Special circumstances
What if they were a minor?
Short answer
The coroner's office will be involved in any child death. Parents are next of kin and make decisions about disposition. If the death was suspicious, law enforcement and child protective services will investigate. Grief resources specifically for parents who lose a child…
What this usually means
The coroner's office will be involved in any child death. Parents are next of kin and make decisions about disposition. If the death was suspicious, law enforcement and child protective services will investigate. Grief resources specifically for parents who lose a child are available through organizations like The Compassionate Friends.
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.