South Carolina Death Records

South Carolina death records are available from the Department of Health and Environmental Control. Access to this information is restricted by the state and photo ID must be shown or copied and provided before an order will be processed. You also have the option of ordering a record from a website which can retrieve them from an online database.

Who Can Order South Carolina Death Records

Death records may be issued to the following individuals:

• – Deceased’s immediate family members
• – Legal representative acting on the family members’ behalf
• – A person who can demonstrate a direct interest in the deceased’s estate

ID Required to Order South Carolina Death Records

The following forms of ID are accepted when ordering death records in SC:

• – U.S.-issued Driver’s License, Identification Card or Learner’s Permit
• – School or Employment ID
• – Military ID Card (active duty or retired member of the Armed Forces)
• – U.S. or Foreign Passport
• – U.S. Citizen ID Card
• – Temporary or Permanent Resident Card
• – Current Weapon or Gun Permit (issued by municipal, state or federal government)

Fee for South Carolina Death Records

The standard, non-refundable fee to conduct a search for a death record in SC is $12.00. The cost of additional copies of the same record (ordered at the same time) is $3.00.

 

Order a South Carolina Death Record in Person

Walk-in service is offered at the state office of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, between the hours of 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. The address for the office is:

2600 Bull St.
Columbia, SC 29201
Telephone: (803) 898-3630

Records for people who have died within the past five years can be ordered at the county office of the county where the death occurred. Contact the county office directly to ask about hours of operation.

Order a South Carolina Death Record by Mail

To order a South Carolina death record by mail, send your request to the Department of Health and Environmental Control at:

2600 Bull St.
Columbia, SC 29201

Be sure to provide the following information with your request:

• – Full name of the deceased
• – Date of death (Month, Day, Year)
• – County where death occurred

You will need to include a photocopy of your ID with your application, as well as the standard fee for a death record search. If you would like expedited service, you will need to pay $17.00 more for it.

Order a South Carolina Death Record by Phone or Online

You have the option of ordering a SC death record online or over the phone. If you choose this option, the order will be processed by an independent company and you will be charged an additional processing fee. This service is available on a 24/7 basis and the average time for processing a request made in this manner is between five and seven business days.

The quickest and easiest way to obtain a South Carolina death record may be to place an online order. You can visit a commercial offering this information at any time of day or night.