florida9Discretionary
Rhode Island Flag
Rhode Island9Discretionary
Tennessee Flag
Tennessee9Discretionary
Wisconsin Flag
Wisconsin7No
Illinois Flag
Illinois5No
Ohio Flag
Ohio5Required
Washington Flag
Washington5Discretionary
Indiana Flag
Indiana4Required
Louisiana Flag
Louisiana4Required
Pennsylvania Flag
Pennsylvania4Required
South Carolina Flag
South Carolina4Discretionary
Texas Flag
Texas4Required
Utah Flag
Utah4Required
Wyoming Flag
Wyoming4Discretionary
Arizona Flag
Arizona3Discretionary
Kansas Flag
Kansas3Required
Missouri Flag
Missouri3Required
New Mexico Flag
New Mexico3Required
North Dakota Flag
North Dakota3Discretionary
Virginia Flag
Virginia3Required
California Flag
California2Discretionary
Connecticut Flag
Connecticut2Discretionary
Delaware Flag
Delaware2Required
District of Columbia Flag
District of Columbia2Required
Georgia Flag
Georgia2Discretionary
Maine Flag
Maine2Required
Montana Flag
Montana2Discretionary
Nebraska Flag
Nebraska2No
New Hampshire Flag
New Hampshire2Required
New York Flag
New York2Required
North Carolina Flag
North Carolina2Required
South Dakota Flag
South Dakota2Discretionary
Vermont Flag
Vermont2Discretionary
West Virginia Flag
West Virginia2Required
Alabama Flag
Alabama1Discretionary
Alaska Flag
Alaska1Discretionary
Colorado Flag
Colorado1No
Hawaii Flag
Hawaii1Required
Idaho Flag
Idaho1Discretionary
Kentucky Flag
Kentucky1Discretionary
Maryland Flag
Maryland1No
Massachusetts Flag
Massachusetts1Discretionary
Michigan Flag
Michigan1Discretionary
Minnesota Flag
Minnesota1Discretionary
Mississippi Flag
Mississippi1Required
Nevada Flag
Nevada1No
Oklahoma Flag
Oklahoma1Required
Oregon Flag
Oregon1Discretionary
Arkansas Flag
Arkansas0No
  • Each of the six categories shown is a compliation of multiple (4-8) subcategories, also called “characteristics”, which describe the manner of death.
  • For example, the Circumstances category includes four possible characteristics: “Requested by DA/ordered by court”, “Suspicious/unusual/unnatural”, “Suddenly when in apparent good health”, and “Unidentified bodies”.
  • There are 31 characteristics in all.
  • The characteristics a given death possesses determine whether of not an autopsy is required.
  • Each category’s displayed status applies to at least one of its characteristics, but may not apply to every characteristic.
  • For example, the state of Illinois requires an autopsy in one of the Circumstances category’s four characteristics (suspicious/unusual/unnatural). As such, Illinois is marked “Required” in the Circumstances category.
  • “Manner of death” refers to general types of death, such as homicide, suicide, or accident. By comparison, “cause of death” refers to certain specific causes, such as drug overdose, poisoning, drowning, or unexplained causes.
  • “Circumstances That Require an Autopsy” indicates the number of subcategories (out of 31 possible) for which each state requires an autopsy.

Sources

  1. Table 2: Selected Characteristics of Deaths Requiring Autopsy by State - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  2. Ala. Code § 45-49-171.66 - Case Text
  3. Frequently Asked Questions - Alaska Department of Health Division of Public Health
  4. Arizona Coroner/Medical Examiner Laws - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  5. Case Submissions to the ASCL - Arkansas State Crime Laboratory
  6. Frequently Asked Questions: Coroner - Sacramento County
  7. About the Colorado Coroners - Colorado Coroners Association
  8. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner - Connecticut's Official State Website
  9. Chapter 47. Forensic Science - The Delaware Code Online
  10. Medical Examiner Office - Palm Beach County
  11. Autopsy FAQ - Georgia Government Website
  12. Hawaii - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  13. Chapter 43: Coroner's Inquests - The Official Website of the Idaho Legislature
  14. Medical Examiner - Frequently Asked Questions - Cook County Government
  15. FAQs - Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner
  16. Regional Forensic Science Center - Sedgwick County
  17. Kentucky Medical Examiner Information for Families - Kentucky.gov
  18. Duties; autopsies and investigations - Louisiana State Legislature
  19. Medical Examiner Act - Maine Legislature
  20. Maryland Law of Autopsies - Silverman Thompson
  21. Following a Death - University of Michigan Health
  22. FAQ - Department of Public Safety Mississippi
  23. 58.451. Death to be reported and investigated by coroner, certain counties, procedure - Revisor of Missouri
  24. N.J. Admin. Code § 8:70-1.1 - Case Text
  25. FAQ - NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner
  26. ND State Forensic Examiner - State of North Dakota
  27. FAQ - Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
  28. ORS 146.117 - Autopsies - Oregon Laws
  29. Autopsies - RI Gov
  30. Coroner - Frequently Asked Questions - Fairfield County, South Carolina
  31. General FAQs - Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences
  32. 18 V.S.A. § 5205 - Vermont Statutes Online
  33. FAQ - Skagit County Coroner's Office
  34. FAQ - Dane County Medical Examiner's Office