Union County Death Records and Certificates
Union County death records are notable among South Carolina counties for one important reason: the county has a Death Register dating back to 1900, making it one of only three counties in the state with surviving pre-1915 death records. Whether you are looking for a recent certified death certificate for legal purposes or tracing a family line through early twentieth-century documents, Union County offers more historical depth than most South Carolina counties. This guide explains every office and resource available for searching Union County death records.
Union County Quick Facts
Union County Death Certificates
The South Carolina Department of Public Health Vital Records office in Columbia issues certified death certificates for Union County. The state office is at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201, phone (803) 898-3630. All deaths recorded in Union County since January 1, 1915 are on file with the state. Full details about ordering options are at dph.sc.gov/public/vital-records/death-certificates.
The Union County Health Department also handles vital records requests locally. The office is at PO Box 703, Union, SC 29379, phone (864) 429-1690 for Vital Records inquiries. Office hours are 9 AM to 5 PM EST on weekdays. The local health department can issue certified death certificates for Union County residents and process requests the same day when proper identification is provided.
Mail requests to either the state or local office cost $12 per certificate. Online requests through VitalChek cost $17 and are typically delivered within five to seven business days. Each additional certified copy is $3. Deaths recorded within the past 50 years are restricted to immediate family members and authorized legal representatives under South Carolina law.
Note: When requesting records by mail, include a photocopy of your government-issued ID and a signed statement of your relationship to the decedent.
Union County Pre-1915 Death Register
Union County holds a rare distinction in South Carolina history. The Union County Death Register covering 1900 to 1914 is one of only three pre-state-registration death record collections known to survive in South Carolina. This register predates the 1915 start of mandatory statewide death registration by fifteen years and provides researchers with access to Union County death data that simply does not exist for most other South Carolina counties.
The original Union County Death Register for 1900 to 1914 is held by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History at scdah.sc.gov. Researchers can view this record in person at the SCDAH facility in Columbia. The register has also been made available online through Ancestry.com as part of the "South Carolina Death Records, 1821-1955" collection. Searching this collection on Ancestry can quickly confirm whether a Union County ancestor's death is documented in this unique pre-1915 source.
In addition to the Death Register, Union County has an Index to Vital Records covering 1921 to 1937. This local health department index is a separate and distinct collection from the state records. It can be used to cross-reference state death certificates from those years and may contain names or details not captured in the official state record. Researchers working on Union County families from this period should consult both collections.
Note: The SCDAH in Columbia is open to researchers during regular business hours; no appointment is required for general research visits.
Searching Union County Death Records Online
The SC Courts Public Index for Union County at publicindex.sccourts.org/union/publicindex/ provides a free searchable database of court filings. Probate cases filed after a death often include the decedent's name, death date, and heir information. This tool does not replace a death certificate search but can confirm that a death occurred and point you toward related estate records.
The image below is sourced from the Union County Public Index website and shows the court records search interface for locating probate filings and other Union County death-related documents.
The Public Index is searchable by party name. Results include case type, filing date, and docket number. Probate cases marked as estate matters are particularly relevant for death records research in Union County.
scprobate.net aggregates South Carolina probate court data statewide and lets you search Union County cases alongside those from neighboring counties. FamilySearch offers free access to indexed Union County death records and related genealogical collections. The SC Department of Archives and History holds microfilm of Union County death records and makes them available in their Columbia research room.
Union County Library and Genealogy Resources
The Union County Library, reachable at (864) 429-1630, holds genealogy materials relevant to Union County death records research. The library's website at unionlibrary.org provides access to online resources and information about local collections. Local history materials at the library include newspaper archives, family files, and other records that can supplement official death certificates.
The image below is sourced from the Union County Library website and shows the library's online presence, which supports genealogy research for Union County death records and family history.
Library visitors can access Ancestry and HeritageQuest databases for free on library computers. These platforms include indexed South Carolina death records, census data, and newspaper archives that are useful for confirming Union County deaths and building out family trees. Librarians familiar with local history can suggest finding aids and direct you to the most relevant collections for your research.
The South Carolina State Library genealogy guide at guides.statelibrary.sc.gov/genealogy provides statewide research guidance and links to digital collections. The guide covers Union County specifically and points researchers to the pre-1915 death register, the 1921-1937 vital records index, and other county-specific sources.
Union County Probate Court Records
The Union County Probate Court is located at the Union County Courthouse in Union, SC 29379, phone (864) 429-1630. The court holds marriage licenses from 1911 to present and probate records covering various dates. When a Union County resident died and left property, the Probate Court was the venue for settling the estate, and those case files contain genealogically valuable information.
Probate records typically include the decedent's full name, approximate death date, names of surviving family members, and an inventory of assets. For historical Union County research, these records can substitute for death certificates when the official record is not available or has not been found. Estate papers from the nineteenth century are especially rich with family relationship data.
The Clerk of Court at the Union County Courthouse also holds records relevant to death research. Court records at this office date back to 1785, making Union County one of the older South Carolina jurisdictions with a continuous records history. A divorce records index covering 1962 to 1967 is also available at the Clerk's office and may be useful when reconstructing family relationships around a death.
South Carolina Vital Records Law and Union County Death Records
South Carolina Title 44, Chapter 63 governs the filing and access of Union County death records. Section 44-63-74 requires the attending physician, or the coroner when no physician attended, to file the death certificate within five days of the death. The state moved to electronic filing in 2022, which applies to all counties including Union. This change has reduced filing errors and shortened the time between a death and the appearance of the certificate in state records.
Section 44-63-84 limits access to certified copies of death records less than 50 years old to the spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent of the decedent. Others may obtain a statement confirming the death occurred but will not receive the full certified certificate. After 50 years have passed, the record is open to any requester. Section 44-63-150 allows corrections to a filed death certificate when documentary evidence supports the change. Section 44-63-161 makes fraudulent alteration or misuse of a vital record a felony. The full text of the law is at scstatehouse.gov/code/t44c063.php.
The image below is sourced from the SCIWay.net website, a South Carolina information resource that documents vital records and genealogy sources including Union County death records collections.
SCIWay.net maintains a directory of South Carolina genealogy and vital records resources organized by county. The Union County section of this site links to the pre-1915 death register information, local genealogy groups, and historical society resources that are relevant to death records research in this part of the state.
Union County Coroner Records
The Union County Coroner's office is located at the Union County Courthouse in Union, SC 29379, phone (864) 429-1630. The coroner investigates deaths that are sudden, violent, suspicious, or occur without a physician in attendance. When a Union County death falls under coroner jurisdiction, the investigation findings are submitted to the state vital records system and incorporated into the official death certificate.
Coroner case files for Union County are separate from the certified death certificate. These files may include autopsy reports, toxicology results, and investigative notes. Immediate family members and legal representatives may request access to coroner files by contacting the office in writing. Response times vary depending on the age of the case and the current workload of the office.
Note: For deaths investigated by the coroner, the full certified death certificate may not be available until the investigation is concluded and the manner of death is formally determined.
Nearby Counties
Union County borders several South Carolina counties in the Piedmont region. Families in this part of the state often moved between Union, York, Chester, Laurens, and Spartanburg counties. Researchers may find relevant death records in any of these adjacent jurisdictions.