Slovak forensic scientist and lawyer Peter Kováč, co-founder of the Institute of Forensic Medical Expertise and university lecturer, explains the definitive signs of death. He clarifies that death is determined by the irreversible cessation of breathing and circulation – the heart stopping – alongside the complete and permanent failure of all brain and brainstem functions. The discussion delves into postmortem changes, including rigor mortis (postmortem stiffness), algor mortis (cooling of the body), desiccation (drying), putrefaction, and adipocere (grave wax). Kováč’s expertise provides insight into the processes that occur after death, essential for forensic investigations in Slovakia. He has been a long-time acquaintance of the interviewer, fostering a familiar tone in this exploration of mortality. This expertise is crucial within the forensic field in Slovakia.