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Are Autopsies Public Records? Vital Records Explained
Autopsy reports are public records in many states, but access depends on state law. In states that classify them as medical records, only next of kin, family, legal representatives, and law enforcement may obtain copies. Reports that are public are often withheld until an active criminal investigation concludes.
In the US, whether an autopsy report is public depends on state law. Alabama, for example, treats autopsy reports as public records under state statute. Arkansas takes a different approach, treating autopsy reports more like confidential medical records than public documents such as arrest records.
See autopsy laws by state in the table below.
Quick take: Are autopsies public records?
- State law determines who has the authority to request autopsy reports.
- Autopsy reports are generally open to next of kin, family, insurance investigators, law enforcement, and prosecutors.
- You may have to file a public records request (often called a FOIA request) to access an autopsy report if you are unrelated to the deceased.
Are autopsy reports public records?
An autopsy, necropsy, or post mortem examination refers to a surgical procedure aimed at establishing the cause of death. Depending on state law, autopsy reports could be medical records. Why is that important?
Federal and state privacy laws do not allow anyone to view your medical records without your consent. Consequently, if autopsy reports are classified as medical records in your state, the documents are not open to the public the way arrest records typically are. For example, in Massachusetts, autopsy reports are treated as medical records rather than public records. Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 38, Section 2, the chief medical examiner may only share autopsy reports with the following parties:
- Law enforcement agencies and investigatory bodies.
- Spouses and next of kin.
- Parties in a civil proceeding related to the death.
Note that state law allows the chief medical examiner to set a fee. That means that to access an autopsy report, you must pay for it in almost all states.
Who performs autopsies in the US?
The chief medical examiner is the person tasked with making autopsy reports in the majority of states. Therefore, the easiest way to find autopsy reports in your state is to visit the state's official chief medical examiner's website. If you are in New York City, for instance, you can visit the NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner.
Find your state's chief medical examiner's website and contact information in the table below. Many states do not have a single statewide medical examiner and instead rely on county or district coroners; in those states, the table links to a representative county office as an example, so search for your specific county if it differs.
Who can access autopsy reports in the US?
As mentioned, state law determines who has the authority to view autopsy reports. But generally, the records are available to family members/next of kin, investigatory bodies, and parties involved in civil proceedings related to the deceased.
Where to download autopsy reports?
Note:
- Autopsy reports become public records after investigations are complete in some states.
- State law may limit the amount of information you may receive if you are not family or next of kin.
- Family, legal representatives, and insurers may access autopsy reports in states where the information is not public.
- In some states, you may need consent from the relatives of the deceased to view an autopsy report.
| State | Autopsy report related statute | Public record status | Medical examiner / coroner office (request info) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Ala. Code § 36-18-2 | Public record if there is no pending criminal investigation. Anyone may request a copy. | Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences |
| Alaska | AS 12.65.020; AS 40.25.110-.125 | Public record. State statute does not directly address coroner/medical examiner reports specifically, so Alaska's general public records law controls. | Alaska State Medical Examiner's Office |
| Arizona | A.R.S. § 11-594 | Public record if there is no pending criminal investigation; may require court approval in some cases. | Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner (county level; Arizona has no single statewide medical examiner) |
| Arkansas | Ark. Code Ann. § 12-12-312 | Confidential while in the State Crime Laboratory's custody. Released only to the courts, prosecutors, and defense counsel, not the general public. | Arkansas State Crime Laboratory |
| California | Cal. Gov't Code § 27491.6 | Public record in most counties once there is no pending investigation. California has no single statewide medical examiner, so practice varies by county. | Santa Clara County Office of the Medical Examiner-Coroner |
| Colorado | § 24-72-204(3)(a)(I) | Public record once a suspect is arrested or the investigation ends. Colorado has no statewide coroner; each county elects its own. | Denver Office of the Medical Examiner |
| Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-411 | Not a public record. Next of kin and family may request a copy. | Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner |
| Delaware | 16 Del. C. § 1210 | Not public. Requestors must provide proof of relationship and authorization; available to family and next of kin. | Delaware Division of Forensic Science |
| District of Columbia | D.C. Code Ann. § 5-1412(c) | Requestors must show a legitimate interest. Available to next of kin and family. | DC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner |
| Florida | 119.011(1), Fla. Stat. | Public record if there is no pending criminal investigation. Florida uses district medical examiners rather than one statewide office. | Pinellas County (District Six) Medical Examiner |
