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Florida Statute 406.12 - Full Text and Legal Analysis
Florida Statute 406.12 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research
Link to State of Florida Official Statute
F.S. 406.12 Case Law from Google Scholar Google Search for Amendments to 406.12

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XXIX
PUBLIC HEALTH
Chapter 406
MEDICAL EXAMINERS; DISPOSITION OF HUMAN REMAINS
View Entire Chapter
406.12 Duty to report; prohibited acts.
(1) It is the duty of any person in the district where a death occurs, including all municipalities and unincorporated and federal areas, who becomes aware of the death of any person occurring under the circumstances described in s. 406.11 to report such death and circumstances forthwith to the district medical examiner or to a law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the location.
(2) Any person who knowingly fails or refuses to report such death and circumstances as required under subsection (1) or who refuses to make available prior medical or other information pertinent to the death investigation commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(3) Any person who, with the intent to conceal such death or to alter the evidence or circumstances surrounding such death:
(a) Violates subsection (2); or
(b) Without an order from the office of the district medical examiner, willfully touches, removes, or disturbs the body, clothing, or any article upon or near the body,

commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

History.s. 7, ch. 70-232; s. 353, ch. 71-136; s. 1, ch. 2024-135.

F.S. 406.12 on Google Scholar

F.S. 406.12 on CourtListener

Amendments to 406.12


Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 406.12
Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

S406.12 - FRAUD - RENUMBERED. SEE REC # 10395 - M: F
S406.12 2 - CRIMES AGAINST PERSON - FAIL TO REPORT DEATH TO MED EXAMINER OR LEO - M: F
S406.12 2 - OBSTRUCT - REFUSE TO PROV RELEVANT INFO FOR DEATH INVEST - M: F
S406.12 2 - CRIMES AGAINST PERSON - REFUSE PROV INFO FOR INVEST TO CONCEAL DEATH - F: T
S406.12 3b - OBSTRUCT - DISTURB DEAD BODY OR CLOTHING/ARTICLES NEARBY - F: T

Cases Citing Statute 406.12

Total Results: 6  |  Sort by: Relevance  |  Newest First

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Ago (Fla. Att'y Gen. 1978).

Published | Florida Attorney General Reports

...If the undertaker or the registrar has reason to believe that the death may have been due to an unlawful act or neglect, the registrar shall then refer the case to `the coroner or other proper officer' for his investigation and certification [ see ss. 406.12 and 406.13 , F....
...1977, requiring that the medical examiner determine the cause of death in cases where death occurs without medical attendance, and s. 925.09 , F. S. 1977, authorizing a state attorney to have an autopsy performed to determine whether a death was the result of a crime. Section 406.12 , F....
...If there is no such attending physician or other recognized medical practitioner, the medical certification of cause of death must be made out and signed by the medical examiner, the local health officer, or, in certain cases, the local registrar. Sections 382.081, 382.10, 406.11 , 406.12 , and 406.13 , F....
...legal and official memorials or records of death in this state. However, a sheriff, deputy sheriff, or emergency medical technician having knowledge of a death occurring without medical attendance (as prescribed by ss. 382.081, 382.10, 406.11 , and 406.12 , supra ) is a person who becomes aware of a death (to whose knowledge a death may come) within the purview of ss. 382.10 and 406.12 , respectively, and is accordingly required by law to notify the local registrar of such death and to report such death and related circumstances to the medical examiner....
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United States v. Robert L. Ignasiak, Jr. (11th Cir. 2012).

Published | Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

...§ 406.11)(1)(a)–(c). 31 Fla. Stat. § 406.11(1). Further, any person who becomes aware of a person dying under circumstances described in section § 406.11 has a duty to report the death to the medical examiner. Id. at § 406.12....
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United States v. Robert L. Ignasiak, Jr. (11th Cir. 2012).

Published | Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

...§ 406.11)(1)(a)–(c). 31 Fla. Stat. § 406.11(1). Further, any person who becomes aware of a person dying under circumstances described in section § 406.11 has a duty to report the death to the medical examiner. Id. at § 406.12....
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United States v. Robert L. Ignasiak, Jr. (11th Cir. 2012).

Published | Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

...§ 406.11)(1)(a)–(c). 31 Fla. Stat. § 406.11(1). Further, any person who becomes aware of a person dying under circumstances described in section § 406.11 has a duty to report the death to the medical examiner. Id. at § 406.12....
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United States v. Robert L. Ignasiak, Jr. (11th Cir. 2012).

Published | Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

...as he or she shall deem necessary or as shall be requested by the state attorney.” Fla. Stat. § 406.11(1). Further, any person who becomes aware of a person dying under circumstances described in section § 406.11 has a duty to report the death to the medical examiner. Id. at § 406.12....
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Rosario v. State, 175 So. 3d 843 (Fla. 5th DCA 2015).

Published | Florida 5th District Court of Appeal | 2015 Fla. App. LEXIS 12848, 2015 WL 5051187

...y or as shall be requested -by the state attorney.” Fla. Stat. § 406.11 (1). Further, any person who becomes aware of a person dying under circumstances described in section § 406.11 has a duty to report the death to the medical examiner. Id. at § 406.12....

This Florida statute resource is curated by Graham W. Syfert, Esq., a Jacksonville, Florida personal injury and workers' compensation attorney. For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.