North Charleston Death Index
North Charleston is the third-largest city in South Carolina. Death records for North Charleston residents are maintained by the South Carolina Department of Public Health, not by the city. The Charleston County Coroner handles death investigations in North Charleston. This page explains how to search and request North Charleston death index records, what the records contain, and where to look for historical data tied to this city in Charleston County.
North Charleston Quick Facts
Accessing North Charleston Death Records
Death certificates for North Charleston residents are issued by the South Carolina Department of Public Health. The Vital Records office is at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201, phone (803) 898-3630. The Charleston County Health Department at 3685 Rivers Avenue, Charleston, SC 29405 is the local option. Both offices handle requests for certified copies of death records in the Charleston County area.
North Charleston became a city in 1972 and has grown to become one of the largest cities in South Carolina. Statewide death registration began January 1, 1915, so all state-issued North Charleston death records date from that point forward. Deaths occurring in what is now North Charleston before 1915 would fall under Charleston County's historical records, which include early city records held at the Charleston County Public Library.
| State Office | SC DPH Vital Records |
|---|---|
| Address | 2600 Bull Street Columbia, SC 29201 |
| Phone | (803) 898-3630 |
| VitalChek | 1-877-284-1008 |
| Online Orders | dph.sc.gov/public/vital-records/death-certificates |
North Charleston City Records and FOIA
The City of North Charleston does not issue or maintain death certificates. The city manages its own public records under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, but vital records are a state function. For general city records requests, North Charleston has an online FOIA portal.
The city portal connects residents to departments and services, though death records are obtained through the state DPH system.
The North Charleston FOIA portal allows online submission of public records requests. For death-related records such as police incident reports, you can fax requests to 843-745-1050 or mail them to: City of North Charleston, Attn: Clerk of Council, PO Box 190016, North Charleston, SC 29419. In-person submissions go to 2500 City Hall Lane, North Charleston, SC 29406, third floor. All FOIA requests to North Charleston must be signed.
Police records tied to a North Charleston death investigation are separate from the official death certificate and must be requested through the appropriate city or county channels.
Note: The SC Freedom of Information Act governs public records access in North Charleston, but death certificates are a state vital records function outside the scope of city FOIA.
Searching North Charleston Death Index Data
The SC DPH offers a free online death index for records from 1915 to 1967. This index covers North Charleston deaths filed in Charleston County. Access it at dph.sc.gov/public/vital-records/indexes-data/death-indexes-1915-1967. The search shows names, dates, and counties. It does not include full certificate images.
For North Charleston deaths after 1967, you must request records through the SC DPH directly. Online orders are available through gocertificates.com or VitalChek at 1-877-284-1008. Certified copies cost $12 each, with $3 for additional copies of the same record. Mail requests go to the 2600 Bull Street address in Columbia.
The South Carolina Archives at 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC 29223 holds microfilmed Charleston County vital records and related historical documents. Researchers looking for early North Charleston death data, or information predating cityhood, will find relevant materials there.
What North Charleston Death Records Show
A South Carolina death certificate for a North Charleston resident includes the full legal name of the deceased, date of death, location of death, cause of death, and manner of death. Age, sex, race, birthplace, and last home address are standard fields. The certifying party is the attending physician or, when the Charleston County Coroner is involved, the coroner. Occupation and next of kin are also typically recorded.
Under Title 44, Chapter 63 of South Carolina law, death records are restricted for 50 years from the date of death. After that they are open to the public. Immediate family members and their legal representatives may request certified copies at any time regardless of the 50-year period.
Death Investigations in North Charleston
The Charleston County Coroner is responsible for death investigations in North Charleston. When a death is sudden, violent, suspicious, or occurs without a physician, the coroner investigates and certifies cause and manner of death. Under Title 17, Chapter 5 of South Carolina law, the coroner holds legal authority over bodies in these cases and may conduct inquests when required by law.
Coroner records are not the same as death certificates. Autopsy reports and investigation records from the Charleston County Coroner are available to next of kin and legal representatives. Court subpoenas can compel release in some cases. Contact the Charleston County Coroner's Office directly to request these materials for a North Charleston death case.
The Ancestor Hunt blog lists free online South Carolina death record indexes. This includes databases that cover Charleston County and can help locate older North Charleston death records across multiple genealogy platforms.
Charleston County Death Records
North Charleston is in Charleston County. Death records for the city are part of the Charleston County vital records system. Visit the county page for coroner contact details, county-level resources, and additional research tools.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
Select a city below to learn about death index resources in nearby South Carolina communities.