Greenville SC Death Index
Greenville is the sixth-largest city in South Carolina and the hub of Greenville County, the largest county in the state's Upstate region. Death records for Greenville are part of the South Carolina statewide death index managed by the SC Department of Public Health. This page covers how to search and obtain Greenville death records, what the local and county resources provide, and where to find historical death data for this major upstate city.
Greenville Quick Facts
Greenville City Government and Death Records
The City of Greenville does not issue or maintain death certificates. All death certificates for Greenville residents are obtained through the South Carolina Department of Public Health. The City Clerk handles city governance records, while vital records are a state function entirely separate from city administration.
The city portal is useful for locating departments and services, but death records require contacting the state DPH or the Greenville County Health Department.
The Greenville City Clerk directs residents seeking death certificates to the SC Department of Public Health. Marriage licenses for Greenville residents are obtained through the Greenville County Probate Court, not the city clerk. This separation of vital records from city administration is consistent across all South Carolina municipalities.
City clerk offices in South Carolina confirm where to get death records rather than issuing them directly.
Greenville County Death Records Resources
Greenville County provides a helpful local resource for death record information. The Greenville County death records page outlines how to obtain certified death certificates in Greenville County. The county answer book explains the process for getting records from the SC DPH and identifies local offices that can assist residents. This is one of the more detailed county-level guides for death records in South Carolina.
The county death records guide at Greenville County's website is worth reviewing before submitting any formal request for a death certificate.
Greenville County is the largest county in South Carolina's Upstate region. Deaths in Greenville city and throughout Greenville County are certified by the county coroner in cases involving sudden, unexplained, or violent deaths. The coroner's finding becomes part of the official death record. Coroner reports are separate documents from the death certificate and may require a separate request.
| State Office | SC DPH Vital Records |
|---|---|
| Address | 2600 Bull Street Columbia, SC 29201 |
| Phone | (803) 898-3630 |
| County Resource | Greenville County Death Records Info |
| Online Orders | gocertificates.com |
Searching Greenville Death Index Online
The SC DPH free death index covers 1915 through 1967 and includes Greenville deaths filed under Greenville County. Access it at dph.sc.gov/public/vital-records/indexes-data/death-indexes-1915-1967. The index shows names, dates, and county. You cannot view the full certificate image through this database, but you can confirm a record exists and identify the file number before submitting a formal request.
For deaths after 1967, no free public online index is available. You must request the record directly. Options include ordering through gocertificates.com, calling VitalChek at 1-877-284-1008, mailing a written request to SC DPH in Columbia, or visiting the state office in person. The fee for a certified copy is $12, with $3 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time.
Note: You must provide the full name of the deceased, approximate year of death, and your relationship to the person when requesting a Greenville death certificate from the SC DPH.
What Greenville Death Records Include
A South Carolina death certificate for a Greenville resident covers the full legal name of the deceased, date of death, place of death, and cause and manner of death. Standard fields also include age, sex, race, birthplace, last home address, and occupation. The certifying party is the attending physician or the Greenville County Coroner when a coroner investigation applies.
Under Title 44, Chapter 63 of South Carolina law, death records are restricted for 50 years from the date of death. Records older than 50 years are public records available to anyone. Current restricted records are available to next of kin, legal representatives, and persons with a documented need.
Under Title 17, Chapter 5, the Greenville County Coroner holds authority over deaths that require investigation. Coroner records from Greenville investigations are separate from the death certificate but may be requested directly from the coroner's office by eligible parties.
Greenville Death Records for Genealogy Research
Greenville has a rich history as a textile and manufacturing hub in upstate South Carolina. Historical death records for Greenville reflect this industrial past. For deaths before 1915, researchers rely on church records, cemetery records, and county archives. The SC Archives at 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC 29223 holds microfilmed Greenville County vital records and other historical documents that may include death data from before statewide registration.
FamilySearch and Ancestry hold indexed Greenville County death records from various time periods. For the statewide registration era starting in 1915, the free SC DPH index is the most efficient tool. The Ancestor Hunt blog catalogs all free South Carolina death record databases and is a useful guide for Greenville genealogy work.
Greenville County Death Records
Greenville is the county seat of Greenville County. All death records for the city are part of the Greenville County vital records system. Visit the county page for additional local resources, coroner contacts, and research tools specific to Greenville County.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
Find death index resources for other nearby South Carolina cities below.