FAQS
The Answers You’ve Been Looking For
DOES OUR COUNTY HAVE TO HAVE A CONTRACT?
No. We will gladly accept cases from any county needing autospy services.
HOW LONG DOES AN AUTOPSY TAKE?
Simply, it can vary. Each case is examined closely and based on the circumstances surrounding each case. On average, it will take about 1.5 hours.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO GET AN AUTOPSY REPORT?
Again, the short answer is it varies. On average, it will take about 45 days. This is dependent on testing like toxicology and histology. Specialty testing takes longer resulting in delays on a final autopsy report.
HOW DO I GET AN AUTOPSY REPORT?
To obtain an autopsy report, please contact the Justice of the Peace in the county in which the decedent died.
DO YOU OFFER PRIVATE AUTOPSIES?
Private autopsies done for families are accepted on a case by case basis. These cases are only accepted if we feel we can answer the questions being presented. Once the case is accepted, authorization from the legal next of kin, medical records, transport, and payment are required prior to any procedures taking place.
A report will be sent to the legal next of kin who ordered the autopsy.
WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT?
You should select a funeral home and notify the funeral director that the death is being investigated by Texas Panhandle Forensics in Lubbock, TX. You must also sign a body release form at the funeral home authorizing our office to release the decedent's body to the funeral home of your choice.
CAN I VIEW THE BODY?
No. Our office does not have facilities to view bodies. You should make viewing arrangements with the funeral home or crematory handling final disposition of the remains.
WHO IS THE LEGAL NEXT OF KIN?
If you die without having a written document that appoints someone to make decisions about your remains, then your “next of kin” will have the right to control what happens to your body. In Texas “next of kin” means your relative(s) in the following order:
surviving spouse (not common law spouse)
surviving adult children
parents
surviving adult siblings
WILL YOU DO AUTOPSIES ON COVID PATIENTS?
We will not do autopsies on COVID patients at this time unless foul play is suspected. If there is a possibility of COVID, the decedent must be tested prior to being brought to our facility. Contact your local health department for testing. If positive, please give us a call for a consultation on a cause of death determination.
I AM AN ATTORNEY, WHAT DO I NEED TO OBTAIN RECORDS?
A subpoena is required for any and all entities requesting autopsy records. Upon receipt of the subpoena, an autopsy report, toxicology, and photos will be provided. The cost for all including is $65 ($45 for the autopsy report and toxicology and $20 for photos).
Histology recuts will need an additional subpoena and released at the cost of $25/slide (shipping is not included).
Billing records will not be released. We also do not release any records not generated in this office (i.e. hospital medical records).