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An '''inquest''' is a judicial or official inquiry<ref group="notes">An '''inquiry''' is a formal investigation, while an '''enquiry''' is a casual, informal request for information, as for example to enquire about the wellbeing or situation of another, or about the location of a place or address or where to get information. [http://www.differencebetween.net/language/difference-between-enquiry-and-inquiry/ Difference between enquiry and inquiry (differencebetween.net)]</ref> or examination, especially one before a jury, often (but not always) to examine evidence to determine the cause of death of an individual.<ref>[https://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/inquest Inquest (legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com)]</ref> The term is sometimes improperly used as [[Denotation|denoting]] a [[preliminary hearing]] or investigation. Generally jury inquests are only held in common-law jurisdictions, in civil law jurisdictions such as France, inquiries into deaths are conducted by government officials without a jury.<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/guidance/france-information-for-bereaved-families-murder-manslaughter-or-suspicious-deaths France: Information for bereaved families - murder, manslaughter or suspicious deaths (gov.uk)]</ref>