Richland County Death Index
Richland County is home to Columbia, the state capital of South Carolina. The Richland County death index begins with statewide registration in January 1915, though county records from before 1865 were lost in the Civil War. The state vital records office is located right in Columbia, making Richland County one of the most accessible counties for requesting death records in person. This guide covers how to search the Richland County death index and how to get certified copies through the coroner, probate court, and state system.
Richland County Quick Facts
Richland County Coroner and Death Records
The Richland County Coroner is Naida Rutherford, who made history when elected in 2020. She is the first woman, the first medical professional, and the first African American to hold the office in its 173-year history. She defeated 20-year incumbent Gary Watts. Coroner Rutherford is a Nurse Practitioner with national certification and extensive healthcare experience including emergency care, trauma, hospice, infectious disease, community health, home care, surgical, and end-of-life care. She was featured in USA Today for her historic election.
The Richland County Coroner's Office is located in Columbia, South Carolina. The 24-hour call number is (803) 576-1799. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Deputy Coroner for Community Relations Jeff Black can be reached at jeffblack@rccosc.com or (803) 771-1696. The coroner investigates all unexpected, violent, and unusual deaths under state law. Most autopsies are conducted at PRISMA Health Hospital. The office contracts with a professional company for secure transport of deceased individuals.
The coroner's office offers several document services. Cremation permits cost $20 and must be requested online with an attached copy of the signed death certificate, burial removal transit permit, and signed authorization to cremate. Payment goes through the online portal. Cremation permits are returned by email only. Preliminary reports are short documents released to legal next of kin, law enforcement, or official entities. Autopsy reports are only available to legal next of kin, law enforcement, or by court subpoena. Under SC Code Title 17, Chapter 5, FOIA requests do not apply to death records or cause of death findings.
The Richland County Coroner's website at rccosc.com provides information on all coroner services, document requests, and the cremation permit portal.
Richland County Probate Court Estate Records
Probate estate records are a key source for death research, particularly for pre-1915 deaths before statewide registration. When someone dies in Richland County, their estate is often administered through probate court. Those records can include wills, inventories, creditor notices, and settlements that reference the date of death. For deaths where an official certificate is unavailable or lost, probate records are among the best substitutes.
The Richland County Probate Court estate records page explains how to access estate files and what they contain. For historical estate records before a certain date, contact the South Carolina Department of Archives and History at (803) 896-6100. The archives are at 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC 29223.
Note: The Richland County Vital Records office is at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201, phone (803) 898-3630, and handles death certificates for deaths in the county within the last five years.
Richland Library Genealogy and Death Research
The Richland Library is one of the strongest genealogical research systems in South Carolina. The library system has 13 locations throughout Richland County. The library holds The State newspaper photograph collection, which is a valuable resource for obituary research in the Columbia area. Interlibrary loan service is available for materials held at other libraries in the state.
The library's local history and genealogy collections include South Carolina newspapers, family history files, cemetery records, and reference books covering Richland County's past. Researchers tracing deaths in the Columbia area will find the library an important complement to the official death index. The library also provides free public computer access to genealogical subscription databases including Ancestry and other platforms.
Requesting Richland County Death Certificates
Richland County residents have the advantage of being in the same city as the state vital records office. Certified copies of death certificates from 1915 forward are issued by the South Carolina Department of Public Health at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201, phone (803) 898-3630. The office is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, and Wednesday 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
The standard search fee is $12 per certificate. Additional copies cost $3 each. A valid photo ID is required. Records less than 50 years old are restricted to immediate family members and legal representatives. Records 50 years and older are open to the public. South Carolina vital records law is under Title 44, Chapter 63. The free SC DPH Death Indexes 1915-1967 let you search the Richland County death index online before ordering a copy.
The SC DPH vital records page has current fees, application forms, and instructions for ordering by mail, phone, or in person. Coroner Rutherford has made suicide prevention a priority, noting that suicide deaths in Richland County rose from 45 in 2021 to 47 in 2022 to 72 in 2023. The youngest victim in 2023 was 13 years old. The coroner promotes National Suicide Prevention Month each September.
| Richland County Vital Records |
2600 Bull Street Columbia, SC 29201 Phone: (803) 898-3630 |
|---|---|
| Coroner's Office |
Columbia, SC 24-Hour: (803) 576-1799 |
| Hours | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Wed: 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| County Website | rccosc.com |
Cities in Richland County
Richland County includes Columbia, the state capital. Death records for all Richland County residents go through the county coroner and the state system, which is also headquartered in Columbia.
Columbia is the county seat and the state capital. The SC Department of Public Health's main vital records office is located in Columbia, making in-person requests convenient for Richland County residents.
Nearby County Death Records
Richland County borders Lexington, Fairfield, Kershaw, Sumter, Calhoun, and Orangeburg counties. Deaths are recorded by the county where they occurred.