| Georgia | O.C.G.A. § 45-16-27(d) | Public record. Written permission from next of kin or family is required to access images or video. | Georgia Bureau of Investigation Division of Forensic Sciences |
| Hawaii | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 841-14.5 | Public record. The state may withhold a report while an investigation is pending. | Honolulu Department of the Medical Examiner |
| Idaho | Idaho Code § 74-102 (Idaho Public Records Act) | Public record. | Ada County Coroner's Office |
| Illinois | 5 ILCS 140/7(1)(d)(i) | Not a public record while a criminal investigation is pending. | Cook County Medical Examiner's Office |
| Indiana | I.C. § 5-14-3-3 (Access to Public Records Act); I.C. § 36-2-14-18(c) | Public record. A written request is required. | Indiana coroner public-records FAQ |
| Iowa | Iowa Code § 691.6; Iowa Code § 331.802 | Cause of death is a public record. Remaining information, including photos and video, is treated as a medical record. | Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner |
| Kansas | K.S.A. 22a-232; Kan. Att'y Gen. Op. 1986-5; Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) | Public record once completed, unless the coroner designates the report a criminal investigation record filed with the district court clerk. | Kansas Attorney General, Kansas Open Records Act FAQ |
| Kentucky | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 61.878(1)(h), Open Records Act | Not public under the law-enforcement exemption; becomes a public record once the investigation closes. Cause and manner of death are always public. | Kentucky Office of the Medical Examiner |
| Louisiana | La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 44:19; § 13:5713 | Mixed. The coroner's basic report (cause and manner of death) and a forensic autopsy tied to a criminal investigation are public. The internal death investigation report, autopsy photos and video, and the decedent's personal medical history are confidential. | a Louisiana parish coroner's autopsy report process (Louisiana has no statewide medical examiner; each parish has its own coroner) |
| Maine | 22 M.R.S.A. § 3022(8) | Not a public record. Next of kin are the exception. | Maine's autopsy report FAQ |
| Maryland | Md. Code, General Provisions § 4-329 | Public record unless the case is under investigation. | requesting a Maryland autopsy report |
| Massachusetts | M.G.L. c. 38, § 2; 505 CMR 1.00 | Treated as a medical record, not a public record. Available to law enforcement, spouses and next of kin, and parties in a related civil proceeding. | Massachusetts autopsy report request process |
| Michigan | - | Open to family and next of kin. You may need to file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request if you are not related to the deceased. | Oakland County, Michigan autopsy report request |
| Minnesota | Minn. Stat. § 13.83, subd. 2, Data Practices Act | Public while the case is open; becomes largely private once the case closes, apart from basic facts. Family and next of kin are not charged. | Minnesota coroner and medical examiner directory |
| Mississippi | Miss. Code Ann. § 41-61-65; § 41-61-66 ("Christian's Law") | Released to the district attorney, law enforcement, the court clerk, and one adult immediate family member or legal representative at no charge. Others may obtain a copy for a fee. Photos, video, and audio from the autopsy are confidential under Christian's Law. | Mississippi State Medical Examiner report request |
| Missouri | Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 58.720-.740; Missouri Sunshine Law, Ch. 610 RSMo | Public record under Missouri's Sunshine Law. Active-investigation records are exempt. No fee for family. | a Missouri county medical examiner's autopsy report policy |
| Montana | Mont. Code Ann. Title 46, ch. 4, pt. 1, esp. § 46-4-123 | Investigative material is confidential only until the case closes or charges are filed. | Montana Medical Examiner Office (DOJ) |
| Nebraska | Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 84-712 to 84-712.09 | No statewide statute directly addresses autopsy report access. County attorneys serve as coroner, and general public-records law applies. | a Nebraska county coroner's office |
| Nevada | Nevada Public Records Act | Public record; sensitive information may be redacted. Nevada has no statewide medical examiner. | a Nevada county coroner's autopsy report request |
| New Hampshire | RSA 611-B:21 | Confidential medical record. Releasable to next of kin, law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies, the treating physician, and medical or research organizations; otherwise not released without next-of-kin authorization. | New Hampshire Office of the Chief Medical Examiner |
| New Jersey | N.J.S.A. 52:17B-88; 52:17B-92; N.J.A.C. 8:2A-1.2 | Generally a public record once the case is closed, under Government Records Council precedent. Autopsy photos and video remain exempt. Next of kin are entitled to a copy within 90 days by statute. | New Jersey Office of the State Medical Examiner |
| New Mexico | NMSA 1978 § 24-14-28(A) | Public record, available to anyone demonstrating a tangible and direct interest. | New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator |
| New York | - | Available to next of kin and the district attorney. New York City's Office of Chief Medical Examiner is separate from the rest of the state, which relies on county coroners or medical examiners. | New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner |
| North Carolina | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-389.1 | The autopsy report text is a public record; photos and video are restricted to in-person inspection. Records become confidential during an active criminal investigation or if the decedent was a minor. | North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner |
| North Dakota | N.D.C.C. § 44-04-18; § 23-01-05.5 | The coroner's file is confidential, but the Report of Death is public. Findings are provided free to a personal representative, spouse, child, or parent; homicide cases require written approval from the state's attorney. | ND State Forensic Examiner records request |
