Search Anderson County Death Records
Anderson County death records are held by the South Carolina Department of Public Health, with a regional vital records office located in Anderson for convenient in-person access. Anderson County was formed in 1826 and has over 200 years of recorded history, making it a rich source for genealogical research. This guide covers how to search for Anderson County death records, where to request certified copies, which offices handle death investigations, and how to access historical records from the county's long past.
Anderson County Quick Facts
Anderson County Death Certificates
Certified death certificates for Anderson County are issued by the South Carolina Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records. The main state office is at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201, phone (803) 898-3630. You can find ordering instructions and required forms at dph.sc.gov. All locations operated by the DPH are listed at the DPH office locations page.
Anderson County has its own regional vital records office at 220 McGee Road, Anderson, SC 29625. The office can be reached at (864) 260-5667 or (864) 260-5800. An in-person visit there allows same-day receipt of a certified Anderson County death certificate. This is the most convenient option for residents of Anderson County who need a certified copy quickly without ordering through the mail or waiting for an online order to arrive.
The fee structure for Anderson County death certificates is $17 for in-person, online, or expedited orders and $12 for mail requests. Each additional copy of the same record costs $3. Full fee information is at the DPH fees page. Online orders can be placed through VitalChek or GoCertificates, with most online orders arriving within five to seven business days. Valid photo ID is required for all restricted Anderson County death records; see the DPH ID requirements page for what is accepted.
The Anderson County Government website provides local contact information and links to county departments.
The Anderson County Government site is a starting point for locating county-level offices that can help with death record requests and related services.
Anderson County Coroner and Death Investigations
The Anderson County Coroner is Greg L. Shore, D-ABMDI. The office is at 301 Camson Road, Anderson, SC 29625, phone (864) 260-4057, email accoroner@andersoncountysc.org. The coroner investigates any death in Anderson County that is sudden, unexpected, violent, or otherwise requires official review. The coroner's office determines cause and manner of death for these cases and files the required information with the state before a death certificate can be completed.
When an Anderson County death requires an autopsy, the coroner coordinates with the state medical examiner's office to complete that process. Autopsy reports and related investigation documents are separate from the official death certificate. Immediate family members may submit a written request to the coroner's office for copies of autopsy reports or investigation files. Response times depend on whether the investigation is still active.
The coroner's office at andersoncountysc.org/departments/coroner provides current contact information and details about the office's responsibilities. The image below comes from that department page.
The Anderson County Coroner's office plays a key role in completing the official death records process for deaths that require investigation within the county.
Note: An autopsy report from the Anderson County Coroner is a separate document from the death certificate and cannot be obtained through the state vital records office.
Searching Anderson County Death Records Online
The Anderson County Public Index through the South Carolina Judicial Branch gives free online access to court case records, including probate filings. Probate cases are opened after a death to handle estate matters and often identify the deceased, date of death, and surviving family members. This makes probate records a useful cross-reference when searching Anderson County death records.
FamilySearch at familysearch.org hosts the South Carolina Deaths 1915-1965 database at no charge. Anderson County is well represented in this collection. The database is indexed by name and year, making it easy to search for a specific individual. Records in this range are now older than 50 years and fully open to the public.
The Anderson County Library at andersonlibrary.org, located in Anderson, maintains a South Carolina Room dedicated to genealogy and local history. This room holds family files, local newspapers with obituary indexes, and other materials that support research into Anderson County death records. Staff in the SC Room can help you navigate these collections in person or by phone.
The Anderson County Library's resources are shown below as an example of the local genealogy support available to researchers.
The South Carolina Room at the Anderson County Library is one of the best local resources for tracing Anderson County death records before the digital era.
Historical Death Records in Anderson County
Anderson County was formed in 1826 from the old Pendleton District. The county has nearly two centuries of recorded history. Statewide death registration began January 1, 1915, so for deaths between 1826 and 1914 the primary sources are church records, cemetery registers, family bibles, and SC Archives holdings.
The SC Department of Archives and History at scdah.sc.gov, phone (803) 896-6100, holds historical records for Anderson County and the earlier Pendleton District. Pendleton District records can help researchers trace deaths in what is now Anderson County back to the early 1800s. Staff at the Archives can help identify which record sets apply to the geographic area you are researching.
The FamilySearch South Carolina Deaths 1915-1965 collection covers Anderson County from the beginning of statewide registration through the mid-1960s. For deaths after 1965 but more than 50 years ago, the DPH vital records office is the correct source. The SC State Library at statelibrary.sc.gov has digital collections and research guides for Anderson County historical records as well.
Note: Deaths in the area that is now Anderson County before 1826 would appear under Pendleton District records, which are held at the SC Archives and available through several genealogical databases.
South Carolina Death Records Laws
South Carolina law sets the rules for filing, accessing, and protecting death records in every county, including Anderson. The main statutes are in Title 44, Chapter 63 of the South Carolina Code, found at scstatehouse.gov. These rules apply to every Anderson County death certificate from 1915 forward.
Section 44-63-74 controls the filing timeline. After a death occurs in Anderson County, the attending physician or certifying medical professional must complete their portion of the death certificate within 48 hours of receiving notification. The funeral director or person responsible for final disposition must then file the completed record with the county registrar within five days. South Carolina made electronic filing mandatory in 2022 under H.3325. Penalties for late filing start at $250 for a first violation and rise to $500 for a second and $1,000 for each subsequent offense.
Who may obtain a certified copy is governed by Section 44-63-84. Anderson County death records from the past 50 years are restricted to immediate family members and authorized legal representatives. Once 50 years have passed from the date of death, the record is open to the general public. This threshold is uniform statewide. The City of Anderson's website at cityofandersonsc.com can help you identify additional city-level contacts if needed.
Falsifying a death certificate or attempting to obtain one through fraud is a felony under Section 44-63-161. Corrections to an existing Anderson County death record must follow the formal amendment process under Section 44-63-150. That process requires the applicant to submit supporting documentation to the state registrar, who reviews and approves any change before it takes effect.
The federal CDC guide at cdc.gov provides an independent summary of how to request South Carolina vital records, confirming the state office contact and basic procedures for Anderson County requests.
Cities in Anderson County
Anderson is the county seat and largest city in Anderson County. Death records for all residents of Anderson County, regardless of which city or town they lived in, are filed with the county and state vital records system.
Nearby Counties
Anderson County borders several other upstate South Carolina counties. If you are not certain which county holds a death record you need, verify the decedent's location at the time of death.