South Carolina Death Certificates

Ordering South Carolina Death Certificates Online

Order Death Certificates Here

General Information on Ordering South Carolina Death Certificates

You are entitled to a certified copy of a death certificate if you are a member of the decedent's family or if you are their legal representative. Others who demonstrate a direct and tangible interest may be issued copies when information is needed to determine a personal or a property right. Other applicants may be provided a statement that the death occurred, including the date and county of death. For additional information contact the state office of the Division of Vital Records in Columbia, South Carolina at (803) 898 3630.

Certified copies of death certificates may be obtained from the state vital records office located at DHEC, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201. Certified copies of death certificates may also be issued from the health department in the county of death. The county vital records office can only certify deaths that occurred during the last five years in their county.

Death records become public records after fifty (50) years and then any person may obtain certified copies. Deaths for 1915-1952 are available for public reviewing at the South Carolina State Archives.

Information for Genealogists

For assistance with your family history research, please do not contact the State of South Carolina. Instead please refer to the following websites for help:

• South Carolina Birth, Marriage and Death Records - online databases of primary records.

• South Carolina Adoption Registry - for help with locating adoptees and birth families from South Carolina.

• South Carolina Obituaries - find obituaries from South Carolina newspapers.

• Social Security Death Index - National database of deaths dating back to the 1940's.