Skip to main content

Birth, marriage & life events

Request Medical Examiner records

The Medical Examiner’s Office (MEO) does not provide death certificates. To get a death certificate contact the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
To request records having to do with an autopsy or investigation done by the MEO, you must fill out the records request form and pay for the reports you want.

Who

Only the following people can request records from the MEO:

  • The legal next of kin for the person who died.
  • A person or agency with written permission of the next of kin. This is usually an attorney or insurance company.
  • Anyone with a court order or subpoena for the report.

Where and when

Print and fill out the records request form. Email it, mail it, or bring it in person to the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office. You must include a copy of the next of kin’s photo identification. It may take up to 12 weeks for your request to be completed.

By email

You may submit a completed records request form, along with a copy of the next of kin’s photo ID, by email to medicalexaminer@phila.gov. You will receive a return email that will include the amount due. Mail or hand-deliver payment to our office. Once we receive payment, we will issue your requested documents.

By mail

Submit a completed records request form, along with a copy of the next of kin’s photo ID, to this address:

Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office
Record Room
400 N. Broad St.
Philadelphia, PA 19130

In person

You may request records Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.  Be sure to bring a copy of the next of kin’s photo ID.

Cost

You can pay for the reports using a check or money order. We cannot accept electronic payments.

Complete case file
(includes autopsy and toxicology reports)
Histology slides Autopsy & toxicology reports
 $50 $8/each $35

 


Top