Special circumstances
What if I can't find the body or no one will tell me where they are?
Short answer
Call the county coroner/medical examiner directly. Give them any identifying information you have — name, date of birth, last known location. They are required to document every case. If the death occurred in another county, call that county's coroner. You can also…
What this usually means
Call the county coroner/medical examiner directly. Give them any identifying information you have — name, date of birth, last known location. They are required to document every case. If the death occurred in another county, call that county's coroner. You can also call 211 for routing help.
What to do next
- Start the PathAfter checklist for situation-aware first steps.
- Find California county phone numbers for coroner, vital records, and local offices.
- Open the First 72 Hours Call Log before making calls.
- Open the Documents to Find Checklist when you are ready for paperwork.