Find Death Records in Greenwood County
Greenwood County is located in the western Piedmont of South Carolina, with the city of Greenwood as the county seat. Death records for the county begin with statewide registration in January 1915. The Greenwood County Coroner's office is internationally accredited and has earned recognition from the South Carolina Coroner's Association. This guide covers how to search the Greenwood County death index, where to request certified copies, and which local and state resources support genealogical death research.
Greenwood County Quick Facts
Greenwood County Coroner Death Index Records
The Greenwood County Coroner's office is located at 600 Monument Street, Suite 223 P-127, Greenwood, SC 29646. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:45 AM to 5:30 PM, and the office is closed on Fridays. Coroner Roy E. (Sonny) Cox, Jr. was first elected in January 2013. The office earned international accreditation through IAC and ME in 2015 and has twice been honored with the "Coroner of the Year" award by peers. The office also received the Sue Townsend Award from the South Carolina Coroner's Association in 2018.
The mission of the Greenwood County Coroner is "to serve and protect the interest of the community by maintaining the highest level of professionalism and integrity while determining the cause and manner of death." The office investigates all reported deaths that fall under coroner jurisdiction, including deaths within 24 hours of hospital admission, suspicious or accidental deaths, and cases referred by law enforcement. The office handles toxicology testing through SLED and communicates with the South Carolina Organ Procurement Association when applicable.
The Greenwood County Coroner's office page provides contact details, office hours, and information about the death investigation process in Greenwood County.
Greenwood County Death Investigation Services
The coroner's office provides a broad range of services tied to the Greenwood County death index. These include maintaining files on all reported deaths, completing death certificates for coroner cases, and providing cremation permits to funeral homes. The office secures property from decedents and holds it for next of kin. It oversees cremation for indigent decedents and abandoned bodies to ensure dignified handling of remains. Community awareness and education programs are also part of the office's work.
Death certificates are filed with the Greenwood County Health Department after the coroner completes an investigation. Certified copies of death certificates can be obtained from the Greenwood County Health Department at 1736 South Main Street, phone (864) 227-5915, or through the SC Department of Public Health Vital Records office at (803) 898-3630. The statewide system covers all Greenwood County deaths from January 1, 1915 forward.
Note: The SC DPH Death Indexes 1915-1967 include Greenwood County entries and are free to search online.
Greenwood County Death Records Online
The county portal at greenwoodcounty-sc.gov connects residents to all county departments, including the coroner, health department, and court offices. For genealogical research, the Ancestor Hunt directory of free online South Carolina death records lists multiple indexed collections that include Greenwood County entries. These online indexes are a practical first step before ordering a certified copy from the state.
The county portal provides links to all government departments, making it easier to locate the right office for your Greenwood County death record request.
The Ancestor Hunt free death records directory lists free online indexes and genealogy databases that include Greenwood County death records from 1915 through 1967.
Requesting Greenwood County Death Certificates
Certified copies of death certificates from 1915 forward are issued by the South Carolina Department of Public Health. Requests can be submitted online, by phone through VitalChek at 1-877-284-1008, or by mail to SC Department of Public Health, Vital Records Section, P.O. Box 2046, West Columbia, SC 29171. In-person requests go to 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201. Locally, the Greenwood County Health Department at 1736 South Main Street, phone (864) 227-5915, handles county-level requests.
The search fee is $12, non-refundable. Each copy ordered at the same time costs $3. A valid government-issued photo ID is required. Records less than 50 years old are restricted to immediate family or legal representatives. Records 50 years or older are open to the public under South Carolina law. The SC Department of Archives and History at scdah.sc.gov holds microfilm copies at a lower cost for researchers who do not need certified originals.
| State Vital Records |
SC Department of Public Health 2600 Bull Street Columbia, SC 29201 Phone: (803) 898-3630 |
|---|---|
| Local Health Department |
1736 South Main Street Greenwood, SC Phone: (864) 227-5915 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| County Website | greenwoodcounty-sc.gov |
South Carolina Death Record Laws
Greenwood County death records fall under SC Code Title 44, Chapter 63, which governs all vital records in the state. Death certificates must be filed within five days. Electronic filing is required statewide. The coroner's powers are set out in SC Code Title 17, Chapter 5, which covers death investigations, inquest authority, and reporting requirements. These two statutes define how every death in Greenwood County gets documented and filed.
After 50 years from the date of death, records become open public records under South Carolina law. Before that point, certified copies are restricted to authorized requesters. Genealogists searching older death records can use the state death indexes, microfilm archives, and probate records to build a complete picture of Greenwood County deaths going back to 1915.
Nearby Counties
Greenwood County is surrounded by several Piedmont counties. Death records are filed by the county where the death occurred, so confirm the correct county for your search.