Coroner's Office

Mission Statement
The mission of the Skagit County Coroner’s Office is to serve the community by providing accurate and timely medicolegal death investigations in a professional manner, while ensuring the highest level of compassion, dignity, and respect for the deceased and their families.

Role of the Coroner
As per RCW 68.50.010, the coroner is notified of deaths that are unexpected, unexplained, suspicious, violent, or in which the cause and/or manner of death is unknown. The Skagit County Coroner’s Office investigates the circumstances surrounding a person’s death independently of any law enforcement agency with the primary role of determining the cause and manner of death. Additionally, the coroner is also responsible for identifying decedents, locating and making notification to next-of-kin, safeguarding personal property, collecting evidence, and completion of mandatory records and documents.

Not all deaths that occur in the county are required to be reported to the office, nor are all deaths where jurisdiction is assumed require an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death. An autopsy is performed only when it is necessary to determine or confirm the cause of death, document injury, or when required by state law.