Search Death Records in Greenville County
Greenville County death records are maintained by the South Carolina Department of Public Health, with a regional office in Greenville for convenient in-person access. As South Carolina's most populous county with more than 500,000 residents, Greenville County generates a large volume of death records each year. Researchers and family members can obtain certified copies in person, by mail, or online. This guide covers how to find and request Greenville County death records, along with local offices, historical resources, and online search tools.
Greenville County Quick Facts
Greenville County Death Certificates
Certified copies of Greenville 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, reachable at (803) 898-3630. Detailed ordering options are available at dph.sc.gov.
The Greenville County regional vital records office is at 352 Halton Road, Greenville, SC 29607, phone (864) 372-3267. Visiting in person is the fastest way to get a certified copy of a Greenville County death record; same-day service is available. Mail requests take about four weeks. Online orders through VitalChek or GoCertificates usually arrive within five to seven business days. The search fee is $12 by mail and $17 in person or online. Each additional copy costs $3. Full fee information is at the DPH fees page. A valid photo ID is required for all requests; accepted forms are listed at the DPH ID page.
Greenville County death records less than 50 years old are restricted to immediate family members and authorized legal representatives. Records 50 or more years old are open to the general public. This rule is uniform across South Carolina.
The Greenville County Government website provides contact information for county offices and departments related to public records and local services.
Greenville County Government provides residents and researchers with a central point for county office contacts and public record resources.
County government resources can help direct requests for Greenville County death records to the appropriate offices and systems.
Greenville County Coroner Records
The Greenville County Coroner investigates sudden, violent, and otherwise unexpected deaths within the county. Jennifer Cason serves as Senior Deputy Coroner, and the office can be reached through greenvillecounty.org/Coroner. The coroner determines cause and manner of death and files the required documentation to complete the official death certificate.
When a Greenville County death was subject to investigation, the coroner's case file may include autopsy reports, toxicology findings, and investigative notes. These records are separate from the death certificate itself. Immediate family members may submit a written request to the Greenville County Coroner's office for copies of investigative materials tied to a specific decedent. Whether the case is still open affects response time. The completed death certificate, once filed with the state, is the standard document for legal and genealogical use and must be requested through the state vital records system.
The image below is sourced from the Greenville County Coroner's website.
The Greenville County Coroner manages death investigation records for the county's most populous jurisdiction.
Coroner case files for Greenville County deaths that were investigated can be requested separately from the death certificate through the coroner's office.
Greenville County Library Death Record Resources
The Greenville County Library System is one of the strongest local resources for death record research in the Upstate region. The main branch is at 25 Heritage Green Place, Greenville, SC 29601, phone (864) 242-5000, with full details at greenvillelibrary.org. The library maintains a South Carolina Room that holds specialized collections for genealogy and local history research.
The South Carolina Room holds the Greenville County Mackey Mortuary death records spanning 1889 to 1921. These mortuary records predate many official death certificates and can provide cause of death, burial information, and family details not captured in state records. The library also holds the Greenville County Obituary Index covering 1914 to 1992, which indexes obituaries from local newspapers over nearly eight decades. An additional index covers obituaries published in the Greenville News specifically. Researchers looking for a death that occurred in Greenville County during the twentieth century will find this combination of mortuary records and obituary indexes especially valuable.
Beyond the South Carolina Room, the library holds local history books, microfilmed newspapers, and reference guides that can supplement official death records. Staff can direct researchers to the most relevant collections for a specific time period or family line.
The SC State Library at statelibrary.sc.gov holds additional South Carolina newspaper collections and reference materials that can be accessed remotely when a library visit is not possible.
The Greenville County Library holds mortuary records and obituary indexes that are among the best local sources for Greenville County death records outside the state vital records system.
The library's South Carolina Room is open to researchers and provides access to historical Greenville County death data going back to 1889.
Searching Greenville County Death Records Online
Multiple online platforms help researchers locate Greenville County death records without visiting an office. The Greenville County Public Index through the SC Judicial Branch allows searches of court records, including probate filings that often connect to deaths. Estate cases opened after a death typically name the deceased, list heirs, and include the date of death.
FamilySearch provides free access to South Carolina death records from 1915 forward, searchable at familysearch.org. The SC Probate Court system at scprobate.net gives statewide access to probate records including Greenville County filings. For deaths in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Greenville County Library's Mackey Mortuary records and obituary indexes are searchable in person and cover a period not fully captured in state vital records. Combining these tools gives researchers the widest coverage when searching Greenville County death records across different time periods.
Historical Greenville County Death Records
Statewide death registration in South Carolina began January 1, 1915. For deaths in Greenville County before that date, several sources exist outside the state vital records system. The SC Department of Archives and History at scdah.sc.gov or (803) 896-6100 holds pre-1915 records including early court records, wills, and probate documents from Greenville County. The state archives also hold some records from 1915 to 1963 alongside the permanent state vital records collection.
Church records are among the most useful pre-1915 sources for Greenville County deaths. Many congregations in the county kept detailed burial registers going back to the 1800s. Some of these have been transcribed and shared through FamilySearch. Cemetery surveys conducted by volunteers have also documented burial sites across the county, providing location and sometimes date-of-death information for individuals with no other surviving record. The Greenville County Library's South Carolina Room holds some of these transcribed materials alongside the mortuary and obituary records noted earlier.
Note: For very early Greenville County deaths, records may appear under the old district designations used before South Carolina reorganized its counties. Search both Greenville County and the relevant historical district names when using archives databases.
South Carolina Death Records Laws
South Carolina death records are governed by Title 44, Chapter 63 of the state code, available at scstatehouse.gov. These laws apply to Greenville County and every other county in the state.
Section 44-63-74 requires the medical certifier to complete their portion of a death certificate within 48 hours of notification. The funeral home or person handling disposition must file the completed certificate with the county registrar within five days of the death. Electronic filing became mandatory in 2022. Penalties for late filing begin at $250 and can reach $1,000 for repeat violations. Section 44-63-84 limits access to records less than 50 years old to immediate family members and authorized legal representatives. After 50 years, records become publicly accessible.
Section 44-63-161 makes falsifying or misusing a death certificate a felony offense. Amendments to existing Greenville County death records follow the formal process in Section 44-63-150, which requires supporting documentation reviewed by the state registrar. Contact the SC DPH at (803) 898-3630 before beginning any amendment process to ensure you have the correct forms and requirements.
Cities in Greenville County
Greenville County includes several incorporated cities. Death records for residents of any city in the county are filed under Greenville County and requested through the same state vital records system.
Nearby Counties
Greenville County borders several other South Carolina counties. Check the decedent's county of residence at the time of death if you are unsure which county holds the record.