How long does lividity last after death?

Lividity, also known as hypostasis, refers to the settling of blood in the lower parts of the body after death due to gravity. This process begins within the first few hours postmortem and becomes fully developed typically within 6 to 12 hours. After approximately 12 to 24 hours, lividity usually stabilizes, meaning that it no longer changes significantly in appearance.

The duration of lividity can last for about 36 hours, during which time it can still be determined if a body has been moved, as the pattern of lividity will reflect the position of the body at the time of death. Beyond this time frame, the lividity can become fixed and not change, making it less useful for estimating time of death. Understanding the timeline and characteristics of postmortem changes, including lividity, is essential in forensic science because it helps forensic investigators establish a timeline and possibly uncover information about the circumstances surrounding a death.