Florence County Death Records
Florence County death records are kept by the South Carolina Department of Public Health, with a regional office located right in Florence. Residents and researchers searching for a Florence County death record can request certified copies in person at the regional office, by mail through the state vital records system, or online using authorized services. This guide explains where to find Florence County death records, what to expect during the request process, and how to access older historical documents.
Florence County Quick Facts
Florence County Death Certificates
Certified Florence County death certificates are issued by the SC Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records. The state office is at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201, phone (803) 898-3630. Ordering information is available at dph.sc.gov.
Florence County has its own regional vital records office at 1705 W. Evans Street, Florence, SC 29501, reachable at (843) 413-6440. Visiting this office in person is the fastest way to obtain a certified copy of a Florence County death record; same-day service is available. Mail requests to the state office take approximately four weeks. Online orders through VitalChek or GoCertificates generally arrive within five to seven business days.
The search fee is $12 for mail requests and $17 for in-person or online orders. Each additional copy of the same record costs $3. Full fee details are posted at the DPH fees page. A valid government-issued photo ID is required for all requests; acceptable forms are listed at the DPH ID page. Florence County death records from the past 50 years are restricted to immediate family members and authorized legal representatives. Records older than 50 years are public.
The Florence County Government website at florenceco.org provides contact details for county offices and departments that can help direct requests for local records.
Florence County Government serves residents with information on county services and public records access.
The Florence County Government site is a good starting point for finding local contacts when researching Florence County death records.
Florence County Coroner and Death Investigations
The Florence County Coroner is responsible for investigating deaths that are sudden, violent, or otherwise unexpected within the county. The coroner's office is led by Keith von Lutcken and can be reached at (843) 665-3096. When a death requires investigation, the coroner determines cause and manner of death, then files the findings with the state to complete the official death certificate for Florence County.
Coroner case files may include autopsy reports, toxicology summaries, and investigative notes. These files are separate from certified death certificates. Immediate family members may submit a written request to the Florence County Coroner's office for copies of reports pertaining to a specific decedent. Whether a case is still open affects how quickly a response can be provided. The official death certificate, once filed with the state, is the document used for most legal, financial, and genealogical purposes and must be requested from the state vital records system rather than the coroner's office.
Florence County Death Records Online
Researchers can start their search for Florence County death records using several online platforms. The Florence County Public Index through the SC Judicial Branch provides access to court records including probate filings. When an estate was opened after a death, probate files typically name the deceased, list heirs, and include the date of death. These records are a useful companion to the official death certificate.
FamilySearch offers free access to South Carolina death records from 1915 onward. Visit familysearch.org to search these records without charge. The SC Probate Court system at scprobate.net provides statewide access to probate case records, including Florence County filings. These platforms together give researchers a broad starting point for tracing Florence County death records without traveling to a physical office.
The Florence County Public Index allows searches of court-related records that often intersect with death and estate proceedings.
Combining the public index with state vital records resources gives the most thorough search coverage for Florence County death records.
Florence County Library Genealogy Resources
The Florence County Library system is a strong local resource for death record research. The main branch at 509 S. Dargan Street, Florence, SC, is operated through the Florence County Library system at florencelibrary.org. The library holds genealogical resources including local history materials, SC newspapers on microfilm, and other documents that can supplement information found in official death records.
Newspaper obituaries are often more detailed than the facts recorded on a death certificate. Local newspapers covering Florence County have been published for many decades, and issues on microfilm at the library may contain biographical information, surviving family members, burial location, and cause of death. This level of detail is especially useful when the official record provides only basic information.
The SC State Library at statelibrary.sc.gov holds broader South Carolina newspaper collections and historical resources accessible remotely. Between the Florence County Library and the state library, researchers have strong options for newspaper-based death research without leaving home.
The Florence County Library offers genealogy materials for tracing local history and death records.
The library's local history section and newspaper microfilm are valuable supplements to official Florence County death records for anyone doing detailed genealogy research.
Historical Florence County Death Records
Florence County was formed in 1888, making it one of the newer South Carolina counties. Statewide death registration began on January 1, 1915, meaning roughly 27 years of Florence County history predate any official death records. For deaths in that window and earlier periods when the area was part of other districts, the SC Department of Archives and History is the main source. The Archives at scdah.sc.gov, reachable at (803) 896-6100, holds pre-1915 materials from across the state, including records from the districts that became Florence County.
Church records and cemetery registers are the most common pre-1915 sources for deaths in what is now Florence County. Many congregations kept detailed burial logs, and some have been transcribed and shared through FamilySearch and other genealogical platforms. Searching cemetery transcription databases alongside the archives can fill gaps in the early death record for this area. The SC State Library also holds reference materials that can help identify which churches and record-keeping bodies covered specific parts of the county before 1888 and before 1915.
Note: Because Florence County was created from portions of other counties, early records may be found under the names of the original counties. Research early Florence County deaths under both the current county name and the prior jurisdictions that applied to the location of interest.
South Carolina Death Records Laws
Death records in South Carolina are governed by Title 44, Chapter 63 of the state code at scstatehouse.gov. These rules apply to every county, including Florence.
Under Section 44-63-74, the medical certifier must complete their section of a death certificate within 48 hours of notification. The funeral home or person responsible for disposition must file the completed certificate with the county registrar within five days of the death. South Carolina made electronic filing mandatory in 2022. Penalties for late filing begin at $250 for a first offense and can reach $1,000 for repeated violations.
Section 44-63-84 limits access to death records less than 50 years old. Only immediate family members and their authorized legal representatives may request certified copies of recent records. After 50 years, records become public. Section 44-63-161 makes it a felony to falsify, alter, or misuse a death certificate. Amendments to an existing Florence County death record must follow the process in Section 44-63-150, which requires supporting documentation reviewed and approved by the state registrar. Contact the SC DPH at (803) 898-3630 before starting any amendment.
Cities in Florence County
Florence is the county seat and the largest city in Florence County. Death records for city residents are filed under Florence County and requested through the same state system.
Nearby Counties
Florence County borders several other South Carolina counties. When uncertain which county holds the record you need, check where the person lived at the time of death.