Records & Reports | Vermont Department of Health
Source: http://healthvermont.gov/systems/office-chief-medical-examiner/records-reports
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:22
Records & Reports | Vermont Department of Health
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Translations for you
Records & Reports
Office of The Chief Medical Examiner
Death Investigation Systems
Records & Reports
What To Expect
Family Resources
Provider Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Autopsy Reports
Final Reports of Autopsy can take weeks to several months to prepare due to the detailed studies that may be performed during the autopsy procedure. All Final Reports of Autopsy are distributed to the State’s Attorneys Office per
18 V.S.A. § 505
. In certain circumstances, such as cases in which there is an ongoing criminal investigation, the state’s attorney has jurisdiction over the distribution of the autopsy findings.
Families wishing to obtain a copy of the Final Report of Autopsy must complete the
Statement of Next of Kin
. The statement must be signed by the legal next-of-kin and be submitted to the Office of The Chief Medical Examiner. Final Reports of Autopsy are technical, and it is recommended that it be reviewed with a family physician.
Confidentiality of Autopsy Reports - Who is Legal Next of Kin?
In compliance with the Privacy Rule of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner records are confidential and are released with the written consent of the legal next-of-kin or personal representative. Under Vermont law, next-of-kin is defined as the following, in order of precedence:
If the decedent was an unemancipated minor, their parents or legal guardians with legal rights and responsibilities
The decedent's spouse (current marriage or civil union)
The decedent's children, or the legal custodian of the decedent's children acting on their behalf if they are minors
The decedent's parents
The decedent's siblings
The decedent's grandparents
The decedent's other relatives by degrees of separation
Death Certificates
For information on how to obtain a copy of a Vermont Certificate of Death, visit
Vermont Vital Records
Topics:
Death Investigation
Last Updated:
August 13, 2025
Skip to main content
MENU
x
CLOSE
Translations for you
Records & Reports
Office of The Chief Medical Examiner
Death Investigation Systems
Records & Reports
What To Expect
Family Resources
Provider Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Autopsy Reports
Final Reports of Autopsy can take weeks to several months to prepare due to the detailed studies that may be performed during the autopsy procedure. All Final Reports of Autopsy are distributed to the State’s Attorneys Office per
18 V.S.A. § 505
. In certain circumstances, such as cases in which there is an ongoing criminal investigation, the state’s attorney has jurisdiction over the distribution of the autopsy findings.
Families wishing to obtain a copy of the Final Report of Autopsy must complete the
Statement of Next of Kin
. The statement must be signed by the legal next-of-kin and be submitted to the Office of The Chief Medical Examiner. Final Reports of Autopsy are technical, and it is recommended that it be reviewed with a family physician.
Confidentiality of Autopsy Reports - Who is Legal Next of Kin?
In compliance with the Privacy Rule of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner records are confidential and are released with the written consent of the legal next-of-kin or personal representative. Under Vermont law, next-of-kin is defined as the following, in order of precedence:
If the decedent was an unemancipated minor, their parents or legal guardians with legal rights and responsibilities
The decedent's spouse (current marriage or civil union)
The decedent's children, or the legal custodian of the decedent's children acting on their behalf if they are minors
The decedent's parents
The decedent's siblings
The decedent's grandparents
The decedent's other relatives by degrees of separation
Death Certificates
For information on how to obtain a copy of a Vermont Certificate of Death, visit
Vermont Vital Records
Topics:
Death Investigation
Last Updated:
August 13, 2025