York County Death Index and Records
York County is in the northern part of South Carolina, bordering North Carolina and the Charlotte metro area. The death index for York County begins with statewide registration in January 1915. The county coroner leads all death investigations and works with the medical examiner to determine cause of death. Rock Hill is the largest city in the county. This guide covers how to search the York County death index and how to request certified death records through local and state channels.
York County Quick Facts
York County Coroner Death Investigations
The York County Coroner's Office is located at 933 Heckle Boulevard, Suite 103, Rock Hill, SC 29732. The phone number is (803) 909-8400 and the fax is (803) 324-9595. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Coroner Sabrina Gast is the elected coroner and also serves as President of the South Carolina Coroner's Association. She has been vocal about the importance of coroner record-keeping across the state.
The main task of the York County Coroner's Office is to determine both the medical and legal causes for deaths in the county. Priority is placed on sudden deaths, suspicious deaths, and deaths that occur for no apparent reason. The coroner has jurisdiction over all deaths investigated by the office. The coroner investigates all suspicious and violent deaths, all deaths outside hospitals or nursing homes, and all deaths occurring less than 24 hours after hospital admission or after emergency room treatment.
Under SC Code Title 17, Chapter 5, it is the sole responsibility of the York County Coroner to determine the manner of death of every person who dies in the county or is injured in the county in a way that results in death elsewhere. The coroner may retain experts in anthropology, entomology, odontology, photography, radiology, toxicology, and trace evidence. The solicitor has the authority to request an autopsy if needed for prosecution. Cause of death is ultimately determined by a pathologist or physician consulting with the coroner.
The York County government website at yorkcountygov.com provides access to all county departments. The county address is 26 West Liberty Street, York, SC 29745, phone (803) 684-4851.
York County Coroner Office Responsibilities
The York County Coroner conducts inquests, issues burial removal permits, authorizes and issues cremation letters to parties of concern, signs death certificates, and maintains permanent records on every case. The coroner works closely with all branches of the military regarding deaths and disasters involving military personnel. If you need to report a death in York County, call 911 immediately and answer all questions the 911 telecommunicator asks. The 911 center will contact the on-call coroner.
Hospice agencies and nursing home facilities should call a dedicated line at (803) 326-2357 to report deaths to the coroner's office. This line is separate from the general office number and handles natural deaths in care settings. The coroner's office coordinates evidence preservation at all death scenes and ensures personal belongings of the deceased are safeguarded and returned to the family. When possible, the coroner personally notifies relatives and loved ones.
The York County Coroner page at yorkcountygov.com/183/Coroner covers all coroner responsibilities, reporting procedures, and contact information.
Note: York County experienced at least one storm-related death during Hurricane Helene in September 2024, when a woman was killed while cutting a fallen tree. Such deaths fall under coroner jurisdiction and are investigated accordingly.
York County Vital Records and Death Certificates
The York County Vital Records office is at 1070 Heckle Blvd., Suite 1200, Rock Hill, SC 29731. The phone number is (803) 909-7307. This office can issue death certificates for deaths occurring in York County within the last five years. The cost is $12 per search and copy. Available records include birth and death certificates as well as marriage and divorce records.
For deaths older than five years, certified copies are issued by the South Carolina Department of Public Health at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201, phone (803) 898-3630. Mail requests go to SC Department of Public Health, Vital Records Section, P.O. Box 2046, West Columbia, SC 29171. South Carolina law under Title 44, Chapter 63 restricts records less than 50 years old to immediate family and legal representatives. Records 50 years and older are open to the public.
The York County vital records guide provides additional information on how to request records and what identification is required. The free SC DPH Death Indexes 1915-1967 let you search the York County death index online before ordering a certified copy. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History holds microfilm of York County death certificates from 1915 to 1963 at lower cost than certified copies.
Free Online York County Death Index Tools
Multiple free databases cover York County death records. The SC DPH death index runs from 1915 through 1967 and is fully searchable online. FamilySearch offers South Carolina Deaths 1915-1965 with free index and images, and South Carolina Deaths and Burials 1816-1990 as a free index. Both collections include all York County entries from those periods. The Ancestry collection South Carolina Death Records 1821-1969 requires a subscription but is accessible free at public libraries and FamilySearch centers.
The Ancestor Hunt site provides a complete guide to all free South Carolina death record databases, organized so researchers can quickly find what is available for York County. For pre-1915 research, church records and probate files are the main sources. The SC DPH vital records page has current information on all available resources.
| York County Vital Records |
1070 Heckle Blvd., Suite 1200 Rock Hill, SC 29731 Phone: (803) 909-7307 |
|---|---|
| Coroner's Office |
933 Heckle Blvd., Suite 103 Rock Hill, SC 29732 Phone: (803) 909-8400 |
| State Vital Records |
SC Department of Public Health 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201 Phone: (803) 898-3630 |
| County Website | yorkcountygov.com |
Cities in York County
York County includes several cities. All death records for residents are filed through the county coroner and the state vital records system in Columbia.
Rock Hill is the largest city in York County. Fort Mill has grown rapidly as part of the Charlotte metro area. Death records for both communities are part of the York County death index.
Nearby County Death Records
York County borders Chester, Lancaster, Chesterfield, and Cherokee counties in South Carolina, and Mecklenburg and Gaston counties in North Carolina. Deaths are recorded in the county where they occurred.