The Coroners (Inquests) Rules 2013

PART 1 Introduction

Citation and commencement

1.  These Rules may be cited as the Coroners (Inquests) Rules 2013 and shall come into force on 25th July 2013.

Interpretation

2.—(1) In these Rules—

“the 2009 Act” means the Coroners and Justice Act 2009;

“bank holiday” means a day designated as a bank holiday in England and Wales under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971(1);

“copy” means in relation to a document, anything on to which information recorded in the document has been copied, by whatever means and whether directly or indirectly;

“coroner” means—

(a)

a senior coroner, area coroner or assistant coroner;

(b)

the Chief Coroner when conducting an inquest; or

(c)

a judge, former judge or former coroner conducting an inquest in accordance with Schedule 10 to the 2009 Act;

“document” means any medium in which information of any description is recorded or stored;

“working day” means a day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday, a bank holiday, Christmas Day or Good Friday.

(2) All references to section and schedule provisions in these Rules are references to provisions in the 2009 Act, unless a rule specifically states otherwise.

(3) Any reference to a Form in these Rules is a reference to a Form in the Schedule to these Rules.

Application to existing inquests

3.—(1) These Rules apply to any inquest which has not been completed before 25th July 2013.

(2) Any direction, time limit, adjournment or other decision made by the coroner in relation to an inquest made before 25th July 2013 shall stand.

(1)

1971 c.80.