An inquest is an investigation into the cause and circumstances of a death. Laws vary from state to state and the circumstances under which an inquest may be required are usually specified in a state’s statutes.

For example, if a person dies in a county with a medical examiner, the medical examiner (or authorized deputy) may be required to conduct an inquest under the these and other circumstances:

• when a person dies within 24 hours after being admitted to a hospital or institution, or dies in prison or jail;

• when a person is killed, or dies from an unnatural cause of death (unless executed by the state for a crime), or dies without one or more good witnesses;

• when the body or a body part of a person is found, and the cause or circumstances of death are unknown;

• when the circumstances of the death of any person lead to suspicion the person died by unlawful means;

• when any person commits suicide, or the circumstances of the person's death lead to suspicion the person committed suicide;

• when a person dies without having been attended by a duly licensed and practicing physician, and the local health officer or registrar required to report the cause of death does not know the cause of death;

• when the person is a child and the death is required to be reported by law; and

• when a person dies who has been attended immediately preceding death by a duly licensed and practicing physician or physicians, and such physician or physicians are not certain as to the cause of death and are unable to certify with certainty the cause of death.

In Washington State, an inquest is a formal court hearing conducted to determine the cause and circumstances of a death, particularly when the death is sudden, unexpected, or involves questionable circumstances. The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 36.24 outlines the provisions for inquests in the state. An inquest may be required in various situations, such as when a death occurs within 24 hours of admission to a hospital or institution, in prison or jail, from unnatural causes, without witnesses, or under circumstances that suggest the death may have been caused by unlawful means. Additionally, an inquest is mandated if a body or body part is found and the cause of death is unknown, if there is suspicion of suicide, if a person dies without being attended by a physician and the cause of death is unknown, if the death involves a child under certain conditions, or if the attending physician cannot certify the cause of death with certainty. The county medical examiner or an authorized deputy is typically responsible for conducting the inquest. The purpose of the inquest is to gather facts and, if possible, to determine responsibility for the death, but it is not a criminal trial and does not assign legal liability.