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Chapter 49A: Death Inquests

Texas Code of Criminal Procedure – 2026

All Sections Code of Criminal Procedure Overview ← Previous Chapter 49: Inquests Upon Dead Bodies Next → Chapter 50: Fire Inquests

All Sections

Chapter 1: General Provisions Chapter 2: General Duties of Officers Chapter 2A: Officers; Powers and Duties Chapter 2B: Law Enforcement Interactions with Public Chapter 3: Definitions Chapter 4: Courts and Criminal Jurisdiction Chapter 5: Family Violence Prevention Chapter 5A: Preventing, Investigating, and Prosecuting Family Violence Chapter 5B: Procedures for Certain Offenses Involving Illegal Entry Into This State Chapter 5C: Procedures for Real Property Theft and Fraud Chapter 6: Preventing Offenses by the Act of Magistrates and Other Officers; Education Concerning Consequences of Certain Offenses Chapter 7: Proceedings Before Magistrates to Prevent Offenses Chapter 7B: Protective Orders Chapter 7C: Prohibition on Recognition, Service, and Enforcement of Extreme Risk Protective Orders Chapter 8: Suppression of Riots and Other Disturbances Chapter 9: Offenses Injurious to Public Health Chapter 9A: Trade, Business, or Occupation Injurious to Public Health Chapter 11: Habeas Corpus Chapter 12: Limitation Chapter 13A: Venue Chapter 14: Arrest Without Warrant Chapter 15: Arrest Under Warrant Chapter 16: The Commitment or Discharge of the Accused Chapter 17: Bail Chapter 17A: Corporations and Associations Chapter 18: Search Warrants Chapter 18A: Detection, Interception, and Use of Wire, Oral, and Electronic Communications Chapter 18B: Installation and Use of Tracking Equipment; Access to Communications Chapter 19A: Grand Jury Organization Chapter 20A: Grand Jury Proceedings Chapter 21: Indictment and Information Chapter 22: Forfeiture of Bail Chapter 23: The Capias Chapter 24: Subpoena and Attachment Chapter 24A: Responding to Subpoenas and Certain Other Court Orders; Preserving Certain Information Chapter 25: Service of a Copy of the Indictment Chapter 26: Arraignment Chapter 27: The Pleading in Criminal Actions Chapter 28: Motions, Pleadings and Exceptions Chapter 29: Continuance Chapter 30: Disqualification of the Judge Chapter 31A: Change of Venue Chapter 32: Dismissing Prosecutions Chapter 32A: Speedy Trial Chapter 33: The Mode of Trial Chapter 34: Special Venire in Capital Cases Chapter 35: Formation of the Jury Chapter 36: The Trial Before the Jury Chapter 37: The Verdict Chapter 38: Evidence in Criminal Actions Chapter 39: Depositions and Discovery Chapter 40: New Trials Chapter 41: Arrest of Judgment Chapter 42: Judgment and Sentence Chapter 42A: Community Supervision Chapter 43: Execution of Judgment Chapter 44: Appeal and Writ of Error Chapter 45A: Justice and Municipal Courts Chapter 46: Miscellaneous Provisions Relating to Mental Illness and Intellectual Disability Chapter 46B: Incompetency to Stand Trial Chapter 46C: Insanity Defense Chapter 47: Disposition of Stolen Property Chapter 48: Pardon and Parole Chapter 49: Inquests Upon Dead Bodies Chapter 49A: Death Inquests Chapter 50: Fire Inquests Chapter 50A: Fire Inquests Chapter 51: Fugitives from Justice Chapter 52: Court of Inquiry Chapter 55A: Expunction of Criminal Records Chapter 56A: Rights of Crime Victims Chapter 56B: Crime Victims' Compensation Chapter 56C: Landowner Compensation for Property Damage Caused by Certain Criminal Activities Chapter 58: Confidentiality of Identifying Information and Medical Records of Certain Crime Victims Chapter 59: Forfeiture of Contraband Chapter 62: Sex Offender Registration Program Chapter 63: Missing Children and Missing Persons Chapter 64: Motion for Forensic Dna Testing Chapter 65: Terrorist Offender Registration Program Chapter 66: Criminal History Record System Chapter 67: Compilation of Information Pertaining to Combinations and Criminal Street Gangs Chapter 101: General Provisions Chapter 102: Costs, Fees, and Fines Paid by Defendants Chapter 103: Payment, Collection, and Recordkeeping Chapter 104: Certain Expenses Paid by State or County
