Only an immediate family member of the decedent may order a death certificate through an online vendor.

Note: Please use only these approved vendors to send online requests for certified copies of South Carolina Vital Records. We cannot guarantee that orders from other websites will be processed.

Go Certificates

Fees Include:

• A $17 non-refundable expedited searching fee (state)
• $3 for each additional copy (state)*
• $8.70 additional processing fee (vendor)

*Additional vendor fees apply for additional copies

www.gocertificates.com

Average processing time is 5-7 business days

Vital Chek

Fees Include:

• A $17 non-refundable expedited searching fee (state)
• $3 for each additional copy (state)
• $8.75 additional processing fee (vendor)
• Secure Next Day "signature required" delivery available for additional fee

www.vitalchek.com

Estimate Processing Time

Additional Information

All fees must be paid using a major credit/debit card. Additional fees may apply if you choose expedited shipping.

If you are applying for a copy of a death certificate through one of our online vendors, you will be asked to submit a copy of a valid government, school or employer issued photo ID. VitalChek performs online identity verification of the individual ordering the record on all orders. This additional security step can assist individuals without identification. If you do not pass the online identity verification you will be required to upload a valid ID.

Average processing time is 5-7 business days.

Call 1-877-284-1008 to speak to a VitalChek representative 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Only an immediate family member may order a death certificate.

Fees Include:

• $17 non-refundable expedited searching fee
  • Search fee includes one certified copy of the death certificate, $3 for each additional copy
• $12.85 additional charge to pay for the services of VitalChek
• Shipping fees added should you choose expedited shipping

Average processing time is 30-45 minutes.

Same-day service is a goal of Vital Records; most requests can be processed the same day. For services that require additional processing time such as corrections and amendments, please arrive prior to 4 p.m. to ensure adequate time to process your request. Same-day service is not guaranteed for requests such as corrections and amendments.

You Will Need to Provide:

• A completed application form (pdf)
• $17 non-refundable expedited searching fee
  • Search fee includes one certified copy of the death certificate, $3 for each additional copy
• A valid government, school or employer issued photo ID

*You must pay with exact cash, a money order, or cashier's check made payable to S.C. DPH

Where to Go:

• DPH State Vital Records Office, Columbia - Issues long and short form death certificates and statements from 2005-present; initiates corrections.
  • Address: 2600 Bull St., Columbia, SC 29201
    Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
    Phone: (803) 898-3630
• Regional Vital Records Offices - Issues long and short form death certificates and statements from 2005-present; initiates corrections.

Reduce Your Wait Time
Vital Records experiences a high volume of in-person requests on Mondays and Fridays as well as during the lunch hours every day. Customers can help reduce their wait time by bringing exact payment (i.e., cash, check, money order) and completed forms. Non-peak hours are 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. Tuesday-Thursday.

All Vital Records offices can issue death certificates from any county in South Carolina. 

Average processing time is 4 weeks.

You Will Need to Send:

• A completed application form (pdf)
• A $12 non-refundable standard searching fee
  • Search fee includes one certified copy of the death certificate, $3 for each additional copy
• A valid government, school or employer issued photo ID. When we receive applications without proper identification, we reject them automatically; we do not process them.

Mail to:

*Mail requests are only accepted at the state office:

S.C. Department of Public Health
Vital Records Section
P.O. Box 2046
West Columbia, SC 29171

*Drop-offs are only accepted at the state office in Richland County.

You Will Need to Provide:

• A completed application form (pdf)
• $12 non-refundable search fee (4 week processing time) or $17 non-refundable expedited searching fee (5 business days or less)
  • Search fee includes one certified copy of the death certificate, $3 for each additional copy
• A valid government, school or employer-issued photo ID

*You must pay with exact cash, a money order, or cashier's check made payable to S.C. DPH

Additional Information

• We'll give you a receipt when you drop off your request.
• We can mail your death certificate to you or you can pick it up at the Columbia State Office.

Where to Go:

• DPH State Vital Records Office, Columbia
  • Address: 2600 Bull St., Columbia, SC 29201
    Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
    Phone: (803) 898-3630

Funeral directors and medical certifiers who have not previously used the DPH electronic system to file death certifies will need to:

• Obtain a user ID
• Receive training on how to use the system to file death records.

