The ACT Coroners Court
The Coroners Court was established by the Coroners Act 1956 and continues in existence under the Coroners Act 1997. The role of the Coroners Court is to conduct inquests into deaths and inquiries into fires and disasters.
The ACT Coroners Court is located within the ACT Magistrates Court building. The Coroners Court sits whenever it holds a hearing into the manner and cause of a death, or an inquiry into the cause and origin of a fire.
A coroner is a judicial officer who conducts an inquest into the manner and cause of certain deaths. In the ACT, all magistrates are coroners, the Chief Magistrate is also the Chief Coroner, and the Registrar of the Magistrates Court is also the Registrar of the Coroner's Court.
If you have questions about a hearing, please speak to the counter staff at the court. They will be able to tell you the time and date of a hearing, as well as which court room the matter is being heard in.
For more information about the coronial process, as well as answers to some commonly asked questions, please download our booklet: “Coroners Court - A guide for family and friends”.
Our values
Respectful
- We uphold the dignity of each person who engages with the coronial process.
- We engage with families in a courteous and constructive manner.
- We are transparent and clear about the coronial process.
Restorative
- We apply trauma informed and compassionate approaches to our communication and systems.
- We are sensitive to religious and cultural needs.
- We seek to be flexible and innovative and to listen to the experience of coronial system users.
Responsive
- We provide a timely and professional service to the ACT community.
- We seek to provide answers to reasonable questions a family has about the death of their loved one.
- We collaborate with stakeholders to ensure an appropriately thorough investigation is conducted.
Contact the ACT Coroners Court
Email: coroners@courts.act.gov.au