Forensic institute: How do we organize funerals in France?

The forensic institute (or IML in French) is a health service used in specific cases:

• When the death occurs on public roads, following a car accident, for example

• When the death occurs under dubious or unexplained circumstances. Legal proceedings are then opened

• When the deceased is not immediately identified. In this case, a police investigation is opened, and the family or relatives may be asked to go to the IML to identify the deceased

• If a body presents a health risk due to an infectious disease, for example

• If the deceased's family requests an autopsy

• Following a suicide

Police or judicial authorities decide on the transport of the deceased to the forensic institute. Once there, the body is placed in a cold room to allow preservation and, if necessary, to perform an autopsy.

For an autopsy to be performed, the judicial authority must request it. It is systematic when the cause of death is criminal or suspicious. Depending on the results of the investigation, the court decides if the autopsy is necessary.

The forensic doctor then performs an examination of the body and submits an autopsy report to the magistrate in charge of the case. Additional tests and body samples can be carried out to solve the investigation or identify the deceased. These are kept sealed for the necessary time.

If the relatives wish to consult this report, a request must be made to the magistrate.

All the fees (transfer, examinations, etc.) are the responsibility of the justice system.

Following the police investigation, the results are sent to the prosecutor who decides to request further examinations or authorize the funeral.

If the prosecutor decides to authorize the funeral, they issue a document called a burial permit. This document is essential to begin organizing the funeral.

Please note that if the family wishes for a cremation, a prior request must be made to the prosecutor so that they explicitly authorize the cremation on the burial permit. If the cremation authorization is not indicated, a new burial permit with the mention of cremation will be required. If the prosecutor refuses cremation, only burial will be possible.

After the issuance of the burial permit, the family can organize the funeral with a funeral company like Advitam. If you wish the deceased to wear a specific outfit during the casketing, you must drop off the clothes at the forensic institute reception desk before the body's departure.

Ritual washing is still possible. It must be performed by religious personnel who have authorization issued by the Police Prefecture.

It's worth noting that each forensic institute has its own internal regulations. It is best to contact the institute directly to find out about their procedures or ask the funeral company, who can guide you. For example, here are the regulations of the forensic institute in Paris.

When the deceased arrives at the forensic institute, a complete inventory is carried out.

The deceased's clothing and papers will be returned to the family unless the investigation requires them to be sealed. It may also happen that the clothes are destroyed for sanitary reasons.

As for valuable items, they are deposited at the registry of the high court after being sealed. Once the investigation is completed, the family can retrieve them.

Yes, the deceased's body can still be donated to science even after a visit to the forensic institute. It is then transported to the medical school where it was intended to be transferred.

However, the transport must be declared in writing to the mayor of the municipality of the place of death or deposit. It is also the responsibility of the family.