Do funeral homes note condition of bodies such as cuts and bruising?

Answer 1

Undertakers are not primarily in the crime fighting role, but they do have to report suspicious conditions of bodies to the authorities.

If there is any sort of concern about the death, the hospital and coroner will take care of it. Dead bodies don't go to the funeral home without having been examined by the coroner. If there is anything even slightly suspicious, or the cause of death is unknown, there will be an autopsy and possibly an investigation.

*In the United States, different states have different laws concerning this subject. Some states will insist that there be a coroner or medical examiner inspect the body before cremation, at the crematory, and of course this involves more money for the overall funeral cost. As for the funeral home specifically noting the condition of the body, they would already have the casue of death and any pertinent information from the death certificate that is required before embalming and other preparations for burial. The funeral home itself may, to protect itself, note the overall condition of the body, but they do not get involved in the cause, condition, or legal implications concerning the manner of death. If they have any questions, that are not answered in the paperwork, they would not proceed with accepting the body or preparing it for burial until those questions are answered.