Frequently Asked Questions
1. My loved one has died. What are the next steps?
We pride ourselves on a seamless transition of care and work closely with funeral homes to ensure your loved one is well cared for. To begin the transition of care process, reach out to the funeral home of choice and inform the Funeral Director your loved one is in the care of Mid Michigan Medical Examiner Group. Funeral homes serve as the liaison between our office and your family. They are experts in every step of assisting families and caring for your loved one.
2. I am interested in organ/tissue donation. How can I learn more?
Known as Kyle Ray Horning's law (MCL - Section 52.209), the medical examiner shall work with Michigan's federally designated organ procurement organization to coordinate the recovery and allocation of anatomical donations. To learn more about the donation organizations in Michigan, use the links below.
Gift Of Life Michigan: Click here to learn more
Eversight: Click here to learn more
3. I don't have the funds to pay for a funeral. What are my options?
Start by contacting local funeral homes to see if/how they can assist you. The funeral home may be able to assist you in securing funeral and burial payment assistance through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). You can also find out about assistance through DHHS by contacting the county in which your loved one died. If your loved one is a veteran, reach out to the Veteran Service Office in the county and inquire about assistance.
4. The death certificate is pending. When will that be updated?
Circumstances that require further investigation result in the cause and manner of death to be listed as pending on the death certificate. The timeframe for a determination on the cause and manner of death is variable and dependent on a number of factors that are unique to each case.
Once the cause and manner of death are finalized, the funeral home is notified within 15 minutes of the finalized case and updated death certificate. The finalized death certificate can be pre ordered through the funeral home or obtained by contacting the Clerk's office where the death occurred.
5. I would like a copy of the Autopsy Report. What do I need to do?
You may request the autopsy report after all reports related to the death are completed (investigation, autopsy, and toxicology). Requests for records can be made in writing via email or standard mail:
- Email:
- Mail:
- Midmichigan Medical Examiner Group
2141 Plett Rd. PMB 111
Cadillac, MI 49601
- Midmichigan Medical Examiner Group
Requests must include:
- Name of decedent
- Date and county of death
- Requestor name, email address, and relationship to the decedent
- Address or email where the records should be sent
- $25 payment made to either of the following:
- Midmichigan Medical Examiner Group
2141 Plett Rd. PMB 111
Cadillac, MI 49601 - Paypal: records.mmmeg@gmail.
com
- Midmichigan Medical Examiner Group
- $25 for Case Report and/or Autopsy/Toxicology
The request will be fulfilled upon receipt of payment.
6. I cannot find my loved one. Can you help?
NamUs - National Missing and Unidentified Persons Systems
NamUs provides tools the empower family members of missing persons to enter and search case information or connect with criminal justice professionals to assist in the search for their missing loved ones.
