Death certificates in South Carolina
In South Carolina, a certified copy of a death certificate costs $12 from the South Carolina Department of Public Health, Vital Records. Each extra copy ordered at the same time costs $3. You can order online, by mail or in person. The funeral home can often order the first copies for you.
Last checked on the South Carolina Department of Public Health, Vital Records site. General information, not legal advice. Fees change, so confirm before you pay.
How to order in South Carolina
| Office | South Carolina Department of Public Health, Vital Records |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $12 |
| Each extra copy, same order | $3 The $12 fee is for mail orders. In-person, expedited drop-off, online, and phone orders cost $17 for the first copy. Online and phone orders also add a vendor fee. |
| Who can order | Immediate family members of the decedent or the legal representative of an immediate family member. Others can get a statement that the death occurred, with the date and county, but not a certified copy. Only immediate family can order online. |
| ID you need | A valid government, school, or employer issued photo ID is required. Mail orders without proper ID are rejected. |
| Ways to order | Online, by mail or in person. The state takes online orders only through VitalChek or GoCertificates, a private company, which adds its own fee. By mail or in person costs only the state fee. At the state office in Columbia or any Vital Records office. Every Vital Records office can issue death certificates from any county. |
| How long it takes | About 30 to 45 minutes in person. About 5 to 7 business days for online and phone orders. About 4 weeks for mail orders. |
Do funeral homes order the first copies?
Often, yes. The funeral director files the death certificate with the state, so ordering copies at the same time is common. The FTC lists death certificates among the cash advance items a funeral home may buy for you and add to its bill. Ask what it charges per copy.
The office says certified copies can be bought from the funeral home or by the family once the record is filed.
For more copies later, order from the office above. How many copies do you need? Our calculator counts one for each bank, insurer and agency.
Questions people ask
- How much is a death certificate in South Carolina?
- $12 for the first certified copy from the South Carolina Department of Public Health, Vital Records, and $3 for each extra copy ordered at the same time. The $12 fee is for mail orders. In-person, expedited drop-off, online, and phone orders cost $17 for the first copy. Online and phone orders also add a vendor fee.
- Who can order a death certificate in South Carolina?
- Immediate family members of the decedent or the legal representative of an immediate family member. Others can get a statement that the death occurred, with the date and county, but not a certified copy. Only immediate family can order online.
- How do I order a death certificate in South Carolina?
- You can order online, by mail or in person. Online orders go through VitalChek or GoCertificates, a private company the state uses, which adds its own fee. A valid government, school, or employer issued photo ID is required. Mail orders without proper ID are rejected.