How to Find South Carolina Death Records: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 13:39, 8 May 2013

How to Find United States Deaths South Carolina Deaths

Statewide registration of deaths began in 1915 in South Carolina. Counties have copies of these records.

Next Step: When did the death occur? [edit | edit source]

Choose a time period to search for your ancestor's death record:

Deaths before 1915[edit | edit source]

Before 1915, no deaths were recorded by the county or state. The cities of Charleston, Georgetown, Spartanburg, and Union City are exceptions. Learn more. In most cases, you must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s death date and place.

Records that give death information:
Cemetery Records Newspapers Probate (wills, etc)	Church Records Census Bible Records

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1915 thru the present[edit | edit source]

The state of South Carolina began recording deaths in 1915.

STEP ONE: Find Death Information[edit | edit source]

For deaths that exist during this time period, try the following databases. Try each link.

South Carolina Deaths Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images
Try 1st:
	1915-1943 - At FamilySearch.org	Free; coverage data is not provided
Try 2nd:
Choose one of the following:
	1821-1955 - use at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries	Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center

	1821-1955 - use your Ancestry subscription	$, To obtain a subscription to Ancestry; Ancestry is often available through your local public library for free

Includes Index Only
Try 1st:
	1944-1955 - At FamilySearch.org	Free; coverage data is not provided
Try 2nd:
	1915-1962 - At SC Dept. of Health	Free
	Can't search the index listed above?	Go to Step Two listed below and order a search for your ancestor from the South Carolina Department of Health State Office or South Carolina Department of Archives and History.
Can't find your ancestor in the index?		Tips for searching indexes
No death record for your ancestor?		Other records with death information

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate[edit | edit source]

If the image was not included in the index entry above, you can order a copy of the death record for a fee from the following locations:

To Order Death Certificates
From County of Death		From WV Dept. of Health State office
Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons
May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state	County websites can be more difficult to use	Offers a search of the state index for an additional fee	May be more expensive than ordering from the county

If you do not know the exact date or place of death:
For a fee, the West Virginia Department of Health office will do a 3 year search (click on the death certificates tab).

Restrictions for persons who died within the last 50 years:
To obtain a copy of the death certificate for those who died within the last 50 years, you must be:

The parents and grandparents of person on the certificate
The wife or husband of the person on the certificate
The children and grandchildren of the person on the certificate
The brothers or sisters of the person on the certificate
Funeral director
Anyone who has legal interest in the certificate

NOTE: A copy of the death record cannot be obtained by anyone except those listed above until 50 years have passed from the date of the death.

If you do not want to order the death record, there are other records with death information you can search.