Dorchester County Death Index and Records

Dorchester County is in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina. The county seat is St. George, though the largest community is Summerville. The Dorchester County death index covers all deaths registered in the county from January 1, 1915 forward. Whether you are doing family history research or need a record for legal purposes, this page covers how to search the Dorchester County death index and get certified copies of death certificates through the state vital records system.

Dorchester County Coroner Death Investigations

The Dorchester County Coroner's Office investigates deaths to determine whether each case is a natural death, homicide, accidental death, suicide, or an unexplained death. The coroner investigates all suspicious and violent deaths, as well as deaths occurring at hospitals, nursing homes, and under hospice care at personal residences. Any death that happens within 24 hours of hospital admission and all hospital emergency room deaths also fall under the coroner's jurisdiction. This broad scope ensures that the cause and manner of death are properly established in every case where questions exist.

The Dorchester County Coroner works with physicians, pathologists, and law enforcement to determine causes of death. The office exercises independent judgment on when autopsies should be ordered, what toxicology tests to perform, and when more specialized methods are needed. The coroner preserves evidence and safeguards the personal belongings of the deceased for return to families. Families are notified of deaths by the coroner or designated staff, always with care and sensitivity. The coroner controls the release of the names of deceased persons to the media to protect the rights of next of kin and to give families time to notify other relatives before information becomes public.

The office also handles a range of administrative tasks. These include completing death certificates, producing case reports, issuing cremation certificates, and preparing burial and removal permits. The Dorchester County Coroner's Office is an official NARCAN distribution center, providing this medication to the community as part of local efforts to prevent deaths from opioid overdoses. The office produces an annual report with statistics on deaths investigated during the year, demonstrating a commitment to public transparency.

Note: The South Carolina Department of Archives and History holds coroner records and historical records for Dorchester County that are available to researchers in Columbia.

Dorchester County Vital Records and Death Index Access

The SC DPH vital records office locations page lists all regional offices where Dorchester County residents can access death certificates and other vital records. The state system handles all certified copies of death certificates for deaths from 1915 forward.

The SC Department of Public Health maintains regional vital records offices that serve the Lowcountry region including Dorchester County. For genealogical searches of older records, the SC DPH Death Indexes 1915-1967 are free online and include all Dorchester County deaths filed with the state during that period. These indexes provide name, date, and certificate number.

The South Carolina Department of Archives and History maintains records for Dorchester County, including historical records from the coroner's office and the town of Summerville. Some of these records touch on cemeteries in South Carolina and can be useful for locating burial information. The county dates back to the colonial period, with Dorchester being one of the earliest settlements in South Carolina. The Archives holds historical materials for the county that may contain death information from the 18th and 19th centuries, including estate records, court records, and land records. Researchers can visit the SC Archives at scdah.sc.gov to learn more about available collections before making a trip to Columbia.

Requesting Dorchester County Death Certificates

Certified copies of Dorchester County death certificates are issued by the South Carolina Department of Public Health. You can order online at gocertificates.com, by phone through VitalChek at 1-877-284-1008, by mail, or in person at the Columbia office. Mail requests go to SC Department of Public Health, Vital Records Section, P.O. Box 2046, West Columbia, SC 29171. In-person service is at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201, open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Starting January 1, 2026, Wednesday hours begin at 9:30 AM.

The standard search fee is $12. Each additional copy of the same record costs $3. A valid photo ID is required. Death records less than 50 years old are restricted to immediate family members and legal representatives. Records older than 50 years are open public records. South Carolina's vital records law at SC Code Title 44, Chapter 63 governs all aspects of how death certificates are filed, who can access them, and how they must be maintained. The coroner's authority is defined in SC Code Title 17, Chapter 5.

Dorchester County Archives and Historical Death Records

Dorchester County has seen fast population growth over the past two decades, driven largely by expansion in the Summerville area. The county's historical roots go back much further, to the early colonial period of South Carolina. Researching deaths in Dorchester County before 1915 requires looking beyond the statewide death registration system, since no statewide system existed before that date.

Alternative sources for pre-1915 deaths in Dorchester County include church burial records, cemetery surveys, probate estate files, family Bibles, and local newspapers. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History at 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC 29223, holds many records for the county that predate statewide registration. The Family History Library system also has some Dorchester County materials that can be accessed online or ordered to local Family History Centers. Probate records are especially useful because estates were opened when someone died, and those files often contain death dates and family information that can substitute for a death certificate when none exists.

Cities in Dorchester County

Dorchester County includes the city of Summerville, one of the largest communities in the Lowcountry. All death records for Summerville residents are filed through the Dorchester County coroner and the state vital records system in Columbia. Portions of Summerville extend into Berkeley and Charleston counties, so check the correct county if you are not sure where a death occurred.

Summerville is the largest city in Dorchester County. All city deaths are part of the same Dorchester County death index and are recorded through the same state vital records system.

Nearby Counties

Dorchester County borders several South Carolina counties. Death records are kept by the county where the death occurred. If you are not certain which county applies to your search, check the counties listed below.

View All 46 Counties