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1. Is the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Coroner’s Unit involved in all Placer county deaths? Why are they involved in my loved one’s case?

No, the Coroner’s Unit is not involved in all Placer deaths; only deaths that are deemed reportable to the Coroner’s Unit by CA Government Code 27491. A variety of reasons can require Coroner involvement in some capacity: deaths as a result of homicide, suicide, accidental, or undetermined means; deaths where someone has not been seen by a physician within 20 days of death; sudden deaths where attending physicians cannot determine cause of death; etc.

2. Will I be notified when my loved one is releasable to a funeral home?

The Placer County Sheriff's Office, Coroner’s Unit will not reach out to you when the examination of your loved one has been completed. Our office suggests reaching out to a funeral home/mortuary of your choice within 72 hours of the death to begin arranging final disposition, then contacting our front desk to provide the name of the funeral home. At this point your loved one’s examination should be completed and we can provide any information or preliminary results we have available.

3. Can I request an autopsy if the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Coroner’s Unit has determined they will not be doing an autopsy?

If the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Coroner’s Unit has determined we will not be taking jurisdiction of an individual for an autopsy, we are unable to complete an examination at the request of a next-of-kin. Our office does contract with PathServe Autopsy Service, a consulting firm that performs private autopsies and we would direct you to contact them at (415) 664-9686 or visit their website: http://autopsy.biz/

4. Will I be notified when my loved one’s Coroner report and causes/manner of death is finalized?

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Coroner’s Unit does not typically reach out to the next-of-kin when a report, cause, and/or manner of death is finalized unless specifically requested. If you would like to receive a copy of the report, which includes the cause and manner of death, please reach out to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Records Unit at (530) 889-7812 to request the report when it is finalized. The Records Unit will notify you when it is available and being mailed to you.

5. What funeral home should I choose?

Our office cannot recommend a mortuary/funeral home to you but a list of local choices is available upon request. 

6. What if I can’t afford funeral arrangements?

Placer County offers Indigent Cremation for those who cannot afford final disposition of their loved ones. Please contact Placer County Health and Human Services to apply for this program and determine if you are eligible.  

Roseville Office: (916) 784-6030
Auburn Office: (530) 889-7625 
Alt. Auburn Office Number: (530) 889-7657

7. Can the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Coroner’s Unit embalm, cremate, or bury my loved one?

No, the Coroner’s Unit cannot embalm, cremate, or bury your loved one. Even if you are not planning on having a funeral, you will still need to contact a funeral home to arrange a final disposition.

8. Where can I get a death certificate?

Please speak to your mortuary/funeral home regarding status updates of death certificates. You can obtain certified copies of a death certificate through your mortuary or through the Placer County Health and Human Services Department.

For death certificates for the current and previous year, contact the Placer County Vital Statistics Office
Office Phone Number: (530) 889-7158
Address: 11484 B Avenue, Auburn, CA 95603
Website: https://www.placer.ca.gov/2973/Vital-Statistics

For death certificates issued prior to last year, contact the Placer County Clerk-Recorder's Office
Office Phone Number: (530) 886-5600
Address: 2954 Richardson Drive, Auburn, CA 95603
Website: https://www.placer.ca.gov/1722/Vital-Records

9. Can a friend or another family member handle cremation/burial arrangements if the legal next-of-kin is unable or unwilling?

Yes, as long as the legal next-of-kin authorizes it, another individual can arrange final disposition. This can be done typically by signing a single form. Please reach out to a funeral home of your choice to arrange this transfer of next-of-kinship.

10. My loved one died in Yuba, Sierra, Sutter, or Nevada county. Why have they been brought to Placer County? Where can I get information about their case and/or the Coroner report?

Yuba, Sierra, Sutter, and Nevada county have a contract with Placer county for forensic examinations. This means that your loved one will have been brought to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Coroner’s Unit, for an autopsy or external examination, then returned back to the county of death. Please contact the Coroner’s office of the place of death for information about your loved one’s case and to request a copy of their Coroner’s report. Placer County Coroner staff cannot provide any information about deaths in these counties without violating HIPAA laws

11. Am I allowed to tour the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Coroner’s Unit or witness an autopsy?

To respect the privacy of the deceased in our care, we do not allow the public to tour our facility or witness autopsies.

12. Am I allowed to view the body at the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Coroner’s Unit?

Viewing your loved one is not permitted at the Coroner’s Unit. Please contact your funeral director to arrange a viewing.

13. How long does it take to get a Placer county Coroner report? How do I request one?

Coroner reports are finalized within 30-60 days after the date of death. These reports may include a narrative from the Deputy/Deputies originally on-scene at the time the death was reported, a property receipt form with an itemized list of any property taken into the Sheriff’s Office, a toxicology report, and the forensic pathologist’s report. Copies can be requested through the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Records Unit.

Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Records Unit
Office Phone Number: (530) 889-7812
Address: 2929 Richardson Drive, Auburn, CA 95603
Website: https://www.placer.ca.gov/2658/Records-Unit