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How to order documents related to an Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) investigation of a death.
The OCME issues specific documents related to a death investigation.
The OCME can't issue death certificates.
To get a death certificate, you must order it through a registry agent.
Depending on the type of post-mortem examination or paper-based file review that the OCME medical examiner does, a number of different documents may be issued:
Note: All these documents may not be available for your specific case file.
This document is often required by institutions such as banks, insurance companies and legal firms to settle deceased’s claims and other dispositions.
This gives the deceased’s name, sex and age, plus these details about their death:
The Certificate of Medical Examiner is similar but different than these documents:
When a medical examiner does an external examination of the deceased, a written record is made of the findings.
When a medical examiner performs an autopsy on the deceased, 2 documents are always produced:
When toxicology tests are done on the deceased, a written record is made of the findings.
The deceased’s next of kin or an authorized third party can request documents relevant to the deceased’s OCME case file. If you’re unsure which documents are available for your case file, contact the medical investigator or the records unit at the OCME office where the investigation was done.
Document requested | Availability | Cost |
---|---|---|
Certificate of Medical Examiner | All cases | $15 per copy |
Detailed Autopsy Report* | Autopsy only | $40 per copy |
Summary Autopsy Report | Autopsy only | $15 per copy |
External Examination Report | External only | $15 per copy |
Toxicology Report | If performed | $20 per copy |
*Includes the Summary Autopsy Report and Toxicology Report if toxicology testing was performed.
You can order a death-related document from the OCME if you're:
Fill out the Request to Access Information form (PDF, 28 KB)
Fill out one of these forms:
Or
Get a written consent letter from the deceased's:
Send the form with a cheque or money order payable to the Government of Alberta to:
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
7007 – 116 Street
Edmonton, AB T6H 5R8
Send these documents to an OCME office:
Edmonton location:
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
7007 – 116 Street
Edmonton, AB T6H 5R8
780-427-4987
780-422-1265 (Fax)
Calgary location:
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
4070 Bowness Road NW
Calgary, AB T3B 3R7
403-297-8123
403-297-3429 (Fax)
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