A Coroner will look into sudden or unexplained deaths. You can contact the Local Coroner's office using the contact details provided.

Coroner's role

The main duty of a coroner is to enquire into sudden or unexplained deaths usually by having post-mortem examination, followed by an inquest if the cause of death is not natural.

In addition to this, coroners investigate deaths in certain circumstances, for example, a death in custody, or a death in the workplace.

The coroner's work involves the:

  • holding of inquests
  • arranging for post-mortems
  • employing other services, such as funeral directors, as necessary.

The Coroner investigates unexplained, unexpected and unnatural deaths.

Local Coroners

The Black Country Coroner serves the residents of Sandwell, Dudley, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

The Coroners for the Black Country area are:

  • Mr Zafar Siddique, Senior Coroner
  • Mrs Joanne M. Lees, Area Coroner

For more information about the Black Country Coroner, please visit sandwell.gov.uk/blackcountrycoroner

Contacting the Coroner's office

Email: secure_coroners@sandwell.gov.uk
Phone: 0121 569 7200 

Address (including where inquests also take place):

Black Country Coroner's Court
Jack Judge House
Halesowen Street
Oldbury
West Midlands
B69 2AJ

The opening hours are:

  • Monday to Wednesday 8am to 4pm
  • Thursday 9am to 4pm
  • Friday 8am to 3.30pm

For more information outside normal office hours, please call West Midlands Police on 101 who may be able to assist you.

Hospital and GP referrals within the Black Country

Hospitals and GPs must refer deaths using the coroner's web portal.

Any attachments, such as medical/history reports, need to be scanned and emailed to secure_coroners@sandwell.gov.uk

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