Are Autopsy Reports Public in Massachusetts? (2026)

Massachusetts autopsy reports are not public records. Under 505 CMR 1.00, the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) releases an autopsy or toxicology report only to a decedent's surviving spouse or next of kin, and may withhold it while a death is under active investigation by a district attorney.

Are Autopsy Reports Public in Massachusetts?

No. Massachusetts autopsy reports are not public records. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) treats them as restricted under 505 CMR 1.00, the regulation governing disclosure of autopsy reports.

This sets autopsy reports apart from many other government documents. A general member of the public, a journalist, or a researcher cannot simply file a public records request and receive a copy.

Instead, the OCME may, at its discretion, release a report to a narrow group of authorized people, primarily the decedent's surviving spouse or next of kin. The office also reviews whether the case is still under investigation before releasing anything.

For a broader national overview of how access varies, see Are Autopsies Public Records?.

Who Performs Autopsies in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts uses a statewide medical examiner system, not county coroners. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, established under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 38, is a state agency within the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.

Massachusetts has a notable place in this history. In 1877 it became the first state in the nation to replace the lay coroner's office with a trained medical examiner.

When an Autopsy Is Performed

The Chief Medical Examiner has jurisdiction over a death that results from violence, from another unnatural cause, or from a natural cause that in the examiner's opinion requires further investigation. In practice, the OCME investigates deaths that are sudden, violent, suspicious, or unexplained.

Not every death in the OCME's jurisdiction leads to a full autopsy. The examiner decides whether an autopsy, an external examination, or toxicology testing is needed to determine the cause and manner of death.

Who Can Request a Massachusetts Autopsy Report?

Access is limited to the decedent's family. Under 505 CMR 1.00, the OCME may provide a copy of an autopsy report to the surviving spouse or, if there is no legal spouse at the time of death, to the next closest living relative.

The office applies a next-of-kin priority order when deciding who may receive the report. That order generally runs: spouse, adult children, parents, siblings, grandparents, aunt or uncle, niece or nephew, cousins, and the legal guardian of the decedent at the time of death.

Because release is discretionary, the OCME may ask for documentation of your relationship to the decedent before sending a report. Attorneys, insurers, and others typically need separate authorization or a court order.

How to Get an Autopsy or Toxicology Report in Massachusetts

You request the report directly from the OCME using its official report request form. The legal next of kin should complete the appropriate form, sign it, and submit it to the office.

Where to Send the Request

Submit the completed form by email to CMEAdmins1@mass.gov, or by U.S. mail to: Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, ATTN: OCME Report Request, 720 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118.

You can request the autopsy report, the toxicology report, or both on the form. Confirm the current form and any fee directly with the office, because procedures can change.

Processing Time

Most reports are completed in about 90 days. Toxicology and other specialized testing can extend that timeline, so a report may not be available immediately after a death.

The Pending-Investigation Hold

A key restriction applies to deaths that are still under investigation. In cases of unnatural or suspicious death where a district attorney is directing the investigation, the OCME releases a report only after the district attorney has determined, in writing, that there is no objection to disclosure.

This means a family member who is otherwise authorized may still have to wait. If the case remains open, the report can be held until the prosecuting authority clears its release.

Autopsy Report vs Death Certificate in Massachusetts

These are two different documents, and people often confuse them. The death certificate is the official vital record. It lists the certified cause and manner of death on a single line and is issued through the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics and city or town clerks.

The autopsy report is the medical examiner's detailed findings. It can include the examiner's observations, anatomic findings, and toxicology results that explain how the cause of death was reached.

For most legal and administrative tasks, such as settling an estate or claiming benefits, a certified death certificate is what you need. The autopsy report is a deeper clinical document with much tighter access rules. To order the vital record, see How to Get a Massachusetts Death Certificate.

Massachusetts Autopsy Report Facts

Disclaimer: This page provides general information about Massachusetts autopsy reports and is not legal advice. Rules, forms, and fees can change. Verify current requirements directly with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner before submitting a request.

Sources

This page is based on official Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner guidance, 505 CMR 1.00, and Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 38.

Back to Massachusetts Death Records or the full Death Records by State hub.