In Person

• 1). Visit the Charleston County Department of Health and Environmental Control. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, except state holidays.
  
  Charleston County Department of Health and Environmental Control
  
  4050 Bridge View Drive, Suite 600
  
  North Charleston, SC 29405
  
  843-953-0032
  
  
• 2). Present your completed application form, which can be downloaded from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control website at scdhec.gov/administration/vr/death.htm. Be sure to take your photo identification or a copy to the department office.
  
  
• 3). Pay the searching fee. As of August 2010, this fee is $12; additional copies cost $3 each. Note that this fee is not refundable, even if the death certificate you request is not found
  
  
• 4). Wait for your application to be processed. Generally, this will take between 30 and 45 minutes.
  
  

By Mail

• 1). Complete the vital records application form and include your payment. As of August 2010, this fee is $12, but you may pay $17 for expedited service if you want the records to be mailed sooner. Both fees are non-refundable.
  
  
• 2). Add to your application materials the full name of the person requesting the death certificate, the full date of death and the county of death.
  
  
• 3). Mail your application to the Charleston County Department of Health and Environmental Control. The average processing time for death certificate requests is between two and four weeks. Expedited requests will be returned within three to five business days.
  
  Charleston County Department of Health and Environmental Control
  
  4050 Bridge View Drive, Suite 600
  
  North Charleston, SC 29405
  
  

By Phone

• 1). Call 877-284-1008 to use South Carolina's VitalChek system by phone. The telephone service is available seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
  
  
• 2). Provide the deceased's name as it appears on the death certificate, as well as the month, date and year of death. Some agencies may also require the name of the deceased's spouse or parents, as well as his Social Security number.
  
  
• 3). Provide your billing and mailing address and your method of payment. As of August 2010, you will be charged $12.95 to use VitalChek, in addition to any fees levied by South Carolina.
  
  

Online

• 1). Visit the VitalChek website, vitalchek.com, and click the "Place an Order" button.
  
  
• 2). Click "Death Certificate" to indicate the type of vital record you want to order.
  
  
• 3). Select South Carolina on the map of the United States, then choose Charleston for the city. Hit the "Continue" button. Select the county where the death occurred.
  
  
• 4). Enter the date of death and your reason for ordering a death certificate. Read the "Important Agency Information" and click "Continue."
  
  
• 5). Enter your personal information, as well as the deceased's information. Add your payment details and confirm your order.