Call (803) 898-3630 to request access and training. Our staff will gather basic information from you when you call and a field consultant will follow-up to schedule your training and provide details.

For more information contact vitalrecords@dph.sc.gov.

Filing Process

1. Death occurs
2. BRTP issued
3. Demographic information collected using SC Funeral Home Worksheet (pdf)
4. Death certificate initiated in SC VRSIIS
5. Medical designation/certification
6. Demographic verification (may be completed prior to medical certification)
7. Record filed/registered
8. Certified copies available for purchase from funeral home or family

Required Forms and Worksheets

• SC Certificate of Death Funeral Home Worksheet (pdf)

Electronic Filing Instructions

• See Electronic Filing of Death Certificates
• See VRSIIS Death Training Materials

Correction and Amendment Guidance

See How to Amend/Correct

Contact

• For process issues to be addressed by the registration team: Webdeath@dph.sc.gov 
• For system/technical issues: VRSIIShelpdesk@dph.sc.gov 

A natural burial is when a family chooses not to engage the services of a funeral home/director and wants to take care of the disposition of the body themselves, without compensation. Often, these types of burials can be less costly for families but can be more time and effort intensive. Natural burials typically do not involve embalming the corpse and instead use more natural materials. Families and burial providers must continue to follow all applicable state and local requirements related to death registration, permits, transportation and final disposition.

Filing the Death Certificate

If the family desires to take care of the disposition on their own, the family member who first takes custody of the body will act in the place of a funeral home to file the death certificate. The steps to file a death certificate for a natural burial are:

1. Death occurs
2. BRTP issued
3. Body is released to the family member acting as the funeral director
4. Family member contacts DPH for instructions/assistance on filing death certificate
5. Death certificate is electronically initiated by the medical certifier
6. Medical certification is completed
7. Non-funeral home worksheet is completed and returned to a DPH Vital Statistics office
8. Demographic information is added to the death certificate by DPH staff
9. Record is registered
10. Certified copies available for purchase from the family

Required Permits (BRTP)

The BRTP (Burial Removal Transit Permit) is the first document issued after a person dies. It gives authorization for the person to remove the body from the place of death, transport them, and ultimately bury them (or other disposition method). The family member responsible for filing the death certificate should ensure that they obtain this document from the coroner or subregistrar (hospital, morgue, nursing home, etc) from the location where the individual died.

Forms

• South Carolina Certificate of Death Non-Funeral Home Worksheet (pdf)

Contact

• WebDeath@dph.sc.gov 
• (803) 898-3409

In certain circumstances, a death may be registered after one year from the date of death or may require legal documentation to establish that it occurred. The process and documentation required will depend on the circumstances of the case.

Delayed Death Registration vs. Presumptive Death

A delayed death is a death that can be confirmed as having taken place but was registered more than 1 year after the date of death. These deaths are very rare and must be certified by both the funeral home and medical certifier who originally handled the body.

A presumptive death is a death that the body has never been found but the person has typically been missing for a period of 5 years or more. The death must be established pursuant to a certified court order that reviews the evidence and declares the individual as deceased. There may be specific requirements that the court order must address. To ensure successful creation of the death certificate, DPH should be consulted and made party to any court action for a presumptive death certificate so that all relevant issues may be addressed.

Who May Submit the Request?

Prior to requesting a delayed or presumptive death certificate, a family member or other entitled party must submit a request for the death certificate via one of the methods listed above. This allows Vital Statistics to confirm that no record exists for the decedent and issue a Not Found Letter certifying that fact.

For a delayed certificate, the request to file a certificate needs to be initiated by the funeral home or medical certifier who handled the body.

For a presumptive death, a family member or other entitled party may initiate a court action through an attorney. The family member must return a certified copy of the court order to the Vital Records office where they submitted the initial request for the Not Found Letter if it is within 1 year. If it is after 1 year, please mail a new request with a certified copy of the court order to:

SC Department of Public Health - Vital Records
Attention: Amendment Team
P.O. Box 2046
West Columbia, SC 29171

The certified copy that is presented to the Vital Records office will be kept in a sealed file permanently.

When is a Court Order Required?

For a delayed certificate of death, a court order would be required if either the funeral home or medical certifier refuses or is not available to file the death certificate.

A presumptive death always requires a court order.

