In South Carolina, certified death certificates are issued by South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH), Office of Vital Records. The state fee is $12 for the first certified copy and $3 for each additional copy.
Here is who can order a certified copy, how to order it, and how long it takes, taken from the office’s own pages. Fees and times change, so check the office’s page before you pay.
How much a death certificate costs in South Carolina
| Item | State fee |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $12 |
| Each additional copy | $3 |
Standard mail: '$12 non-refundable standard searching fee' including one certified copy, $3 for each additional copy. Expedited (mail, in person, online, phone): '$17 non-refundable expedited searching fee', $3 each additional. Online vendor fees: GoCertificates $8.70, VitalChek $8.75; VitalChek phone $12.85.
Who can order a certified copy
Immediate family members of the decedent, or the legal representative of an immediate family member; Other applicants may get only a statement that the death occurred (date and county), not a certified copy; Only an immediate family member may order through an online vendor or by phone.
How to order
- Online (official vendor: VitalChek)
- Online (official vendor: GoCertificates)
- In person
- County/local office
'All Vital Records offices can issue death certificates from any county in South Carolina.' Regional offices issue long and short form certificates and statements from 2005 to present.
How long it takes
DPH death certificates page: online 'Average processing time is 5-7 business days'; in person 'Average processing time is 30-45 minutes'; mail 'Average processing time is 4 weeks' (or 5 business days or less with the $17 expedited fee).
📨 Get Free Funeral Cost Guides Alerts
Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime
The funeral home’s role
SC law (H3325, 2022) requires funeral homes and medical certifiers to complete, certify and file death certificates electronically; DPH's filing process lists 'Certified copies available for purchase from funeral home or family.'.
Non-family applicants get a statement of death, not a certificate. The two online vendors named by DPH are VitalChek and GoCertificates.
How many copies to order
Most banks, insurers, pension plans and government agencies each want their own certified copy. Count the accounts and policies before you order, because ordering more later means another application and fee. How many death certificates you need has a worksheet.
Who decides the funeral in South Carolina
State law sets who has the right to make funeral arrangements. See who has the right to make funeral decisions in South Carolina.
Related guides
- What to do when someone dies: the first 24 hours
- Who to call when someone dies, and in what order
- How much a funeral costs, line by line
- Help paying for a funeral: Social Security, VA and FEMA
- Official funeral resources for every state
Sources
- South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH), Office of Vital Records
- CDC: Where to Write for Vital Records (South Carolina)
Checked 2026-09-24. General information, not legal advice.