Art. 49A.001 DEFINITIONS Art. 49A.002 WHEN DECEASED PERSON OR BODY CONSIDERED UNIDENTIFIED Art. 49A.051 APPLICABILITY Art. 49A.052 INDEPENDENT AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF JUSTICE OF THE PEACE Art. 49A.053 DEATHS REQUIRING INQUEST Art. 49A.054 REQUIRED NOTICE TO JUSTICE OF THE PEACE; OFFENSE Art. 49A.055 ALTERNATE OFFICIALS REQUIRED TO CONDUCT INQUESTS; OFFENSE Art. 49A.056 REQUIRED NOTICE OF DEATH IN PENAL INSTITUTION Art. 49A.057 AUTHORITY TO ACT ON CERTAIN INFORMATION Art. 49A.058 TIME AND PLACE OF INQUEST Art. 49A.059 OFFENSE: HINDERING AN INQUEST Art. 49A.060 LIMITATIONS ON MOVING BODY AND PHYSICAL SURROUNDINGS; OFFENSE Art. 49A.061 AUTHORITY TO LOCK AND SEAL PREMISES OF DECEASED PERSON; LIABILITY OF ESTATE FOR EXPENSES; OFFENSE Art. 49A.062 AUTHORITY TO DISINTER BODY Art. 49A.063 AUTOPSIES Art. 49A.064 TAKING SAMPLES; LIMITED AUTOPSIES Art. 49A.065 CHEMICAL ANALYSES Art. 49A.066 LIABILITY OF PERSON PERFORMING AUTOPSY OR TEST Art. 49A.067 UNIDENTIFIED BODY Art. 49A.068 CREMATION; OFFENSE Art. 49A.069 INQUEST HEARING; CONTEMPT Art. 49A.070 OFFENSE: FAILING TO APPEAR AT INQUEST HEARING Art. 49A.071 INQUEST RECORD Art. 49A.072 WARRANT OF ARREST Art. 49A.073 COMMITMENT OF SUSPECT Art. 49A.074 PRESERVATION OF EVIDENCE Art. 49A.075 OFFICE OF DEATH INVESTIGATOR Art. 49A.076 DUTY TO SIGN DEATH CERTIFICATES AND INQUEST ORDERS Art. 49A.077 AUTHORITY TO REOPEN INQUEST BASED ON CERTAIN INFORMATION Art. 49A.101 CREATION OF OFFICE REQUIRED IN CERTAIN COUNTIES; AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH OFFICE Art. 49A.102 CREATION OF MULTI-COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINERS DISTRICT; WITHDRAWAL Art. 49A.103 INQUEST POWERS AND DUTIES OF JUSTICE OF THE PEACE APPLY TO MEDICAL EXAMINER; CONFLICT OF LAWS Art. 49A.104 WHICH MEDICAL EXAMINER REQUIRED TO CONDUCT INQUEST Art. 49A.105 APPOINTMENT AND QUALIFICATION OF MEDICAL EXAMINER Art. 49A.106 EMPLOYEES Art. 49A.107 SALARIES Art. 49A.108 PROVISION OF OFFICE SPACE AND LABORATORY FACILITIES Art. 49A.109 DEATHS REQUIRING INQUEST BY MEDICAL EXAMINER Art. 49A.110 REQUIRED NOTICE TO MEDICAL EXAMINER OF DEATHS Art. 49A.111 AUTHORITY TO ADMINISTER OATHS AND TAKE AFFIDAVITS DURING INQUEST Art. 49A.112 MEDICAL EXAMINER MUST AUTHORIZE REMOVAL OF BODY; EXCEPTIONS Art. 49A.113 AUTHORITY TO DISINTER BODY Art. 49A.114 WHEN AUTOPSIES REQUIRED; USE OF FACILITIES Art. 49A.115 LIMITED AUTOPSY Art. 49A.116 UNIDENTIFIED BODY: TESTING, REPORTING, AND DISPOSITION Art. 49A.117 DUTY TO TAKE CHARGE OF BODY IN ABSENCE OF NEXT OF KIN OR LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE Art. 49A.118 CREMATION Art. 49A.119 REPORTING CAUSE OF DEATH; KEEPING RECORDS; ISSUING DEATH CERTIFICATES Art. 49A.120 WITHHOLDING OF RECORDS NOT PERMITTED; EXCEPTIONS Art. 49A.121 RELEASE OF CERTAIN RECORDS Art. 49A.122 FEES Art. 49A.123 GENERAL CRIMINAL OFFENSE Art. 49A.151 COUNTY SERVED BY JUSTICE OF THE PEACE: NOTICE AND REPORT OF DEATH OCCURRING IN INSTITUTION Art. 49A.152 COUNTY SERVED BY MEDICAL EXAMINER: NOTICE AND REPORT OF DEATH OCCURRING IN INSTITUTION; OFFENSE Art. 49A.153 COUNTY SERVED BY JUSTICE OF THE PEACE: INVESTIGATION AND REPORT OF DEATH OCCURRING WHILE CONFINED OR IN PEACE OFFICER CUSTODY Art. 49A.201 APPLICABILITY Art. 49A.202 INFORMED CONSENT TO POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION OR AUTOPSY REQUIRED Art. 49A.203 PERSONS AUTHORIZED TO CONSENT TO POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION OR AUTOPSY Art. 49A.204 POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION OR AUTOPSY CONSENT FORM Art. 49A.205 RIGHT TO NONAFFILIATED PHYSICIAN REVIEWING OR PERFORMING AUTOPSY Art. 49A.251 WAITING PERIOD BEFORE CREMATION; OFFENSE Art. 49A.252 RIGHT OF PARENT OF DECEASED PERSON TO VIEW PERSON'S BODY