Inquests into deaths (deposition files 1840-1985)

You need to know an approximate year of death, and the name/s of the deceased. Not all deaths resulted in an inquest. However, records of a post-mortem and initial investigation may be available - consider searching through the Body Cards as well.

Inquest records up to the year 1937 have been digitised and can be viewed online. Inquest records from 1938 onwards are not digitised and can only be viewed in the reading room after you place an order.

Enter a name and/or year and/or keyword in the search box below. Some earlier inquests can be viewed online, but most need to be viewed in the reading room.

An inquest is a legal inquiry held to establish the exact medical cause of death of an individual in certain circumstances. Where the inquest found a death was the result of a crime, it could also commit an accused for trial.

The inquest records relate to deaths that occurred  when a person died suddenly, was killed, died whilst in prison, drowned, died whilst a patient in an asylum, or was an infant ward of the state and died under suspicious circumstances, among other circumstances.

We hold inquest records up until 2003. Some earlier date ranges have been digitised and can be viewed online, but most have not. Records up until 1985 are on open access. From 1986 onwards the records are closed to public access. To access these records you will need to make a request to the Coroners Court.

If you are just interested in more recent records, coroners' written findings can be searched and accessed online via the Coroners Court website. Coroners' written findings are published when an inquest has been held, recommendations have been made, or a coroner orders that they are published. Please note that these are not the same as full inquest files.