Georgetown County Death Index

Georgetown County is a coastal county in South Carolina's Lowcountry region. The county seat is the city of Georgetown. Georgetown holds a rare distinction in South Carolina: its death records begin in 1883, more than 30 years before statewide registration started in 1915. Only two places in the state began keeping death records before 1915, and Georgetown is one of them. Searching the Georgetown County death index gives access to one of the oldest local death record collections in South Carolina.

Georgetown County Death Records Since 1883

Georgetown County is one of only two places in South Carolina that began recording deaths before statewide registration started on January 1, 1915. The city of Charleston began in 1821. Georgetown began in 1883. Every other county in the state has records starting no earlier than 1915. That makes Georgetown County an exceptional resource for researchers tracing families in the South Carolina Lowcountry during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The early Georgetown death records from 1883 to 1914 predate the statewide system and were kept locally. They are not as comprehensive as the later statewide records, but they provide death information for Georgetown residents during a period when no other record source existed. Access to these records may be available through the South Carolina Department of Archives and History or through local historical societies in Georgetown. Researchers should contact the SC Archives at scdah.sc.gov to learn what is available before traveling to Columbia. The Archives is at 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC 29223.

Georgetown County is part of the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county's history goes deep into the colonial era, when Georgetown was one of the most important ports in South Carolina. Its long history means that researchers may find death-related information in sources going back much further than the 1883 start date for formal death records, including church burial records, plantation records, estate files, and newspapers.

Note: The South Carolina Department of Archives and History holds microfilm copies of Georgetown County death certificates from 1915 through 1975 at a lower cost than certified copies from the state vital records office.

Georgetown County Death Index Online Collections

The Ancestor Hunt free online death records page lists Georgetown County death index collections available at no cost. These indexes typically include the name of the deceased, the date of death, and a certificate number that can be used to order the full record from the state office.

The Ancestor Hunt page organizes South Carolina death record collections by county and date range. For Georgetown County, this includes entries from the statewide system beginning in 1915. The page is a good first stop for any Georgetown County death records search because it brings together multiple free sources in one place.

The SC DPH Death Indexes 1915-1967 are free online and cover all Georgetown County deaths registered with the state during that period. These indexes provide name, date of death, and certificate number. For deaths before 1915, the Georgetown records from 1883 to 1914 are the primary source, and access through local historical organizations is the best path for finding those earlier records. The Family History Library system may also have some Georgetown County materials available as digital images or microfilm.

Georgetown County Coroner and Death Investigations

Georgetown County uses an elected coroner system, as do all 46 South Carolina counties. The coroner is the chief medical-legal officer for the county and has jurisdiction over all deaths that require investigation. Under SC Code Title 17, Chapter 5, the coroner investigates suspicious, violent, and sudden deaths, as well as deaths that occur outside of hospitals or nursing homes. The coroner issues burial removal permits, cremation permits, and makes the final determination on cause and manner of death after reviewing all evidence.

The coroner works with the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office, local police departments, medical facilities, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division when deaths require joint investigation. After the coroner completes a death certificate for a coroner case, it is forwarded to the state vital records office. For deaths that are not coroner cases, the attending physician completes the certificate. All death certificates from Georgetown County are maintained by the SC Department of Public Health and are the primary source for certified copies of Georgetown County death records from 1915 forward.

Georgetown County's coastal location and tourism economy mean that deaths can occur involving visitors from other states. In those cases, the Georgetown County Coroner handles the investigation and issues the death certificate, but the family may need to work with their home state as well to transfer remains and records.

Requesting Georgetown County Death Certificates

Certified copies of Georgetown County death certificates from 1915 forward 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. 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, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

The standard search fee is $12. Each additional copy costs $3. A valid photo ID is required. Deaths from the last 50 years are restricted to immediate family members and legal representatives. Deaths older than 50 years are open public records available to anyone. The vital records law for South Carolina is at SC Code Title 44, Chapter 63. This law requires death certificates to be filed within five days and sets the rules for who can access restricted records.

For the pre-1915 Georgetown death records from 1883 to 1914, contact the South Carolina Department of Archives and History directly. Those records were created before the statewide system existed and are held separately from the post-1915 vital records system. The Archives staff can advise on what is available and how to access it.

Georgetown County Genealogy and Death Research

Georgetown County's long history and its early death records make it one of the more rewarding places for genealogical research in South Carolina. Researchers should use the 1883 records as a starting point for the late 19th century, then move to the statewide index for deaths after 1915. For deaths before 1883, church records are the most consistent surviving source. Georgetown County had active congregations of multiple denominations from the colonial period, and many of their burial registers survive.

Plantation records and estate files are another key source for Georgetown County deaths before formal registration began. Georgetown was a major rice-producing region before the Civil War, and the estate files from that era sometimes include death information for both free and enslaved people. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History holds many of these records. Local historical societies in Georgetown may also have materials not held in Columbia.

Georgetown County Records Services

Georgetown County does not include any of the major listed cities on this site outside of the county seat. All death records for Georgetown city and county residents are filed through the county coroner and the state vital records system. For estate matters after a death, the Georgetown County Probate Court handles estate administration. The Clerk of Court maintains civil and criminal court records that may contain death-related information from probate and estate proceedings in the county.

Nearby Counties

Georgetown County borders several South Carolina counties. Death records are kept by the county where the death occurred. Check nearby counties if you are unsure which county applies to your search.

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