Lookup Beaufort County Death Index Records
Beaufort County death records cover a region with deep historical roots in South Carolina's Lowcountry. The Beaufort County Death Index runs from 1915, when the state began statewide vital registration, to the present. The county seat is Beaufort, with major communities including Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, and Port Royal. The county uses an elected coroner system and also holds rare historical records from the 1893 Sea Island Storm. This guide covers all resources for finding Beaufort County death certificates, historical mortality records, and vital records.
Beaufort County Quick Facts
Beaufort County Death Index Overview
Beaufort County is in South Carolina's Lowcountry along the Atlantic coast. The county is known for its historic district, coastal environment, and the Gullah Geechee cultural heritage of the Sea Islands. The county uses an elected coroner system for all death investigations.
The official county portal at beaufortcountysc.gov provides access to county departments including the coroner and health services. Certified death certificates for Beaufort County are issued through the SC DPH Vital Records office at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201, phone (803) 898-3630. The fee is $12 per certified copy.
Beaufort County Vital Records is located at 1905 Duke Street, Second Floor, Room 250, Beaufort, SC 29902, phone (843) 525-7637. This local office provides some vital records services and can assist with questions about obtaining death certificates. All certified copies must be issued through the state system.
The Beaufort County Coroner Office
The Beaufort County Coroner's Office handles all death investigations in the county. The coroner's website at beaufortcountysc.gov/coroner explains the office's role and responsibilities. The coroner investigates suspicious, violent, sudden, and unexpected deaths and issues permits for body removal. The office is located in Port Royal, where the county autopsy suite is also maintained.
Under S.C. Code Title 17, Chapter 5, the coroner must investigate all deaths without physician attendance, violent deaths, sudden deaths, and deaths within 24 hours of hospital admission. The Beaufort County Coroner coordinates with the Beaufort County Sheriff, local law enforcement, and state agencies including SLED to complete each investigation. Key personnel have included Coroner Bobbi Jo O'Neal, with the office also staffed by deputy coroners.
Body removal permits are a specific function of the Beaufort County Coroner's office. These permits are required before a body can be moved from the place of death to a funeral home in certain circumstances. The coroner issues these permits as part of the death investigation process in Beaufort County.
Note: The coroner's investigation records are separate from the certified death certificates held by the SC DPH. Families needing a copy of the coroner's report must contact the coroner's office directly, not the state vital records office.
Historical Beaufort County Death Records
Beaufort County holds one of the most unusual historical death record collections in South Carolina. The 1893 Sea Island Storm Death List, held by the Beaufort District Collection, documents 294 deaths from the Great Sea Island Storm, a devastating hurricane that struck the South Carolina coast in August 1893. Coroner inquisitions were held August 28 through 30, 1893, and the records are available on microfilm at the Beaufort District Collection Research Room.
The Beaufort District Collection is located at the Beaufort County Library and serves as a special collections repository for historical materials related to Beaufort County and the Lowcountry region. The 1893 storm records contain accounts of personal human tragedy, particularly among the Gullah Geechee population of the Sea Islands. The script can be faint and difficult to decipher. An appointment is required to view these historical records, and researchers should be prepared for the challenges of reading historical handwriting on microfilm.
For deaths occurring before 1915, other pre-registration sources include probate records, cemetery transcriptions, and historical newspapers. The SC Department of Archives and History at scdah.sc.gov holds a range of Beaufort County historical materials that can supplement the official death records.
Searching Beaufort County Death Records Online
The SC Death Indexes 1915-1967 are available free online. This searchable database covers all deaths recorded statewide, including Beaufort County, from the start of registration through 1967. It is the primary free online resource for historical Beaufort County death record research.
The Ancestor Hunt death records directory lists additional free resources for South Carolina death research, including Beaufort County-specific collections. These include FamilySearch indexes and volunteer-compiled records. FamilySearch provides free online access to many digitized South Carolina death records and can be searched for Beaufort County entries.
The SC Archives holds microfilm of Beaufort County death certificates from 1915 to 1963. Their reference room at 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC 29223 is open Monday through Friday, 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., with no appointment needed. Phone (803) 896-6104 for research assistance.
Beaufort County Mortality and Public Health Data
Beaufort County public health data provides context for understanding the county's death records. Data from 2010 to 2014 shows the leading causes of death for residents ages 65 and older. Malignant neoplasms (cancer) accounted for 26% of deaths in that age group, with 1,371 deaths recorded. Diseases of the heart were the second leading cause at 20%, with 1,075 deaths. Alzheimer's disease accounted for 7% of deaths (356 cases), cerebrovascular disease for 5% (287 deaths), and Parkinson's disease for 2% (95 deaths).
This public health data is drawn from Beaufort County death records and vital statistics. It reflects the same system of death certification that produces individual death certificates. Researchers using Beaufort County death records for genealogical purposes will find that the cause-of-death field on individual certificates reflects the types of conditions listed in this county-level data.
Vital Records Request Process in Beaufort County
Certified Beaufort County death certificates are available through the SC DPH. You can request records by mail to SC DPH Vital Records, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201, online at dph.sc.gov, or in person at the Beaufort County Vital Records office at 1905 Duke Street, Second Floor, Room 250, Beaufort, SC 29902, phone (843) 525-7637. The fee is $12 per copy.
For records less than 50 years old, you must be an immediate family member and provide valid photo ID and proof of relationship. This restriction is required by S.C. Code Title 44, Chapter 63. Records older than 50 years are available to the general public for genealogical and historical research. You can also order through gocertificates.com for online processing.
What Beaufort County Death Certificates Contain
A Beaufort County death certificate lists the full name of the deceased, date and place of death, cause of death, and manner of death. It records the certifying physician or coroner, the funeral home, and the place of burial or cremation. Personal details such as age, birthplace, occupation, and parents' names are also included. For deaths involving the coroner, the certificate may reflect the coroner's determination of cause and manner rather than a physician's.
The leading causes of death in Beaufort County, as documented in public health data, mean that many Beaufort County death certificates list cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's, stroke, or Parkinson's as the cause of death. Researchers should be familiar with older medical terminology used for these conditions in historical records. Early certificates from the 1915 to 1940s period may use terms like "senility," "dropsy," or "apoplexy" for conditions now described differently.
Cities in Beaufort County
Beaufort County includes several major cities and communities. All death records for residents of Beaufort County are part of the statewide vital registration system.
Hilton Head Island and Bluffton are the most populous communities in Beaufort County. All death records for these cities are filed as part of the Beaufort County vital records system.
Nearby Counties
Beaufort County borders several South Carolina counties in the Lowcountry region. Records for deaths near county lines may be held in adjacent county offices.