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After a parent dies · South Carolina
How to order a death certificate in South Carolina
South Carolina charges a $12.00 non-refundable search fee for a death record, which includes one certified copy if the record is found. The South Carolina state vital records office has death records since January 1915. Mail requests for a South Carolina death certificate go to: Office of Vital Records DPH PO Box 2046 West Columbia, SC 29171.
Educational only. Not legal advice. Sources checked November 2, 2026.
What the official sources say
- South Carolina charges a $12.00 non-refundable search fee for a death record, which includes one certified copy if the record is found. CDC National Center for Health Statistics: Where to Write for Vital Records. Checked November 2, 2026
- The South Carolina state vital records office has death records since January 1915. CDC National Center for Health Statistics: Where to Write for Vital Records. Checked November 2, 2026
- Mail requests for a South Carolina death certificate go to: Office of Vital Records DPH PO Box 2046 West Columbia, SC 29171. CDC National Center for Health Statistics: Where to Write for Vital Records. Checked November 2, 2026
Official links
How to keep these papers
Keep dated copies of the papers you already have in one place, and write the day something happened on the same day. KeepMyProof is a private phone app for that: folders with checklists, the day it happened next to the day you saved it, and one PDF of a folder when someone asks.
- Will or trust copies
- Death certificates
- Court papers naming the executor
- Accounts and property papers
- Bills and letters to close out
- Family land papers (heirs' property)
Download the free printable checklist (PDF)
One page, no email needed.
Coming soon to Google Play.
More for South Carolina
- Creditor claim deadlines for an estate in South Carolina
- Executor duties and deadlines in South Carolina
- Small estates in South Carolina: collecting a parent's property without full probate
- Executor checklist: papers after a parent dies: the full guide
- How to order a death certificate: all states
Neighbouring states
- How to order a death certificate in Georgia
- How to order a death certificate in North Carolina
- How to order a death certificate in Rhode Island
- How to order a death certificate in South Dakota
Questions
Where do these South Carolina facts come from?
Each fact on this page is copied from an official source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics: Where to Write for Vital Records. We checked that each source still says it on November 2, 2026. Rules and forms change, so open the official link and read the current version before you rely on it.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page is educational only and is not legal advice. KeepMyProof is not a law firm. For advice about your situation, ask a lawyer licensed in South Carolina or your court's self-help center.
Which papers should I keep for after a parent dies?
A good start: Will or trust copies; Death certificates; Court papers naming the executor; Accounts and property papers; Bills and letters to close out; Family land papers (heirs' property). Keep only papers you are allowed to have, write the date on each note, and keep originals somewhere safe.
How can I keep these papers private on my phone?
KeepMyProof keeps copies of the papers you already have in folders with checklists, encrypted on your phone, with no account and no ads. It is free for the first items you save. It is coming soon to Google Play.
Educational only. Not legal advice.