Attending an inquest

If you are asked to give evidence at the inquest, you will be expected to attend. If you think this will be too difficult, you should discuss it with us.  

You don’t need to attend an inquest if you are not giving evidence. The choice to attend is entirely your decision.

Unless you are giving evidence at the time, you are usually free to leave and return to the inquest room at any point. 

Who can attend an inquest

Family members and friends are welcome to attend court to hear evidence and ask questions if they are unsure about anything. The Court Officers will be there to greet you upon arrival and support you throughout if needed.

Members of the public can also attend, and the media are allowed to report on proceedings. There are some occasions which may affect public access, for example:

  • if the inquest might include evidence that impacts national security. This evidence may instead be heard by the Coroner in private
  • if the evidence involves a child as a witness, the Coroner can prevent personal details from being released to the public

All people attending court are asked to arrive 15 minutes before the inquest starts.