Find Death Records in Lee County

Lee County death records are part of South Carolina's statewide death index, with registration dating back to January 1, 1915. The county seat is Bishopville, and Lee County uses an elected coroner system for death investigations. Searching the Lee County death index gives access to over a century of mortality data. This page covers local vital records offices, the county coroner, online genealogy indexes, and how to request certified copies of Lee County death certificates from state and local sources.

Lee County Death Index History

Lee County was formed in 1902 from parts of Darlington, Kershaw, and Sumter counties. It was named for Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Because the county was created in 1902, it predates statewide death registration, which began on January 1, 1915. Records filed after 1915 are part of the South Carolina death index. For deaths that occurred before that date, researchers must check the parent counties of Darlington, Kershaw, and Sumter.

The Lee County vital records office is located at PO Box 387, Bishopville, SC 29010. The phone number is 803-484-5341, and the fax is 803-484-1632. Office hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The fee is $12 per search or copy. Records cover 1915 to the present and are available to family members only. You can order in person, by mail, or online through VitalChek. The SC DPH Death Indexes 1915-1967 include all Lee County entries from the start of state registration.

The county portal at leecountysc.org links to county departments and services, including the coroner's office and other elected officials.

The Lee County website provides access to key departments including the elected coroner, who handles death investigations in Bishopville and across the county.

Lee County Coroner and Death Investigations

Lee County uses an elected coroner system, consistent with most South Carolina counties. The coroner is responsible for investigating deaths that occur outside of hospitals or nursing homes, deaths of unknown cause, and deaths where foul play may be involved. The coroner coordinates with the Lee County Sheriff's Office when criminal matters arise. After an investigation is complete, the coroner files a report with the state and issues a burial-removal-transit permit as required by SC Code Title 17, Chapter 5.

The Lee County Coroner office page lists contact information and department details for the elected coroner. This is the direct source for questions about active death investigations or coroner records in Lee County.

The coroner's office is an elected position in Lee County and serves as the county's primary death investigation authority for all unattended or unexplained deaths.

Note: The coroner's office handles burial permits and death investigations but does not issue certified copies of death certificates. Certified copies come from the SC Division of Vital Records in Columbia.

Lee County Death Records for Genealogy

The Genealogy Trails Lee County death records page is a free online resource with historical Lee County mortality data. This type of resource often includes transcribed records from older published lists, newspaper obituaries, and county records that predate or supplement the state index. It is a useful source for researchers working on Lee County family trees.

South Carolina's statewide online death index covering 1915 to 1960 is accessible through the SC Department of Public Health. This free database is searchable by name and gives basic information about each record. For records outside that date range, the Ancestor Hunt directory lists every free Lee County death index available online. Checking more than one source often produces better results because index data is not always consistent across platforms.

Genealogy platforms such as Genealogy Trails provide free access to transcribed Lee County death data that supplements the official state index.

Requesting Lee County Death Certificates

Certified death certificates for deaths from 1915 forward are issued by the South Carolina Department of Public Health. The main office is at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201. Phone orders go through VitalChek at 1-877-284-1008. Online orders can also be placed through VitalChek or Go Certificates. Mail requests require a completed application form, a copy of a valid photo ID, and payment. The SC DPH vital records portal has current forms and fee schedules.

The standard fee is $12 per search or copy. Additional copies of the same record are $3 each. Expedited service costs $17. Only immediate family members or legal representatives may obtain certified copies of records less than 50 years old. Records older than 50 years are open to any requester. Under SC Code Title 44, Chapter 63, death certificates must be filed within five days of the death.

For older records, the South Carolina Department of Archives and History maintains microfilm copies of death certificates and pre-1915 records substitutes at lower cost. The Archives also holds historical records from Lee County's parent counties for deaths prior to 1902.

Nearby Counties

Lee County borders several South Carolina counties. Because Lee County was formed from Darlington, Kershaw, and Sumter, those parent counties may hold relevant records for pre-1902 deaths.

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