Skip to main content
Find a Lawyer

Arkansas Code Title 12. Law Enforcement, Emergency Management, and Military Affairs § 12-12-317. Death certificates

Current as of March 28, 2024 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a) Except as provided under subsection (b) of this section, the certificate of death of a person whose death is investigated under this subchapter shall be made by the State Medical Examiner or by his or her designee or by the county coroner, whoever conducted the investigation.

(b) The examiner or his or her designee shall make and sign a certificate of death if:

(1)(A) The examiner or his or her designee performs a postmortem examination.

(B) The person who performs the postmortem examination shall make and sign the certificate of death; or

(2)(A) The certificate of death is for a person executed for a capital offense.

(B) The examiner or his or her designee shall list on the certificate of death of a person executed for a capital offense the:

(i) Manner of death as “Pursuant to a judicial sentence of death -- Execution”; and

(ii) Cause of death as “electrocution” or “lethal injection”, as applicable.

(c) When a petition is filed with a court of competent jurisdiction to change the cause or manner of death listed on a certificate of death which has been signed by the examiner or by his or her designee, the State Crime Laboratory shall be notified of such petition, and the examiner or his or her designee shall be allowed to hear testimony presented by the petitioner and shall be given an opportunity to present evidence to the court to support the original ruling of the examiner or his or her designee who signed the certificate of death.

Previous Part of Code Next Part of Code
Back to Chapter List

Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Arkansas Code Title 12. Law Enforcement, Emergency Management, and Military Affairs § 12-12-317. Death certificates - last updated March 28, 2024 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ar/title-12-law-enforcement-emergency-management-and-military-affairs/ar-code-sect-12-12-317/

FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.

Was this helpful?

Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes

A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.

Go to Learn About the Law

Latest Blog Posts

For Legal Professionals

Learn About The Law

Get help with your legal needs

FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.

Go to Learn About the Law

Need to Find an Attorney?

Search our directory by legal issue

Enter information in one or both fields (Required)

Copied to clipboard