Court-ready forensic autopsies for counties and Justices of the Peace.
A dependable forensic partner for Texas counties: board-certified exams, standard toxicology, and court-ready reports, statewide.
The forensic examination, standard toxicology by NMS Labs, and a court-ready report, with pricing built around your county, not a transactional rate card.
See what’s included ↓Can a Texas county contract out its forensic autopsies?
Yes. A Texas county can contract forensic autopsies to an outside board-certified forensic pathologist rather than fund an in-house facility, and 238 of the state's 254 counties have no medical examiner of their own — death investigations there are directed by a Justice of the Peace. Texas Autopsy Services serves all 254 counties. Every engagement includes the forensic examination, standard toxicology run by NMS Labs, and a complete court-ready report, with a Preliminary Report within 24 hours of the autopsy and the Final Report typically in under four weeks. Pricing is quoted per county against caseload and transport distance.
Court-ready forensic work, handled end to end.
- Standard toxicology included (NMS Labs)
- Preliminary Report within 24 hours of autopsy
- Final Report typically in under four weeks
- Expert testimony available
- One-way & two-way transport available
Only 16 Texas counties have a medical examiner.
The other 238 counties operate under the Justice of the Peace system, where the JP holds the inquest and ordered autopsies are referred out to a regional facility, often a long distance away, and frequently behind a backlog.
We give every Texas county a board-certified forensic option that shortens the distance a case has to travel and adds capacity where the regional system is stretched, with pricing a Commissioners Court can budget with confidence.
A forensic partner for the offices that carry the inquest.
Justices of the Peace
In the 238 counties without a medical examiner, the JP holds the inquest. We supply the board-certified forensic capacity to carry out the autopsies you order, promptly and to standard.
County Commissioners
Forensic capacity with no in-house facility or staff to fund, and pricing tailored to your caseload and distances, so medicolegal costs stay easy to budget and defend.
Medical examiner & sheriff offices
Overflow and referral capacity when caseload, coverage, or conflicts call for an additional board-certified pathologist. When officers need to witness an examination, a dedicated viewing room with CCTV keeps them on-site and the chain of custody intact.
Everything a county needs, in one accountable partner.
A partner, not a vendor
We work as an extension of your office, not a transactional service. Pricing is built around your county (case volume, transport distance, and need), so it fits the way you actually operate.
Standard toxicology included
Every case covers the examination, a complete written report, and standard toxicology run by NMS Labs: comprehensive forensic work, handled end to end.
Rapid turnaround
A Preliminary Report within 24 hours of the autopsy, with the court-ready Final Report typically in under four weeks, so families get early answers and death certificates and dockets keep moving.
Court-ready reports
Clear, defensible documentation prepared to medicolegal standards that stands up in legal proceedings.
Expert testimony
Direct access to board-certified forensic pathology expertise, with expert witness testimony available when a case requires it.
Statewide transport available
We offer one-way transfer, with two-way transport available anywhere in Texas and documented chain of custody throughout.
A forensic partner, priced to fit your county.
We would rather be of service than be transactional. There is no one-size-fits-all rate card (what a case costs depends on factors like volume and transport distance), so we build a clear quote around how your office actually operates.
What never changes is the value: board-certified forensic work, standard toxicology by NMS Labs, and court-ready reports, delivered on time, every time.
What every case includes
- A complete forensic autopsy by a board-certified forensic pathologist
- Standard toxicology performed by NMS Labs
- A complete, court-ready written report
- Documented chain of custody throughout
- Expert witness testimony available when a case requires it
Standard toxicology for every county case is performed by NMS Labs, a nationally recognized forensic laboratory, included with every case.
Three steps, and we handle the rest.
One call starts it. We manage transport, examination, and reporting end to end. You receive a court-ready report.
- 1
We handle pickup & transport
Contact us with the case details and we take it from there. Professional transport ensures proper chain of custody from the moment we arrive.
- 2
Autopsy performed
A board-certified forensic pathologist performs a comprehensive examination and oversees any laboratory analysis.
- 3
Reports delivered
A Preliminary Report follows within 24 hours of the autopsy, with the court-ready Final Report delivered to your office typically in under four weeks, ready for certification and the record.
The quality and clarity of these autopsy reports are outstanding, and your quick turnaround makes a huge difference in how fast we can get these certificates finished. Thank you!
See where your cases will be handled.
We welcome Justices of the Peace, Commissioners, and their staff to tour our facility in person. Meet the team, see the examination space, and understand exactly how we protect chain of custody and dignity at every step.
- Walk the facility and examination space.
- See the viewing room where deputies and officers can observe an examination by CCTV.
- Meet the team and ask any questions directly.
- Understand our transport, chain-of-custody, and reporting process.
Prefer to talk first? Call us anytime at (806) 230-1889.
Tour request received
Thank you. A member of our team will reach out to confirm a time that works for your office. If it's urgent, call us anytime at (806) 230-1889.
What counties want to know.
How much does a county forensic autopsy cost?
Rather than a one-size-fits-all rate, we tailor pricing to each county, because the right number depends on factors like case volume and transport distance. Every engagement includes the forensic examination, standard toxicology (run by NMS Labs), and a complete court-ready report. Call us and we will put together a clear quote built around your county’s needs.
What lab do you use for toxicology?
All toxicology is performed by NMS Labs, a nationally recognized forensic laboratory. Standard toxicology is included with every county case.
Do you handle transport?
Yes. We offer one-way transfer, with two-way transport available anywhere in Texas, and documented chain of custody throughout. Transport is quoted with your case.
How fast are reports delivered?
A Preliminary Report is available within 24 hours of the autopsy, giving you and the family early answers. The court-ready Final Report is typically delivered to your office in under four weeks, so death certificates and case dockets are not held up.
Will the pathologist provide expert testimony?
Yes. Our examinations are performed by board-certified forensic pathologists, and expert witness testimony is available when a case requires it.
Can our deputies or officers observe the autopsy?
Yes. Law enforcement is welcome on-site when a case requires it. We have a dedicated viewing room with closed-circuit television (CCTV) so deputies and officers can observe the examination directly while the chain of custody stays intact.
Which counties do you serve?
All 254 Texas counties. We work with Justices of the Peace, County Commissioners, and medical examiner and sheriff offices statewide.
Can county officials tour the facility?
Absolutely, we welcome it. Use the form below to request a facility tour for your office; we will coordinate a time that works for your schedule.
Let's make your county's caseload easier to carry.
Whether you order a few autopsies a year or need ongoing capacity, we make it simple: standard toxicology included, court-ready reports on time, and pricing built around your county.