Spartanburg County Death Index
Spartanburg County is one of the largest counties in the South Carolina Upstate region. The death index for Spartanburg County begins with statewide registration in January 1915. The Spartanburg County Coroner's Office investigates approximately 1,100 deaths per year, one of the higher annual caseloads in the state. This guide covers how to search the Spartanburg County death index, how the coroner's office works, and how to request certified death records from county and state offices.
Spartanburg County Quick Facts
Spartanburg County Coroner Office
The Spartanburg County Coroner's Office is led by Coroner Rusty Clevenger, a lifelong Spartanburg resident and past President of the SC Coroner's Association. The physical address is 366 N Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29303. The office phone is (864) 596-2509. Office Administrator Holly Crooke can be reached at (864) 562-4053. For after-hours emergencies, contact the Sheriff's Department at (864) 503-4500.
The coroner's mission is clear: "We will constantly train and strive to educate ourselves on the latest investigative techniques." The office is committed to being "cutting edge" in its approach to service. Core values include respect for decedents, answers for families, and finding the truth based on evidence and testimony. The coroner investigates violent deaths including homicides, suicides, vehicle accident deaths, and falls, as well as suspicious deaths and deaths that a doctor will not certify as natural. The office does not investigate all deaths in Spartanburg County, only those under coroner jurisdiction.
Spartanburg County Coroner investigators are law enforcement officers who conduct parallel investigations to determine manner of death. The office investigates approximately 1,100 deaths per year. Under SC Code Title 17, Chapter 5, the coroner has authority to conduct inquests and establish cause of death. Child fatalities require a complete investigation under SC Code 17-5-540 and 63-11-1940 unless evidence of a pre-existing terminal condition exists.
The Spartanburg County Coroner website at spartanburgcoroner.org provides contact information, services, and answers to common questions.
Spartanburg County Coroner Services and Process
Death cases are referred to the Spartanburg County Coroner if they occur outside a hospital. The coroner is notified and contacts the private physician to ask if the physician will certify the death. If so, the coroner is not called further. If not, the coroner responds and interviews a family member or caretaker to verify no foul play. Basic information is collected for a burial removal transit permit required under SC law 17-5-580.
Deaths within 24 hours of hospital admission or invasive surgery are reported to the coroner under SC law 17-5-530. A basic inquiry is performed. Based on findings, the inquiry may end or proceed to a full case. Cremation permits are issued by the coroner upon request of the funeral director under statutes 32-8-325 and 32-8-340. A mandatory 24-hour waiting period applies from time of death before cremation. Death certificates are not issued by the coroner's office. They are forwarded to DHEC, and funeral homes may pick up certificates at 151 East Wood Street, phone 864-596-3320.
The Spartanburg County Coroner services page details the full process for death cases, cremation permits, and what happens from notification through release.
Note: Spartanburg County ranked first in South Carolina for traffic fatalities in 2025, according to the coroner's office. The 71st traffic fatality of 2025 was recorded in December of that year.
Spartanburg County Death Record FAQs
The Spartanburg County Coroner's Office maintains a detailed FAQ page covering the most common questions about death records and the investigation process. The Spartanburg Coroner FAQs cover everything from when the coroner responds to a scene to where death certificates can be obtained.
Death certificates take two to four weeks from the time the coroner mails a supplemental form to DHEC in Columbia. The wait depends on when toxicology and autopsy reports come back. Once finalized, certificates can be obtained through the funeral home or through Vital Records in Spartanburg at 333 East Wood Street, Spartanburg, SC, phone 864-596-3336. The Spartanburg County Vital Records office is also located at 118 Dillon Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29307, phone (864) 596-2227. The legal next of kin is entitled to a complimentary copy of finalized autopsy reports. Call the office to speak with your investigator about scheduling an appointment to review the report.
Deceased individuals are typically taken to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center Morgue. The county has facilities there to receive and safeguard the deceased until family arrangements are made. The family must contact the coroner's office with their chosen funeral home. Authorization from the legal next of kin is required for release. After release, families may also claim personal belongings through the coroner's office.
Requesting Spartanburg County Death Index Records
Certified copies of death certificates from 1915 forward are issued by the South Carolina Department of Public Health. The state office is at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201, phone (803) 898-3630. The local Vital Records office at 333 East Wood Street, Spartanburg, can also assist with recent certificates. Mail requests to SC Department of Public Health, Vital Records Section, P.O. Box 2046, West Columbia, SC 29171.
The standard search fee is $12 per certificate. Additional copies cost $3. A government-issued photo ID is required. Records less than 50 years old are restricted under Title 44, Chapter 63. Records older than 50 years are open to the public. For older research, the free SC DPH Death Indexes 1915-1967 let you search Spartanburg County death records online. The Ancestor Hunt site lists all free South Carolina death record databases including those covering Spartanburg County. Court public records are also available through the Spartanburg County Courts public records page.
| Coroner's Office |
366 N Church Street Spartanburg, SC 29303 Phone: (864) 596-2509 |
|---|---|
| Vital Records (Local) |
333 East Wood Street Spartanburg, SC Phone: 864-596-3336 |
| State Vital Records |
SC Department of Public Health 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201 Phone: (803) 898-3630 |
| County Website | spartanburgcoroner.org |
Cities in Spartanburg County
Spartanburg County includes the city of Spartanburg along with several other communities. Death records for all residents are filed through the county coroner and the state vital records system.
Spartanburg is the county seat. Death records for Spartanburg city residents are part of the Spartanburg County death index and the state system in Columbia.
Nearby County Death Records
Spartanburg County borders Cherokee, Union, Laurens, Greenville, and Polk counties (NC). Deaths are filed in the county where they occurred.