You are here

Coroner or Medical Examiner

Coroner or Medical Examiner
Title Major Revision Previous Schedules Schedule Item
Investigation case files


CO2 150 260

a: Violent (e.g., homicide, suicide, casualty) or suspicious or undetermined circumstances death (including death report and related records):
RETENTION: PERMANENT

b: Natural death:
RETENTION: 20 years
NOTES: Records of coroners' inquests, filed before Sept. 1, 1965 with county clerks, are in fact records of the County Court and are not covered by item nos. 260 and 261. For information on retention of these records, contact the Office of Court Administration. Other death investigation records of coroners, records of coroners' inquests created after Sept. 1, 1965 and all records created by medical examiners are covered by this Schedule.
Death report and related records,

when no investigation is conducted by coroner or medical examiner:
RETENTION: 6 years after last entry

 CO2 151 261
Motor vehicle death record

(MV-104 or similar form) submitted to New York State Department of Motor Vehicles:
RETENTION: 6 years

 CO2 152 262
Disaster reports and related records:


RETENTION: PERMANENT

 CO2 153 263
Protocol for investigation of death,

including autopsy, explaining official procedures to be followed by office of coroner or medical examiner:
RETENTION: PERMANENT

 CO2 154 264
Transcript, notes and worksheet of autopsy observations:


RETENTION: 6 years after case closed

 CO2 155 265
Laboratory slide, specimen or tissue block,

taken from deceased:
RETENTION: 20 years
NOTES: County officials may wish to retain records for a longer period when the slides, specimens or tissue blocks concern cases of violent or suspicious deaths, especially if these records may be viable for future testing.

 CO2 156 266
Master summary record

(register, blotter or log) covering all case investigations and other office activities:
RETENTION: PERMANENT

 CO2 157 267
Property records relating to decedent,

generated by office of coroner or medical examiner, including but not limited to register of property, inventory of possessions, remittance statement sent to county legislative body or fiscal officer and receipts:
RETENTION: 6 years after last entry

 CO2 158 268