In a study to investigate how many ex-patients died since 1974 from sudden or violent causes among all the residents in the catchment area of a general hospital psychiatric unit, the identification of the ex-patients was completed with minimum use of the local coroner as a source of names. Since much of the information available from coroners is available elsewhere, and in view of the considerable pressure of work on coroners, it was felt that alternative sources of information should initially be explored. Three alternative sources, available from death registration procedures, are described and the usefulness of the data available from each source discussed.