§ 27464 Suicide Notes And Disposition

• •If someone dies and the coroner is investigating, any notes or letters written by the person that might show they planned to end their life must be given to the coroner.
• •The coroner will keep a copy of these notes in their records. If there’s a formal investigation (called an inquest), the notes will be read and written down officially.
• •After everything is done, the original notes will be given to the person they were written to or to the family’s lawyer. But if the note seems like a will, it will be sent to the court instead.

A person writes a letter saying they want to end their life and leaves it on their desk. Later, they pass away, and the police find the letter.

The letter must be given to the coroner investigating the death. The coroner will make a copy and keep it. If there’s an official investigation, the letter will be read out loud and recorded. After the investigation, the original letter will be given to the person it was written to or to the family’s lawyer. If the letter talks about who gets their stuff after they die, it will be sent to the court instead.