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The Coroners Act 1887 outlined the circumstances in which an inquest was required, and included when there was reasonable cause to suspect a violent or an unnatural death, or when a sudden death occurs from an unknown cause.

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The Coroners Act 1887 established the four questions that continue to be answered by inquests today: "who the deceased was, and how, when, and where the deceased came by his death".

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The Coroners Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 provided that the coroner may hold an inquest in several circumstances, including where there has been an unexpected or unexplained death, or a death in suspicious circumstances. An inquest could be held without a jury but a jury was required when "the death occurred in circumstances the continuance or possible recurrence of which is prejudicial to the health or safety of the public or any section of the public."

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Rule 43 of the Coroners Rules 1984 provided that if a Coroner believed that action should be taken to prevent the recurrence of fatalities similar to that in respect of which the inquest was occurring, they could report matters to a person or authority who is able to take action.

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The House of Commons Library Briefing Paper 'The Office of the Chief Coroner' was published.

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Wide-scale reforms to the coronial system were introduced in England and Wales, and included the introduction of the Coroners (Inquests) Rules 2013.

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The Coroners (Inquests) Rules 2013 provided that determination can be given with a variety of possible short conclusions, an open verdict and/or can comprise a brief narrative conclusion expressed in concise and ordinary language so as to indicate how the deceased came by their death.

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Section 24 of the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965 provided that a doctor must state the cause of death and such other medical information as required.

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The Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc. (Scotland) Act 2016 outlined several circumstances where it is mandatory to hold a fatal accident inquiry, including when the death is sudden, suspicious, or unexplained, if it is in the public interest, or if the death occurred in circumstances that give rise to public concern.

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The Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc. (Scotland) Act 2016 provided that when a fatal accident inquiry is to be held, a procurator fiscal must investigate the circumstances of a death and arrange for the inquiry to be conduct by a Sheriff.

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The Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc. (Scotland) Act 2016 outlined that the purpose or role of a fatal accident inquiry is not to establish civil or criminal liability.

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Under the Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths Inquiry (Scotland) Act 1976, if the Lord Advocate thought it was in the public interest for an inquiry to be held on the ground that a death was sudden, suspicious or unexplained, or it had occurred in circumstances such as to give rise to serious public concern, a fatal accident inquiry was to be held.

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Under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, the Coroner will make preliminary enquiries and undertake an investigation. If the Coroner is satisfied that the cause of death is clear, they may decide that there is no need for a post-mortem examination or to hold an investigation, unless there is reason to suspect that the deceased died a violent or unnatural death or died while in custody or state detention.

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In Scotland, the Certification of Death (Scotland) Act 2011 provided that a doctor must state "to the best of his knowledge and belief the cause of death and such other medical information" as required.

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The Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 provided for the registration of the death and cause of death of every person dying in England or Wales by the registrar of births and deaths for the sub-district in which the death occurred.

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The House of Commons Constitutional Affairs Committee 'Reform of the coroners' system and death certification' found the system in England and Wales unfit for a modern society without significant reforms.

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The Coroners Act 1988 provided that the coroner had a power to request a post-mortem without an inquest taking place, other than in cases of a violent or unnatural death, or a death in prison.

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The Coroners Act 1988 provided that within five days of the completion of the inquest, the coroner was obliged to send to the registrar of deaths a certificate setting out information concerning death, the particulars of death required by the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 and specify the time and place at which the inquest was held.

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Section 28 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013 provided that a coroner may make a report on action that can be taken to prevent further deaths. Such a report was to be issued to people or organisations "who the coroner believes may have power to take action" and they must respond explaining what actions have been taken to prevent risk.

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Rule 23 of the Coroners (Practice and Procedure) Rules (Northern Ireland) 1980 provided that a coroner may report to "the person or authority who may have power" to take action "to prevent the occurrence of fatalities similar to that in respect of which the inquest is being held."

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