| Ohio | Ohio Rev. Code § 313.10 | Public record after the investigation is complete. Preliminary autopsy and investigative notes are exempt, as are records tied to an open homicide investigation. | Franklin County Coroner's Office report request |
| Oklahoma | 63 O.S. § 945(D)-(E) | The summary report is public immediately. The full report is withheld for 10 business days, then becomes public unless flagged by the district attorney or law enforcement for an active criminal investigation. | Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner |
| Oregon | ORS 192.345 (conditional exemption); ORS 146.035(5) (family access exception) | Conditionally exempt from public disclosure, but a parent, spouse, sibling, child, or personal representative of the deceased, or anyone who may be criminally or civilly liable for the death, may examine and obtain a copy. | Oregon State Police Medical Examiner records request |
| Pennsylvania | 65 P.S. § 67.708(b)(20), Right-to-Know Law; 16 P.S. § 1236.1(c), Coroner's Act | Name, age, date of death, and cause and manner of death are public immediately. The full autopsy and toxicology report is exempt under the Right-to-Know Law, though it becomes publicly available once filed with the county prothonotary at year's end in smaller counties, or obtainable for a fee from the coroner before then. Pennsylvania has no statewide medical examiner. | PA Office of Open Records, Right-to-Know Law guidance |
| Rhode Island | R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-4-3(6); ch. 23-4 | The cause-of-death determination is public. The full autopsy report is generally released only to next of kin for a fee; a person charged in connection with the death may also request a copy from the Attorney General. | RI Office of State Medical Examiners |
| South Carolina | S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-20(c); § 17-5-535; Perry v. Bullock, 409 S.C. 137 (2014) | Not a public record. The South Carolina Supreme Court has held autopsy reports are exempt "medical records" under the state's FOIA. Access is limited to next of kin, involved law enforcement or legal parties, or a court order. | South Carolina Code, Coroners and Medical Examiners |
| South Dakota | SDCL § 1-27-1.5(5); § 1-27-1.9; § 23-5-11 | Not a public record. Autopsy reports are exempt from South Dakota's open records law, whether from the coroner's own investigation or one referred to law enforcement. | SD Attorney General public records guidance |
| Tennessee | Tenn. Code Ann. § 38-7-110 | Public by default. A court may seal portions on the district attorney's petition if release would impede a homicide or felony investigation. Autopsy audio and video are separately restricted. | Tennessee Office of the State Chief Medical Examiner |
| Texas | Tex. Gov't Code ch. 552 (Public Information Act); Tex. Att'y Gen. Op. JC-0422 (2001, narrow, covers provisional inquest reports) | Public record. Anyone may request a copy, subject to exceptions for an active criminal investigation. Autopsy photos and x-rays are withheld. | Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences autopsy report request |
| Utah | Utah Code § 26B-8-217 (formerly § 26-4-17) | Confidential by law. Released only to next of kin, a legal representative, a medical provider, or law enforcement, via a written Records Request Form. | Utah Office of the Medical Examiner |
| Vermont | 18 V.S.A. § 5205; 1 V.S.A. § 317 | Not a public record; confidential. Released to legal next of kin in order (spouse, children, parents, siblings) using a Statement of Next of Kin form. | Vermont Office of the Chief Medical Examiner records and reports |
| Virginia | Va. Code Ann. § 32.1-283(C) | Treated as a protected medical record, not a public record. Access is limited to legal next of kin in priority order (spouse, adult child, parent, adult sibling, other relatives); third parties need a written release. | Virginia OCME FAQs for families |
| Washington | RCW 68.50.105 | Confidential. Family uses a Family Request Authorization Form; third parties such as insurers or attorneys need family or personal-representative authorization (a general medical-records release is not enough). | Snohomish County Medical Examiner records request |
| West Virginia | W. Va. Code § 61-12-10; § 61-12-8 | Confidential medical record; not subject to a subpoena directed at the chief medical examiner. Released to legal next of kin after the case closes, with photo ID and a signed request. | WV Office of the Chief Medical Examiner document request |
| Wisconsin | Wis. Stat. ch. 979, esp. §§ 979.01, 979.04; §§ 19.31-19.39 | Cause of death is public. The full report is available to the nearest next of kin at no cost once the case closes. | Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office |
| Wyoming | Wyo. Stat. § 16-4-203 | The coroner's verdict and docket are public by default. Medical, psychological, and sociological data in the full report are exempt; you may petition the court for good cause to obtain them. | Teton County Wyoming Coroner's Office |
Other Vital Records Laws
Updates
Fixed 56 broken links left over from the original WordPress migration, where markdown link text had been stripped and replaced with bare URLs mid-sentence. Restored proper linked citations throughout, including the two internal cross-links in the intro and the Massachusetts, New York, and state medical examiner links. Corrected an inaccurate public-record status for Arkansas and outdated or wrong statute citations for Hawaii, Maryland, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia. Consolidated duplicate New Hampshire, New Jersey, and New Mexico table rows into one row each, and added the previously missing Rhode Island, South Carolina, and South Dakota rows. Replaced several dead or outdated agency links across the 50-state table with current, verified official sources.
