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What to do if…
you are told there will be an inquest or hearing and you do not know what to expect

Short answer

Get the basics in writing from the coroner’s office: what the hearing is, what your role is, and what you’ll receive before it happens.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t assume an inquest is the same as a criminal trial. Inquests are fact-finding and can also run alongside other proceedings.
  • Don’t rely on second-hand rumours about what will happen on the day; procedures vary by case and coroner area.
  • Don’t agree to attend as a witness (or feel pressured to speak) without confirming whether you’re required and what you’ll be asked about.
  • Don’t post details of the death or hearing online while things are ongoing (it can increase stress and affect others involved).
  • Don’t sign anything you don’t understand just to make the admin stop. Ask what it is and what it’s for.

What to do now

  1. Find out exactly what the hearing is. Ask the coroner’s office (often via the coroner’s officer) for:
    • the case reference, the coroner area, and the type of hearing (for example, an inquest hearing or a pre-inquest review hearing),
    • whether it will be in person, remote, or hybrid, and how to join.
  2. Confirm your status and what it changes. Ask if you are an “interested person” (often close family or the deceased’s personal representative). If yes, ask:
    • how you’ll be kept updated about dates and decisions,
    • what documents you should expect to receive and the expected timetable.
  3. Ask for the scope in plain language. Request a sentence or two on:
    • what the inquest/hearing will cover,
    • what it will not decide (for example, it is not there to determine criminal guilt).
  4. Ask for the “running order” of the day. Request a simple outline:
    • who will speak and in what order,
    • whether witnesses give evidence on oath/affirmation,
    • how questions are handled (including whether and how family/interested persons can ask questions).
  5. Ask what you can see in advance (and what you can’t). If you’re told you can’t have something, ask:
    • what can be shared now,
    • what will be shared later,
    • and whether there is a disclosure process for interested persons in your case.
  6. Write down three questions you need answered (max). Keep them practical, for example:
    • “Do I have to attend, or can I just receive the outcome?”
    • “Will I be asked to speak, or can I choose not to?”
    • “What happens immediately after the hearing (and when will we get paperwork)?”
  7. Get practical support for attending. If you may attend court, contact the Coroners’ Courts Support Service (CCSS) to ask what to expect on the day and what support is available.
  8. If the death involved the state or a public body, consider early advice. If the death involved custody, detention, or another state setting (or feels especially complex), consider speaking to a solicitor experienced in inquests. If funding is a concern, ask about Exceptional Case Funding for inquests (this is typically applied for through a solicitor).

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide right now whether you want legal representation.
  • You do not need to prepare a full timeline of everything that happened today.
  • You do not need to chase every document immediately — first get clarity on what you should receive and when.
  • You do not need to predict the outcome or what it “means” yet.

Important reassurance

Not knowing what an inquest/hearing will be like is a very common shock response — the language is unfamiliar and the stakes feel huge. Getting the basics (type, role, scope, format, and paperwork timetable) usually reduces panic quickly because it turns an unknown event into a bounded process.

Scope note

This is first-steps-only guidance to stabilise, reduce avoidable stress, and get oriented. Later decisions (like detailed questioning, formal statements, or legal steps) can wait until you have the hearing details and paperwork.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. Coroner processes can vary by area and by the circumstances of the death. If you are unsure about your rights or responsibilities, ask the coroner’s office to explain them in plain language and consider independent advice.

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