Bamberg County Coroner Will Implement New Fee Schedule January 2026

The Bamberg County Coroner's Office has posted a public notice on the county Alerts and Notices page stating that new fees will be charged for a range of services beginning January 1, 2026. The notice lists specific amounts for each item, including Autopsy Report at one hundred twenty five dollars, Toxicology Report at one hundred dollars, Consults at fifty dollars, Cremation Permits at thirty five dollars, and Coroner's Report at thirty five dollars. The notice is signed by Shawn B. Hanks, Coroner, and includes the courthouse annex address and contact information for the Coroner's Office.

The announcement places the responsibility on county officials to explain the rationale for the new schedule and how the revenue will be used. For residents who must obtain cremation permits or official reports following a death, the new fees will add an identifiable cost to end of life arrangements and to family efforts to obtain records. Funeral homes and legal representatives who routinely request toxicology and autopsy documentation will also face a new line item in their budgets. Researchers and journalists who rely on coroner records for public interest work may see an increase in the marginal cost of obtaining official documents.

Institutionally, the change raises questions about decision making and oversight. The notice itself was posted publicly and bears the coroner's signature, but it does not include an explanation of whether the fees were set under existing statutory authority or through a separate county approval process. That absence leaves voters and elected officials with unanswered questions about policy choices and public accountability.

The practical next steps for residents are straightforward. Individuals who need records or permits should use the contact information provided on the county Alerts and Notices page to confirm requirements and payment methods. Residents with concerns about the financial impact of the fee schedule may raise the matter with county council members and at public meetings, where budgetary priorities and service charges can be reviewed. As the new charges take effect on January 1, 2026, monitoring how the fees affect access to records and funeral arrangements will be important for transparency and for ensuring that county government remains responsive to community needs.