Sources and References
- Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 38, Section 2(malegislature.gov).gov
- NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner(nyc.gov).gov
- Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences(adfs.alabama.gov).gov
- Alaska State Medical Examiner's Office(health.alaska.gov).gov
- Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner(maricopa.gov).gov
- Arkansas State Crime Laboratory(dps.arkansas.gov).gov
- Santa Clara County Office of the Medical Examiner-Coroner(mec.santaclaracounty.gov).gov
- Denver Office of the Medical Examiner(denvergov.org)
- Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner(portal.ct.gov).gov
- Delaware Division of Forensic Science(forensics.delaware.gov).gov
- DC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner(ocme.dc.gov).gov
- Pinellas County (District Six) Medical Examiner(forensics.pinellas.gov).gov
- Georgia Bureau of Investigation Division of Forensic Sciences(dofs-gbi.georgia.gov).gov
- Honolulu Department of the Medical Examiner(honolulu.gov).gov
- Ada County Coroner's Office(adacounty.id.gov).gov
- Cook County Medical Examiner's Office(cookcountyil.gov).gov
- Indiana coroner public-records FAQ(faqs.in.gov).gov
- Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner(iosme.iowa.gov).gov
- Kansas Attorney General, Kansas Open Records Act FAQ(ag.ks.gov).gov
- Kentucky Office of the Medical Examiner(justice.ky.gov).gov
- a Louisiana parish coroner's autopsy report process(caddocoroner.com)
- Maine's autopsy report FAQ(maine.gov).gov
- requesting a Maryland autopsy report(health.maryland.gov).gov
- Massachusetts autopsy report request process(mass.gov).gov
- Oakland County, Michigan autopsy report request(oakgov.com)
- Minnesota coroner and medical examiner directory(health.state.mn.us)
- Mississippi State Medical Examiner report request(dps.ms.gov).gov
- a Missouri county medical examiner's autopsy report policy(greenecountymo.gov).gov
- Montana Medical Examiner Office (DOJ)(dojmt.gov).gov
- a Nebraska county coroner's office(countyattorney.douglascounty-ne.gov).gov
- a Nevada county coroner's autopsy report request(washoecounty.gov).gov
- New Hampshire Office of the Chief Medical Examiner(doj.nh.gov).gov
- New Jersey Office of the State Medical Examiner(nj.gov).gov
- New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator(hsc.unm.edu)
- New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner(www1.nyc.gov).gov
- North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner(dph.ncdhhs.gov).gov
- ND State Forensic Examiner records request(hhs.nd.gov).gov
- Franklin County Coroner's Office report request(coroner.franklincountyohio.gov).gov
- Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner(oklahoma.gov).gov
- Oregon State Police Medical Examiner records request(oregon.gov).gov
- PA Office of Open Records, Right-to-Know Law guidance(openrecords.pa.gov).gov
- RI Office of State Medical Examiners(health.ri.gov).gov
- South Carolina Code, Coroners and Medical Examiners(scstatehouse.gov).gov
- SD Attorney General public records guidance(atg.sd.gov).gov
- Tennessee Office of the State Chief Medical Examiner(tn.gov).gov
- Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences autopsy report request(ifs.harriscountytx.gov).gov
- Utah Office of the Medical Examiner(ome.utah.gov).gov
- Vermont Office of the Chief Medical Examiner records and reports(healthvermont.gov).gov
- Virginia OCME FAQs for families(vdh.virginia.gov).gov
- Snohomish County Medical Examiner records request(snohomishcountywa.gov).gov
- WV Office of the Chief Medical Examiner document request(dhhr.wv.gov).gov
- Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office(county.milwaukee.gov).gov
- Teton County Wyoming Coroner's Office(tetoncountywy.gov).gov
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