Anderson South Carolina Death Index
Anderson death index records are available through the South Carolina Department of Public Health and Anderson County vital records systems. Anderson is the county seat of Anderson County, located in the northwest corner of South Carolina near the Georgia and North Carolina borders. Deaths recorded in Anderson from 1915 onward are part of the statewide death index. This page explains how to search Anderson death records, the role of the Anderson County Coroner, and where to access historical death information for this region.
Anderson Quick Facts
Searching Anderson Death Index Records
Death index records for Anderson are maintained through SC DPH and Anderson County systems. The SC DPH state office at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201, phone (803) 898-3630, handles all certified death certificate requests for the state. The Anderson County Courts system offers additional resources for death-related records through the Clerk of Courts office.
For genealogy research, the free SC DPH online death index covering 1915 to 1967 is searchable by name. This database covers the early registration era and is the fastest way to confirm whether a record exists for a specific death in Anderson. For deaths after 1967, a certified copy request is required.
The Anderson County Court public records page provides information on accessing court records. The Clerk of Courts is located at 100 South Main Street, Anderson, SC 29624, phone (864) 260-4053. Court records include probate filings, estate administrations, and other documents that may reference deaths in Anderson.
| Anderson County Clerk | 100 South Main Street, Anderson, SC 29624 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (864) 260-4053 |
| Anderson County Coroner | 301 Camson Road, Anderson, SC 29625 |
| State Vital Records | dph.sc.gov/public/vital-records |
| State Phone | (803) 898-3630 |
Anderson City Records and Government
The City of Anderson operates as the county seat and principal city in Anderson County. The city provides municipal services to residents and maintains its own records separate from county vital records. City records include council minutes, ordinances, police incident files, and court records.
City of Anderson public records requests are governed by South Carolina's FOIA law in Title 30, Chapter 4. The city must respond to written requests within ten business days. Municipal court records for Anderson city ordinance violations, traffic cases, and misdemeanor criminal matters are maintained by the Municipal Court Clerk. Police records from the Anderson Police Department can be requested in writing for incidents occurring within the city limits.
The Anderson County Council meets at the Anderson County Historic Courthouse, 101 South Main Street, Anderson, SC 29624, on the first and third Tuesday of each month. County records, including coroner files and vital records, are managed through county departments rather than the city government.
Anderson County Coroner Death Investigations
The Anderson County Office of the Coroner is one of the most fully staffed in South Carolina. The office includes an elected Coroner, Chief Deputy Coroner, five Deputy Coroners, one Public Information Officer, two Morgue Attendants, two Administrative Assistants, a full-time board-certified forensic pathologist serving as Medical Examiner, and two part-time forensic pathologists. The office holds IACME accreditation from the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners.
The coroner's office operates in compliance with Title 17, Chapter 5 and South Carolina's FOIA law, S.C. Code Ann. 30-4-30. FOIA requests for coroner records should be directed to: Anderson County Office of the Coroner, Attn: Chief Deputy Coroner, 301 Camson Road, Anderson, SC 29625, or by email to accoroner@andersoncountysc.org. Attorney and insurance company requests require a specific form available on the coroner's website.
The coroner's fee schedule for FOIA requests includes $0.25 per page for black and white copies, $0.35 per page for color copies, $24 per hour for staff time, $5 per CD or DVD, and $15 per USB drive. A deposit of 25% of estimated costs may be required before the office begins searching. The office must acknowledge requests within ten business days and produce records within thirty days for current records, or thirty-five days for records over 24 months old.
Note: General coroner records contain limited information for the public. Full autopsy reports and investigation files go only to next of kin, legal representatives, and law enforcement agencies involved in the case.
Requesting Anderson Death Certificates
Certified death certificates for Anderson deaths are issued by SC DPH under Title 44, Chapter 63. Eligible requesters include the spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, or legal representative of the decedent. Others may only receive a basic statement confirming the death occurred, not a full certified copy.
Request options include in person at the SC DPH state office in Columbia, by mail to P.O. Box 2046, West Columbia, SC 29171 with the $12 standard fee, online through GoCertificates.com with the $17 expedited fee, or by phone through VitalChek at 1-877-284-1008. Additional copies are $3 each. In-person requests at county offices cost $17 for the first copy and are processed the same day during non-peak hours.
The Anderson County Library System at andersonlibrary.org also maintains local history and genealogy collections. The library provides access to local history files, newspaper archives, and genealogy resources that may assist with death research in Anderson.
Historical Anderson Death Records
Anderson County was established in 1826. For deaths before 1915, statewide registration did not exist. Researchers should consult Anderson County Probate Court records, church records, cemetery records, and newspaper archives from the area. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History at scdah.sc.gov, 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC 29223, holds microfilm of historical Anderson County materials.
Census mortality schedules from 1850 to 1880 list deaths in each household during those census years and are available through FamilySearch. The Ancestor Hunt at theancestorhunt.com maintains a free list of South Carolina death record databases including resources for the Anderson area.
Anderson County Death Index Records
Anderson is the county seat of Anderson County. All death records for Anderson city residents are part of the Anderson County vital records system. Visit the Anderson County page for a full overview of county offices, the death index, and related resources.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
Cities near Anderson have their own death index resources through county vital records systems. Select a city to learn more.