Time taken to process a coroner inquest
Time taken to process a coroner inquest overall the average time taken to process an inquest remained stable
Time taken to process a coroner inquest the estimated average time taken to process an inquest remained stable at 31.3 weeks in 2025.
The annual publication presents statistics of deaths reported to Coroners in England and Wales in 2025.
Time taken to process a coroner inquest the estimated average time taken to process an inquest in 2025 (defined as being from the date the death was reported until the conclusion of the inquest) was 31.3 weeks stable compared with 2024.
The average time taken to process an inquest in 2025 ranges from 11.2 weeks to 77.4 weeks. This disparity between regions is mainly due to differences that exist from one coroner area to another. Some of these differences are:
- Availability of resource, including staff and judicial resources
- Local complexity, including the presence of facilities like hospitals and prisons
- Socio-economic make up of regions
Therefore, a direct comparison between coroner areas is not advised.
More information about how the average time taken has been estimated can be found in the Guide to coroner statistics published alongside this report.
In 2025, 29% of inquests were completed in less than 3 months, 56% in less than 6 months, 81% took up to a year and 19% took over a year, compared to 29%, 55%, 82% and 18% respectively in 2024, and 29%, 54%, 82% and 18% respectively in 2023.
Private GP in London and expert for medical legal reports and qualified Medical Examiner RCPathME
Dr Martin Harris