Effective October 1, 2025, Session Law 2025-70 amended NCGS § 130A-385 which implemented new confidentiality standards on disclosure and release of certain medical examiner records. In accordance with this law, certain records are now confidential under G.S. 130A-385 unless a legal exception applies. These new confidentiality standards apply to requests for records of 1) any death that is under criminal investigation or the subject of a criminal prosecution, or 2) any death of a child who was under 18 years of age at the time of death. The new law outlines specific, limited exceptions to these restrictions. These rules apply to all relevant cases, regardless of the date of death. Please see amendments to § 130A-385 for more details about these new confidentiality standards and associated legal exceptions.

• Amendments to NCGS § 130A-385 prohibit the release of medical examiner records of 1) any death that is under criminal investigation or the subject of a criminal prosecution, or 2) any death of a child who was under 18 years of age at the time of death.
• For records that are under criminal investigation or the subject of a criminal prosecution, limited release may be permitted to the following individuals:
  • personal representative of the decedent's estate,
  • beneficiary of a benefit or claim associated with the decedent,
  • surviving spouse,
  • child or stepchild,
  • parent or stepparent,
  • sibling, or
  • legal guardian
• For records related to the death of a child who was under 18 years of age at the time of death, limited release may be permitted to the following individuals:
  • personal representative of the decedent's estate,
  • beneficiary of a benefit or claim associated with the decedent,
  • surviving spouse,
  • decedent's parents,
  • adult children of the decedent,
  • legal guardian or custodian of the decedent,
  • legal guardian or custodian of a child of the decedent,
  • any person holding power of attorney or healthcare attorney for the decedent,
  • the legal representative of any of the above-named authorized individuals

If your request falls into one of the exception categories above, you must provide verification documents to OCME in order for your request to be processed. Please consult the table below for acceptable examples of verification. Documentation may be submitted electronically to OCME_VERIFICATION@dhhs.nc.gov.