McCormick County Death Index Lookup

McCormick County death records are part of South Carolina's statewide death index, with records available from 1916 onward. The county seat is McCormick, and the county uses an elected coroner to investigate and document deaths. McCormick County was formed in 1916, so records begin that year when the county itself came into existence. This guide covers the McCormick County death index, how to contact the coroner and vital records office, what parent county records cover earlier deaths, and how to request certified copies through the state.

McCormick County Death Records History

McCormick County was formed in 1916 from parts of Abbeville, Edgefield, and Greenwood Counties. It was named after Cyrus McCormick, inventor of the mechanical reaper. Because McCormick County did not exist before 1916, all death records for the area prior to that date are held by the three parent counties. Researchers looking for pre-1916 deaths in what is now McCormick County must contact Abbeville, Edgefield, or Greenwood county offices or archives.

South Carolina statewide death registration began January 1, 1915, one year before McCormick County was formed. As a result, McCormick County records in the state death index start in 1916. The SC DPH Death Indexes 1915-1967 include McCormick County entries from 1916 onward. This free online index is the primary source for historical death records in the county. The county portal at mccormickcountysc.org links to county departments and services.

The McCormick County government website provides access to county offices and serves residents of this small western South Carolina county near Clarks Hill Lake.

McCormick County Coroner Records

The McCormick County Coroner is Faye L. Puckett, a long-serving coroner with extensive experience in the county. The office phone is 864-465-3211, and the cell phone is 864-993-6153. The coroner handles death investigations for all unattended and unexplained deaths in the county, including deaths at McCormick Correctional Institution, which is located within the county. This institutional responsibility adds a distinct element to the McCormick County coroner's caseload.

The coroner operates under SC Code Title 17, Chapter 5, which governs coroner authority, inquest procedures, and reporting requirements in South Carolina. After an investigation, the coroner's findings are reported to the state, and a burial-removal-transit permit is issued as required by law. The McCormick County Sheriff's Office assists when deaths require criminal investigation. Because of the county's small size, the coroner often works closely with neighboring county agencies and the SC Law Enforcement Division.

Note: McCormick Correctional Institution deaths fall under the coroner's jurisdiction just as any other death in the county. These records become part of the McCormick County death index.

McCormick County Death Index and Vital Records

The McCormick County Vital Records office is located at 133 S Mine Street, Room 102, Courthouse, McCormick, SC 29835. The Vital Records phone is 864-852-2511. The Clerk of Court can be reached at 864-852-2195. Office hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern time. Records cover 1916 to the present and are available to family members only. You can order in person, by mail, or online through VitalChek.

The Ancestor Hunt free death records directory lists all available online sources for McCormick County death records. Because McCormick is one of the smallest and youngest counties in South Carolina, the number of dedicated genealogy resources is limited compared to larger counties. The Ancestor Hunt directory is the most reliable guide to what is currently available online for free research.

The Ancestor Hunt directory lists all free online South Carolina death indexes, including the records available for McCormick County from 1916 forward.

Requesting McCormick County Death Certificates

Certified McCormick County death certificates from 1916 forward are issued by the South Carolina Department of Public Health. The office is at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201, phone (803) 898-3630. You can order by phone through VitalChek at 1-877-284-1008, online through VitalChek or Go Certificates, by mail, or in person. The SC DPH vital records portal has current forms and fees.

The standard fee is $12 per search or copy. Additional copies cost $3 each. Expedited service is $17. A valid government-issued photo ID is required. Under SC Code Title 44, Chapter 63, certified copies of records less than 50 years old are restricted to immediate family members or legal representatives. Records older than 50 years are open to anyone. For pre-1916 deaths in what is now McCormick County, contact the parent counties or the SC Department of Archives and History in Columbia.

Nearby Counties

McCormick County was formed from Abbeville, Edgefield, and Greenwood Counties. Deaths before 1916 in this area are held by those parent counties. Check the right county for any record you cannot find in the McCormick County death index.

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