Death-certificate fee in South Carolina: $12 per certified copy
The South Carolina DPH (formerly DHEC), Vital Records sets the fee and process below. Confirm current details on the office page before you order.
deathcertcost.us provides informational summaries of state vital-records office fees and processes. Fees and timelines change; verify with your state's vital-records office before relying. Not affiliated with any state agency or VitalChek.
Fee per certified copy
$12
The South Carolina vital-records office charges $12 for the first certified copy, and $3 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.
Standard processing time
Varies
The office does not publish a standard timeline. It usually depends on how you order — in person is typically fastest, mail is slowest. Confirm current timing with the office.
Ask the office whether an expedited option is available.
Copies typically needed
Each institution that handles the estate usually wants its own certified copy. The most common are:
- Bank & financial accounts
- Life-insurance death-benefit claim
- Probate court estate filing
- Pension, retirement & brokerage accounts
How to order
$12 search fee includes one certified copy; $3 each additional same-order copy. County health departments also issue. Fee from official scdhec.gov source via search.
Visit South Carolina Vital RecordsThis links to the official South Carolina office — not an aggregator or paid service.
Professional review in progress. How we check these figures is described on our methodology page.