I know they use county judges to rule on the death of the deceased if it is at their home in the rural areas here in West Texas. The judge is almost the first person called after calling 911. We do not have a coroner. If they rule it a natural death, you can go ahead and have the funeral with the funeral home director giving the cause of death.
In the case of suspicious deaths, then the body is sent to one of the larger towns in the area, Lubbock, Midland, Odessa, Amarillo, which ever is closest.
I know they use county judges to rule on the death of the deceased if it is at their home in the rural areas here in West Texas. The judge is almost the first person called after calling 911. We do not have a coroner. If they rule it a natural death, you can go ahead and have the funeral with the funeral home director giving the cause of death.
In the case of suspicious deaths, then the body is sent to one of the larger towns in the area, Lubbock, Midland, Odessa, Amarillo, which ever is closest.