The Short Answer
The medical examiner's investigators come to the home, examine the scene, and take the decedent to the office at 200 Feliks Gwozdz Place in Fort Worth. The family chooses a funeral home and signs the release form, and the office says most decedents are ready within 24 hours. The office doesn't clean the home. That falls to the owner once the scene is released.
When the Medical Examiner Gets Involved
The medical examiner gets involved when a death occurs without medical attention, from unnatural causes, or from violence. In a home, that means a death with no doctor in attendance, a suicide, an accident, or a homicide.
The Steps in Order
The steps after the medical examiner arrives follow a set order.
- Scene investigation. Investigators and police examine the scene and the decedent.
- Transport. The decedent goes to the medical examiner's office for the exam.
- Funeral home choice. The closest legal next of kin chooses a funeral home or cremation service.
- Release form. The office needs a valid Authorization to Release Remains form.
- Release. The office releases the decedent to the funeral home, in most cases within 24 hours.
- Home release. Police or investigators release the home, and the owner arranges cleanup.
A decedent who hasn't been identified can't be released until identification is established.
What It Costs the Family
What it costs the family at the medical examiner's office is little or nothing.
| Item | Cost to the family |
|---|---|
| Medical examiner's exam | No cost; the exam is required by state law |
| Transport of the decedent | The chosen funeral home may bill the family |
| Copies of reports and lab services | Separate fees under the office's fee schedule |
| Home cleanup | Paid by the owner or estate, set by a written scope |
Reaching the Office
The office answers at 817-920-5700, with help available 24 hours a day. Business hours run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except county and federal holidays. Call the office about release of the decedent and about records. Call us about the home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the medical examiner clean the home?
No, the medical examiner's office investigates the death and handles the decedent, and the cleanup belongs to the property owner after the release. Blood, body fluids, and odor stay in the home until someone removes them. Keep the affected room closed until a cleanup crew arrives.
How long until the funeral home can take the decedent?
Two things have to happen before release: the next of kin chooses a funeral home, and the office receives a valid release form. Once they do, the 24-hour timeline applies. Identification has to be complete first, so a death where identity isn't confirmed takes longer.
Can the family go into the home after the medical examiner leaves?
The family can go in once police or investigators release the home, but the affected room carries infection risk from blood and body fluids. Nothing in that room needs handling before the cleanup crew arrives. If something urgent is in there, such as keys or documents, ask the crew to retrieve and clean it.
Who pays for the cleanup after a death at home?
The property owner or the estate pays for cleanup, and the homeowners policy may cover part of it. If a crime caused the death, the Texas Crime Victims' Compensation Program may pay up to $2,250 toward cleanup for an eligible victim after insurance. Our cleanup cost page lays out the order.
Does the medical examiner handle deaths in other counties?
This office is the Tarrant County Medical Examiner, and its own page names Tarrant County. Fort Worth and every city on our service area page sit in Tarrant County, so the same office handles all of them. For a death outside Tarrant County, ask the local police which office has the case.