---
title: "Seek leave to appear at a New South Wales inquest"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/practice/coronial-inquests/prepare-an-application-for-leave-to-appear-at-an-inquest/new-south-wales"
type: "task_jurisdiction_version"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "A61-V20261018-4-NSW"
practice_area: "Coronial Inquests"
tier: "yellow"
lawyer_review: "required"
jurisdictions: ["NSW"]
last_reviewed: "2026-10-25"
---

# Seek leave to appear at a New South Wales inquest

> List the facts of the client's connection that the lawyer has noted, and record whether the lawyer has identified the client as a relative. Do not draft the application and do not say that leave must be granted.

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/practice/coronial-inquests/prepare-an-application-for-leave-to-appear-at-an-inquest/new-south-wales  
Last reviewed: 2026-10-25

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Practice area | [Coronial Inquests](https://ailawframework.com/practice/coronial-inquests.md) |
| Human involvement | Yellow: Lawyer and AI draft together |
| How AI is used | List the facts of the client's connection that the lawyer has noted, and record whether the lawyer has identified the client as a relative. Do not draft the application and do not say that leave must be granted. |
| What the lawyer must review | Decide whether the client is a relative, who must receive leave unless there are exceptional circumstances For any other person, decide whether the interest is sufficient Settle the application and check conflicts |
| Written for | New South Wales |
| Applies to | [Prepare an application for leave to appear at an inquest](https://ailawframework.com/practice/coronial-inquests/prepare-an-application-for-leave-to-appear-at-an-inquest.md) |

## Checking plan

**Verify against sources**

Section 57 gives leave for a sufficient interest. A relative of the deceased must be granted leave unless the coroner finds exceptional circumstances.

- What the AI does: List the facts of the client's connection that the lawyer has noted, and record whether the lawyer has identified the client as a relative. Do not draft the application and do not say that leave must be granted.
- What the lawyer does: The lawyer decides the relationship and the interest, and settles the leave application.
- Who reviews: Lawyer competent in this practice area
- Basis: Checked against the linked sources on 23 October 2026. Confirm the current instrument before reliance.

## Checks the lawyer makes

1. Section 57(1): leave may be granted to a person who, in the coroner's opinion, has a sufficient interest, to appear in person or by an Australian legal practitioner.
2. Section 57(3): a relative of the deceased must be granted leave unless the coroner is satisfied there are exceptional circumstances to refuse it.
3. A person granted leave may examine and cross-examine witnesses on matters relevant to the proceedings.
4. Do not describe a friend or a support person as a relative. The lawyer applies the definition.

## Notes

- No separate Coroners Court generative AI practice note was opened. Do not apply Supreme Court Practice Note SC Gen 23 as if it bound the coroner, unless the lawyer confirms it does.
- The lawyer settles the application.

## Practical guide

Jurisdiction: NSW coronial jurisdiction under the Coroners Act 2009

**Deliverable**: A fact list against section 57, recording whether the lawyer has identified a relative.

**Inputs**

- Lawyer's note of the relationship
- Issues on which examination is sought
- Conflict check

**Example**: Illustrative example: The client is a sibling of the person who died. The list records the relationship the lawyer has identified and the issues the lawyer has approved. It does not say leave must be granted.

**Stop and escalate when**

- The relationship is unclear and the list still relies on section 57(3).
- The firm has an unresolved conflict.

Checked 2026-10-23.

## Sources

- [Coroners Act 2009 (NSW) s 57, representation in coronial proceedings](https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/ca2009120/s57.html) (checked 2026-10-23)
- [Coroners Act 2009 (NSW) s 27, when an inquest is required](https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/ca2009120/s27.html) (checked 2026-10-23)

## Forms and precedents for this task

| Form or precedent | Kind | AI level | Summary |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Application for leave to appear at an inquest: letter to the coroner (NSW, sufficient interest)](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/coronial-inquests/application-for-leave-to-appear-at-inquest.md) | Letter | Yellow | A letter to the coroner (through counsel assisting) seeking leave for a person or organisation to appear and be represented at an inquest under s 57 of the Coroners Act 2009 (NSW), explaining the… |
| [Application for leave to appear as an interested party (Coroners Court Form 31)](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/coronial-inquests/form-vic-coroner-31-leave-to-appear.md) | Form | Yellow | Link to Coroners Court Form 31. The find-a-form page says it is used to apply to become an interested party under section 56 of the Coroners Act 2008. |
| [Requesting a Queensland inquest: pathway, dates and pre-inquest conference](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/coronial-inquests/qld-inquest-request-pathway.md) | Checklist | Yellow | Pathway for asking a Queensland coroner to hold an inquest, including the six-month decision period, the 14-day next step, and what a pre-inquest conference decides. |
| [Non-publication or closed-court order at a NSW inquest: structure (s 74)](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/coronial-inquests/non-publication-order-structure-nsw.md) | Checklist | Yellow | Structure for asking a NSW coroner to close the court or prohibit publication of evidence or of submissions about an indictable offence, using the public-interest matters in s 74. |
| [Family conference before an inquest: agenda](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/coronial-inquests/family-conference-before-inquest.md) | Checklist | Yellow | An agenda for a conference with a family before a NSW inquest: leave to appear, the issues list, what the family will and will not hear, and who speaks to the coroner. |

Signed-in accounts can read the full text of each one.

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*