Legal Support After a State-Related Death

We are specialist inquest solicitors with a long-standing commitment to supporting bereaved families.

We make sure families are at the heart of what we know is a difficult and distressing process. We work closely with charities like INQUEST, and all our lawyers are members of the INQUEST Lawyers Group.

We provide expert legal representation following a death in:

• Police custody or court cell
• Prison or an immigration detention centre
• Secure psychiatric hospital or mental health unit

We also represent families where state authorities, such as the police, failed to protect someone from foreseeable harm, including:

• Women killed by abusive partners
• Disabled people subjected to fatal harassment
• Deaths following racially motivated violence

When a death occurs under suspicious or unnatural circumstances—or while the person was instate detention—a coroner’s inquest is legally required. The purpose of an inquest is to determine:

• Who died
• Where and when they died, and
• The cause of their death.

Article 2 of European Convention on Human Rights - an inquest can consider the wider circumstances in which they died, including whether the state failed in its duties. In Article 2 inquests, the coroner may sit with a jury, which will give its verdict at the end of the hearing.

What to Expect During the Inquest Process

Inquests are similar to other court hearings, which is why legal representation can be vital.

Often, a coroner will open an inquest and then immediately adjourn the hearing, to allow time for investigations into the death to be carried out by bodies such as:

• Police
• Prison and Probation Ombudsman
• Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)
• NHS Trusts, local authorities or a Domestic Homicide Review
• Private contractors, including G4S, Sodexo, Mitie and Serco

These investigations usually result in reports submitted to the coroner, who will then decide whether to resume the inquest and what issues it should address. Inquests won't usually be resumed until any criminal proceedings in relation to the death have been concluded.

How we can help

We will ensure your concerns are heard, including by;

• Ensuring your questions are addressed in official investigations
• Representing you at the inquest hearing
• Ensuring individuals and organisations are held accountable through criminal or disciplinary proceedings
• Bringing compensation claims
• Securing policy and procedural reforms

Legal Aid and Funding

If you are on a low income or receive means-tested benefits, you may qualify for legal aid to cover inquest-related legal advice. Where Article 2 may be engaged (see above), legal aid is available regardless of financial means.

Get expert advice

If you would like our expert advice, please complete our new enquiries form and a specialist solicitor will review your enquiry, and we will respond as soon as possible within two working days.

If you’d prefer to speak with someone, please call us on 020 7407 0007 and mention that your enquiry relates to a death or inquest.

Public Inquiries are a distinct legal process, reserved for investigating the most serious of state failings. The play a crucial role in obtaining accountability for serious abuses and failings, providing victims with a clearer understanding of the events and systems that led to injustice. When they work, they are a powerful tool for change. Read more here.