Special circumstances
What if I disagree with the cause of death on the certificate?
Short answer
You can request an independent autopsy — at your own expense. You can also formally request a review of the coroner's findings. An attorney specializing in wrongful death can advise on whether there is a legal basis for challenging the findings.
What this usually means
You can request an independent autopsy — at your own expense. You can also formally request a review of the coroner's findings. An attorney specializing in wrongful death can advise on whether there is a legal basis for challenging the findings.
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.