Posted: 7:36 AM Jul 10, 2012
Reporter: Carter Coyle

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- In less than two months, South Carolina legislation will require all death certificates be filed electronically.

The Department of Health and Environmental Control says the mandate will make it easier to acquire death certificates for families and insurance puproses.

“Effective September 1, all of the state’s funeral directors, coroners and medical certifiers will have to electronically file death certificates with us,” said Catherine Templeton, State Registrar and Director for DHEC. “Many funeral directors and medical certifiers have been successful filing death certificates electronically since the system was implemented in 2005. This has resulted in more timely filing and improved the quality of death records, which is good for families."

In an online DHEC press release, Templeton goes on to state there will be an exemption for those who file fewer than 12 death certificates each year, or an individual who serves as an unpaid funeral director for a deceased family member or friend. Those certificates may continue to be filed on paper.

Templeton said the S.C. General Assembly passed the law mandating electronic filing with the strong support of the S.C. Funeral Directors Association. DHEC says they provided information and assistance during the legislative process as requested.

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