Spartanburg County Coroner's Office
366 North Church St., Suite 1700
Spartanburg, SC 29303
864-596-2509
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When does the Spartanburg County Coroner's Office respond to a death?
A.If any suspicion or violence has occurred, the Coroner is automatically
notified. Once emergency medical service personnel arrive at the scene
and determine"no signs of life" are present. They normally make an
attempt to contact a
physician to determine the medical history of the deceased.
If the doctor will certify
the death as natural, the Coroner is not called. If not,
the Coroner is notified.
Q. What is the role of the Coroner's Office?
A. The Coroner's Office investigates violent (e. Homicide, Suicide,
Vehicle Accident
Deaths, Falls,etc.) and suspicious deaths as well as those deaths that
a doctor
does not certify as natural.
The Coroner does not investigate all deaths that occur in Spartanburg County.
Q. How many deaths does the Coroner's Office investigate each year?
A. It varies from year to year but statistics show approximately 1100 deaths a year.
Q. Are Coroner's Investigators Police Officers?
A. No, investigators are Law Enforcement officers who conduct a concurrent investigation to
determine the manner of death.
Q. How long does it take to receive a death certificate?
A. It takes between 2 to 4 weeks from the day the Coroner's Office mails
a supplemental
form to DHEC in Columbia. We can not send
supplemental reports until we receive all
reports such as toxicology and
autopsy. The Coroner's Office has no control when these
reports are complete.
Q. Where can I obtain a copy of a death certificate?
A. You can obtain a death certificate from Vital Records here in
Spartanburg, phone # 596-3336.
Common Terms
Autopsy - The dissection and examination of bone, tissue,
organs and foreign
objects for the purpose of determining the
cause and manner of death.
Book of Inquisitions - A record of all inquests within the county,
together with
evidence taken before juries and all proceedings conducted
before or after the
Coroner's findings.
Toxicology - Division of medical and biological science concerned
with toxic
substances, their detection, their avoidance, their chemistry
and pharmacological actions, and their antidotes and treatment.
Division/Staff
Asked Questions
Fire Safety
Vehicle
Safety
Infant Mortality
Prevention