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

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.

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.

If you have requested a birth/death certificate in the past 12 months, you may return that and notify us as to the specific change you would like to make.  If you have not requested a birth/death certificate in the past 12 months, this would be the first step you need to take.  Again, you should indicate the correction you wish to make.  Staff will review the certificate on file and advise you.

This process may be initiated by mail or onsite at a county vital records office of the state office.

• 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.)

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.