Lawyers represent families and organisations at coronial inquests.
firms
56
regions
16
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Inquests investigate reportable deaths. Families can be represented to ask questions and seek recommendations.
Why coronial inquests matters
Inquests help families understand how a loved one died and can prevent future deaths.
The Australian context
Each state has a Coroners Court that investigates reportable deaths, including deaths in custody, and can make recommendations to government and organisations.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(218)Google rating from 218 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
O’Brien Criminal and Civil Solicitors provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Defamation, Criminal Law and Assault & Violent Offences.
Defamation+7 moreCriminal Law · Assault & Violent Offences · Coronial Inquests · Medical Negligence · Criminal Appeals · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Fraud & White Collar CrimeNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.Free first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bairnsdale, VIC · Gippsland
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(135)Google rating from 135 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Daniel Taylor Lawyers provides legal services in Bairnsdale, VIC. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs, Criminal Law and Child Protection & Care Matters.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(68)Google rating from 68 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Kells The Lawyers provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas · Planning & Environment · Criminal Law · Coronial Inquests · Wills & EstatesNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(42)Google rating from 42 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Howden Saggers Lawyers provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Coronial Inquests and Child Protection & Care Matters.
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Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(40)Google rating from 40 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hale Legal provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Commercial Litigation · Defamation · Coronial Inquests · Class Actions
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Newcastle, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★3.6(38)Google rating from 38 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
King Street Lawyers provides legal services in Newcastle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Health & Medical Practitioner Law, Elder Law & Aged Care and Coronial Inquests.
Health & Medical Practitioner Law+7 moreElder Law & Aged Care · Coronial Inquests · Medical Negligence · Residential Tenancy · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Retirement Villages & Aged Care Contracts · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal
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Stanhope, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(34)Google rating from 34 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Louise Neilson Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Stanhope, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Commercial Property & Leasing and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Property & Conveyancing+10 moreCommercial Property & Leasing · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Business & Commercial Law · Strata & Body Corporate · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas · Professional Negligence · Personal Injury · Coronial Inquests · Mediation & Dispute Resolution
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Newcastle, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(30)Google rating from 30 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
The Family Law Co. provides legal services in Newcastle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Planning & Environment and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
East Toowoomba, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(23)Google rating from 23 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bouchier Khan Lawyers provides legal services in East Toowoomba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Bail Applications, Fraud & White Collar Crime and Criminal Law.
Bail Applications+6 moreFraud & White Collar Crime · Criminal Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Coronial Inquests · Business & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing
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Dubbo, NSW · Central West & Orana
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Maher Lonsdale Legal provides legal services in Dubbo, NSW. Listed practice areas include Coronial Inquests, Criminal Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Coronial Inquests+2 moreCriminal Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
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Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.6(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
James Dowsley & Associates provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Bail Applications and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Criminal Law+6 moreBail Applications · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Drink & Drug Driving · Assault & Violent Offences · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Coronial InquestsFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
MacDonnells Law provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Planning & Environment, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Planning & Environment+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Employment Law · Building & Construction · Partner & Family Visas · Coronial Inquests
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Lismore, NSW · Northern Rivers
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Randall Legal provides legal services in Lismore, NSW. Listed practice areas include Coronial Inquests, Criminal Law and Administrative & Government Law.
Coronial Inquests+7 moreCriminal Law · Administrative & Government Law · Wills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Employment Law · Health & Medical Practitioner Law
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Erina, NSW · Central Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(9)Google rating from 9 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Remedy Law Group provides legal services in Erina, NSW. Listed practice areas include Medical Negligence, Personal Injury and Public Liability.
Medical Negligence+6 morePersonal Injury · Public Liability · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Coronial InquestsNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Kiama, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Kells The Lawyers provides legal services in Kiama, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Partner & Family Visas.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Planning & Environment · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Coronial Inquests · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hobart, TAS · Hobart & South
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Monk Lawyers provides legal services in Hobart, TAS. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Youth Justice & Children's Court and Business & Commercial Law.
Criminal Law+3 moreYouth Justice & Children's Court · Business & Commercial Law · Coronial InquestsFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maitland, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
The Family Law Co. provides legal services in Maitland, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Planning & Environment and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Harvey Walters provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Criminal Law and Coronial Inquests.
Wills & Estates+2 moreCriminal Law · Coronial Inquests
Understand the next step
A practical guide to coronial inquests
What to discuss at the first meeting
Explain your connection to the death and what notice or invitation you have received. Ask about your role, the process and the support required to participate.
An inquest and a separate civil claim have different purposes; ask about each if relevant.
How the engagement may progress
01
Prepare a chronology, agreement or policy, important communications and a calculation of any claimed amount. Distinguish firsthand facts from assumptions.
02
Discuss negotiation, a complaint scheme, mediation, a tribunal or court. Ask which options are available for this particular matter.
03
Agree on a first step and a point to reassess progress and cost. Before settling, understand what claims would be released and how obligations would be recorded.
Fees and the scope of work
Request stages for advice, correspondence, negotiations and proceedings. Discuss filing, expert and barrister costs and any potential liability for another party’s costs.
Ask for a written scope identifying the work you are authorising, the person responsible and when costs will be reviewed. If you only want advice on one step, say so before the firm begins wider work.
Dates to raise at first contact
Provide every demand, decision and court document with its date. Do not assume informal negotiations suspend a response or filing deadline.
Questions to ask a coronial inquests adviser
What is my role and opportunity to participate?
What preparation and representation are included?
What evidence would change the assessment?
Is a complaint or dispute-resolution scheme available?
What are the practical costs and risks if agreement is not reached?
Directory guidance updated 19 September 2026. General information to help you prepare for a conversation with a professional; not advice about your individual matter. Check current requirements with the relevant authority.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Can families take part in an inquest?
Yes. Families can often be represented and ask questions of witnesses.
How much does going to court cost?
It depends on the court, the complexity and how far the matter goes. Ask for a written estimate for each stage, and remember that the losing party often pays part of the winner's costs.
Can I sue for defamation?
Possibly, if a publication identified you and caused or is likely to cause serious harm to your reputation. There are defences and strict time limits, usually one year from publication.