Required Supporting Documents and Applicable Fees

For a delayed certificate, required documents may vary. The funeral home and/or medical certifier should contact DPH Vital Statistics for guidance.

For a presumptive death, a certified court order is required. A photocopy will not be accepted.

A $15 filing fee applies for both delayed and presumptive death certificate filings, in addition to the regular certified copy fees.

Processing and Review Requirements

All documents submitted are for review purposes only. DPH is the final arbiter of which documents may be acceptable.

A correction is used when an error occurred during the filing process.

For example, if a family provided the correct spelling of a name to the funeral home, but the information was entered incorrectly on the death certificate, the record may be eligible for a correction if the record was requested within one year of the date of death.

In many cases, we can review the original documents used to prepare the death certificate, such as the worksheet completed by the family. If the original documents support the requested change and the request is made within one year of the date of death, the record may be corrected without going through the amendment process.

An administrative amendment is used when the information on the death certificate cannot be corrected through the original filing documents or when the request is made more than one year after the date of death.

To request an administrative amendment, you must provide evidence showing what the information should be. The evidence required varies depending on the item to be corrected. All evidence submitted is for review purposes until approved by an amendment specialist or supervisor. Examples of acceptable evidence may include:

• Birth certificates
• Marriage licenses
• DMV records
• Other official documents that support the requested change

If the documentation meets state requirements, an affidavit will be prepared, applicable fees will be collected, and the amendment will be processed. 

If Application Form Was Submitted Within the Past Year

• Return all old certificates to South Carolina Vital Statistics
• Pay all fees that apply:
  • $12 search fee (includes one certified copy)
  • $3 for each additional copy
  • $15 amendment fee

You can do this by visiting an office near you or by mail:

S.C. Department of Public Health
Vital Records Section
P.O. Box 2046
West Columbia, SC 29171

Once your request is received and processed, an amendment specialist will advise you on how to amend your specific certificate.

If Application Form Was Submitted Over 1 Year Ago

• Complete a Vital Records Death Application, and indicate “amend a certificate” as the purpose for the request
• Submit the application form and the court order to South Carolina Vital Statistics
• Pay all fees that apply:
  • $12 search fee (includes one certified copy)
  • $3 for each additional copy
  • $15 amendment fee

You can do this by visiting an office near you or by mail:

S.C. Department of Public Health
Vital Records Section
P.O. Box 2046
West Columbia, SC 29171

Learn more about pricing

Average processing times:

• In-person: 30-45 minutes
• Mail: 4 weeks

If you have questions after reading this, please call South Carolina Vital Statistics at (803) 898-3630. They are available from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday, excluding state holidays. If you need assistance after hours, complete an online request.

Some changes require a court order.

For example, if an individual is seeking to legally change information rather than correct an error, if the evidence submitted for an administrative amendment is not approved, or if the item to be amended has been amended or corrected previously, a certified court order may be required before the record can be amended.

Once a certified court order is received and reviewed for completion and compliance with laws and regulations, the applicable fees will be collected and the amendment can be processed.

Medical information on a death certificate, such as the cause of death, can only be amended by the medical certifier or the county coroner responsible for the record.

If you believe the medical information on a death certificate is incorrect, please contact:

• The physician who certified the death certificate, or
• The county coroner in the county where the death occurred

The Vital Records Office cannot make changes to medical information without authorization from the appropriate medical authority. 

Beginning Nov. 17, 2025, the Richland County office (formally known as the State Office) will no longer process same-day amendment requests. Most in-person amendment requests submitted at regional offices, including the Richland County office, will be completed within 1–2 business days once reviewed by the amendment team in the central office. Court ordered amendments may take up to 2 weeks to allow for proper legal review and processing.

• 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
• Signature of the person requesting the death certificate and their current mailing address
• The 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

The following death certificates are issued to those legally entitled to receive them:

• Death Long Certificate which contains all information, including the cause of death.
• Death Short Certificate contains limited information excluding the cause of death. However, it does contain the manner of death.

A Death Statement contains the decedent's name, county, and date of death.

If you have not received any response to your request within 30 days of submission, contact us for an update. To help us locate the request, provide the person’s first and last name, date of birth, and the address where the certificate was supposed to be mailed. 

• Send an email to vrrequeststatus@dph.sc.gov, or
• Call (803) 898-3630, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday, excluding state holidays, or
• After hours, submit an online request