Civil Liberties & Inquests

Coroners Inquests

Inquest Solicitors – With You Every Step of the Way

An inquest is a formal, public investigation carried out by a Coroner to establish how someone died when the cause of death is unclear, unexplained, sudden, or may involve concerns about the care they received.

An inquest aims to answer four key questions:

• Who the deceased was
• When they died
• Where they died
• How they came by their death

It is not about blaming anyone or deciding legal responsibility. Instead, it is a fact‑finding process designed to provide clarity, transparency, and answers for families.

For many families, an inquest is an important step in understanding what happened to their loved one. Evidence is gathered, witnesses may be called, and public bodies must provide disclosure of relevant information. The findings of an inquest can also play a crucial role in any later legal action, including medical negligence, personal injury or civil claims.

Our friendly and compassionate inquest solicitors are here to support you through every stage of the process. We will guide you through the inquest procedure so you know exactly what to expect, communicate directly with the Coroner on your behalf, and handle all paperwork while explaining everything clearly in plain, simple language.

We are experts in inquests, and we work closely with families to help relieve the stress and anxiety of a Coroners inquest.

In the week leading up to the hearing, you will often receive witness statements and medical records, and we will help you understand these documents and identify the key questions that need to be answered. Throughout the process, we keep you fully informed of timescales, answer your questions about the cause of death and the events leading up to it, and arrange full legal representation for the inquest hearing and any pre‑inquest reviews.

Most law firms will only deal with the paperwork and pre hearing support, but we are there for you and your family every step of the way.

At the hearing itself, we will question witnesses on your behalf to ensure your loved one’s story is heard and explored with the care and attention it deserves.

Why Having Representation Matters in an Inquest

Judicial Reviews

Everyone has rights and we expect these to be upheld. But what happens when the people you expect to help you are actually the ones who have left you feeling like you have been wronged?

A judicial review is a legal process where a court examines whether a public body — such as a government department, local authority, NHS organisation, police force, prison service, or coroner — has acted lawfully, fairly, and rationally.

Whilst you may feel that you are powerless against such authorities we can help you enforce your rights.

Professional legal advice can’t always stop the injustice occurring but it can give help you obtain justice in the end.

Free Initial Appointment

Do you think you have a claim? Our civil liberties & inquest team offer a free initial appointment on all types of potential claims, big or small. Our compassionate and friendly team will discuss your concerns with you and will let you know as soon as we can whether we can help.

Your initial appointment will be made by telephone, offering you complete flexibility. The appointment can be arranged to fit around lunch breaks or work commitments.

Contact us or call us on 0114 2496 648 to book a free assessment today.

Flexible Appointments

We understand that dealing with medical negligence matters can be stressful, and finding time to attend in-person appointments isn’t always easy. That’s why we offer our full range of medical negligence services remotely, offering a more efficient and convenient service. We can offer our medical negligence legal support via telephone or secure remote online meetings.

This approach allows you to access expert legal advice from the comfort of your home, without the need to travel or rearrange your schedule. If your case requires a court hearing, many procedural matters are now handled remotely too, ensuring your legal journey is as smooth and accessible as possible.

Our remote services are designed to be just as personal and confidential as in-person consultations, with clear communication and full transparency every step of the way. Remote appointments are offered throughout the case, and most correspondence can be handled by email and Howells secure Client Portal.

Whether you’re dealing with sensitive medical negligence matters or simply seeking guidance, we ensure a smooth, stress-free experience that puts your needs first. Whilst we appreciate that remote services offer convenience, they may not be suitable for everyone. If you do wish to meet us face to face, you can book an appointment at one of our offices in Sheffield, Barnsley or Rotherham.

Client Reviews

“She has made sure we have understood everything every step of the way even broke it down into words we can understand none of this solicitor jargon.”

“Lovely, very caring and understanding of the issues we as family were going through, we never felt rushed or that we had taken too much of her time up.  Kept us updated throughout, letting us know when she would be out of office and who to contact if she wasn’t around. Gave us lots of support and guidance throughout regarding professionals that may need to be contacted to help our case move forward.”

“I recently had the experience of working with Philippa for my sons inquest case, and I cannot recommend her highly enough. From start to finish, her professionalism, compassion, and expertise were evident in every interaction. Philippa handled everything with sensitivity and clarity. She took the time to thoroughly explain the process, answering all my questions with patience and making sure I fully understood each step. This level of communication was invaluable during such a difficult time. She worked diligently to gather evidence, liaised with relevant authorities, and expertly represented our interests throughout the proceedings. Her guidance helped ensure that we all felt supported and that all key questions and concerns were addressed in the inquiry. Philippa provided both professional expertise and emotional support. I would highly recommend her to anyone in need of a solicitor for an inquest case, as she truly went above and beyond in every aspect of her service.”

Find a full list of client reviews on inquests on Review Solicitors.