Greer SC Death Records
Greer straddles the county line between Greenville and Spartanburg counties, though most of the city falls within Greenville County. Death records for Greer residents are part of the South Carolina statewide death index maintained by SC DPH. This guide explains how to search and obtain Greer death records, which county holds jurisdiction for local death investigations, and where to look for historical death data for this upstate South Carolina city.
Greer Quick Facts
Accessing Greer Death Index Records
Death certificates for Greer residents are issued by the SC Department of Public Health. The state office is at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201, phone (803) 898-3630. Because Greer spans two counties, the county of record on a death certificate depends on the specific address where the death occurred. Greenville County covers the majority of Greer, so most Greer death records fall under Greenville County in the SC DPH system.
For deaths occurring in the Spartanburg County portion of Greer, those records are filed under Spartanburg County in the statewide system but are still obtained through the SC DPH at the same Columbia address. Knowing which side of the county line the death occurred on can help you narrow your search in the free online death index.
| State Office | SC DPH Vital Records |
|---|---|
| Address | 2600 Bull Street Columbia, SC 29201 |
| Phone | (803) 898-3630 |
| Online Orders | gocertificates.com |
| VitalChek | 1-877-284-1008 |
Note: When searching Greer death records, check both Greenville County and Spartanburg County in the death index if you do not know which side of the county line the death occurred on.
Greer City Records and FOIA
The City of Greer maintains its own public records under South Carolina FOIA law, but the city does not issue or hold death certificates. For city records related to death investigations, such as police reports or incident records, use the city's FOIA process. The Greer FOIA system allows written requests for public records held by city departments.
The Greer city portal is the starting point for any city-level records request, while death certificates are obtained through SC DPH.
The Greer FOIA request page provides a request form and fee schedule for public records. Records available for public inspection without a written request include City Council meeting minutes from the prior six months, crime reports from at least 14 days before the current date, and names of people held in jail in the prior three months. Death-related police records would fall within these FOIA categories if they involve a city department.
Police and city records tied to a Greer death are separate from the official death certificate and require their own request process.
Searching Greer Death Records Online
The SC DPH free death index covers 1915 through 1967 and includes Greer deaths filed under Greenville or Spartanburg County. Access it at dph.sc.gov/public/vital-records/indexes-data/death-indexes-1915-1967. The index shows names, dates, and county but does not include certificate images. Confirm the record exists before submitting a formal request to the SC DPH.
For Greer deaths after 1967, you must submit a request directly. Online orders are available through gocertificates.com or by calling VitalChek at 1-877-284-1008. The certified copy fee is $12, with $3 for each additional copy of the same record. Mail requests go to SC DPH at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201.
The SC Archives at 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC 29223 holds historical Greenville County vital records and related documents on microfilm. The Ancestor Hunt blog catalogs free online South Carolina death record indexes and is a useful tool for Greer genealogy research.
What Greer Death Certificates Show
A South Carolina death certificate for a Greer resident lists the full legal name of the deceased, date and place of death, cause and manner of death, age, sex, race, birthplace, and last home address. The certifying party is the attending physician or the county coroner. For deaths in the Greenville County portion of Greer, the Greenville County Coroner handles qualifying investigations. For deaths in the Spartanburg County portion, the Spartanburg County Coroner applies.
South Carolina death records are restricted for 50 years under Title 44, Chapter 63. After that period they are public records. Immediate family members and legal representatives can request certified copies at any time. The coroner's authority for death investigations in Greer comes from Title 17, Chapter 5 of South Carolina law.
Greer Death Records for Genealogy
Greer developed as a railroad town in the late 1800s and has grown steadily into a significant community. Historical death records for Greer before 1915 are in church records, cemetery registers, and county archives. Because Greer spans two counties, researchers may need to check both Greenville County and Spartanburg County historical sources. The SC Archives hold records for both counties.
FamilySearch indexes South Carolina death records including data from Greenville and Spartanburg counties. The Greenville County death records resource at greenvillecounty.org/AnswerBook/death.aspx provides guidance on obtaining records in the county that covers most of Greer. This county guide is helpful for understanding local procedures before submitting a request.
Greenville County Death Records
Most of Greer is in Greenville County. Death records for the majority of Greer residents are part of the Greenville County vital records system. Visit the county page for coroner contacts, county resources, and additional research tools.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
Select a nearby city to find death index resources for that area of South Carolina.