When Death Demands Answers: Understanding Historical Coroner's Records

Coroner’s records uncover the untold details of lives—and deaths—through official inquests, testimony, and historical evidence.
About this course
This two-part workshop with Judy G. Russell explores the wealth of genealogical information tucked away in coroners’ records: officials charged by law with determining the cause and circumstances of deaths not clearly resulting from natural causes. With origins in 12th century England, coroners and their records provide insight into the human condition in British America, Canada, Australia, Ireland, the United States and more. The workshop will review the history of coroners and coroners’ records, how to locate them today, and, most importantly, how to use them effectively to help build a family history. Participants will work hands-on with various records from different times and places.
Who should attend?
If you want to understand the history and purpose of coroner’s records—and the wealth of genealogical information they often contain—this workshop is for you. Designed for intermediate to advanced researchers, it provides practical strategies for locating, interpreting, and analysing these records. Whether you’re investigating an ancestor’s unexpected death, exploring social history through inquests, or learning to navigate complex archival sources, this hands-on session will equip you with essential research skills.
Details
Workshop Cost: $147 (US dollars) for 4 hours (two sessions each of two hours)
When: 8 & 15 October 2025 @ 7 PM Eastern US
Where: via ZOOM. All sessions are closed captioned, recorded and available for viewing for 14 days following each session. A comprehensive workbook is provided. Attendance is limited to 30 participants.

About Judy G. Russell

The Legal Genealogist Judy G. Russell, CG®, CGL, is a genealogist with a law degree who provides expert guidance through the murky territory where law and family history intersect. An internationally-known lecturer and award-winning writer, she holds credentials as a Certified Genealogist® and Certified Genealogical Lecturer℠from the Board for Certification of Genealogists®. Her blog is at https://www.legalgenealogist.com.