Note: All applicants must provide a photocopy or show a valid government, school or employer issued photo identification. Applications without proper identification will be rejected and not processed.
3 Ways to apply for a death certificate
- A completed application form (pdf)
- A $12 non-refundable standard searching fee; $3 for each additional copy
- Photo ID
- State office – Issues death certificates and processes corrections for all years and counties.
- 2600 Bull St., Columbia, SC 29201
- County offices – Issues death certificates for deaths in the last 5 years within that specific county and applications for corrections for those records.
- A completed application form (pdf)
- A $12 non-refundable standard searching fee; $17 for expedited service
- Photo ID
- 2600 Bull St., Columbia, SC 29201
- Full name of person whose record is being requested.
- Full date of death.
- County of death.
- Call 1-877-284-1008 (toll-free) or visit VitalChek 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
- Average processing time is 5-7 business days.
Who can obtain a certified copy of a death certificate?
You are entitled to obtain a certified copy of a death certificate if you are:
- an immediate member of the decedent's family
- a legal representative of one of these
- 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
What types of death certifications are issued?
Based upon entitlement, the following death certificates are issued:
Death Long contains all items including cause of death;
Death Short contains all items except cause of death; does contain manner of death;
Death Statement contains decedent’s name, county and date of death.
Death certificates become public records after fifty (50) years and then any person may obtain the death long form certificate.
How do I amend or change the information on a death certificate?
The procedures and requirements depend upon the specific information to be changed and whether any previous changes have been made. Specific instructions can only be provided after a review of the birth/death record. The informant on the death certificate must initiate the request for a correction.
The informant may return a certificate issued in the last 12 months and notify us as to the specific change they would like to make. If the informant has not requested a death certificate in the past 12 months, this would be the first step they need to take. Again, the informant must indicate the correction they wish to make. Staff will review the certificate on file and advise as to the procedures.
This process may be initiated by mail or onsite at a county vital records office or the state office.
What information is needed to apply for a death certificate?
- Full name of the person whose death certificate is being requested
- Full date of death (month, day, year)
- County where the person was pronounced dead
- The names of the decedent's parents
- Signature of the person requesting the death certificate and their current mailing address
- Relationship between the person named on the death certificate and the person requesting the certified copy
- The full name and complete mailing address of the person to whom the certificate is to be mailed
- Area code and daytime telephone number of the person requesting the death certificate
- Other information you consider helpful in the search for the death certificate (Example: nicknames, alias, place of burial, etc.)
How long will it take to process a death certificate request?
How can I check on the status of a death certificate request?
If you have not received any response to your request within 30 days of submission, you may call 803-898-3630 or e-mail (mileslb@dhec.sc.gov) for an update.
For additional information, contact Vital Records.