South Carolina - How to obtain a Birth Certificate

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Procedure

In Person

• You may go to any county health department in the State of South Carolina to obtain a certified copy of a South Carolina birth certificate.
• Most South Carolina birth certificates can be issued while you wait.

By Mail

• The easiest and most convenient way to obtain a vital record is to request one through the mail.
• Fill out an application, and mail it with a check or money order for the fee. The fee is $12 per certificate.

Mail to:

Office of Vital Records

SC DHEC

2600 Bull Street

Columbia, SC 29201

Online (VitalChek)

• It's the easiest and most efficient method for ordering official birth certificates and other vital records because there is less room for error when you enter the information yourself. Our simple forms have built-in editing features to help ensure the accuracy of your order.

Order official, certified birth certificates from South Carolina Vital Records online quickly and securely

• VitalChek is an official service, authorized by South Carolina Vital Records, to securely order certified South Carolina vital records, like birth certificates. Other online services may not be authorized by South Carolina Vital Records, and may charge additional fees without providing approved services or guaranteeing confidentiality of your data.
• As a government-approved organization for 25 years, VitalChek safely delivers millions of vital records every year and is Americas No.1 resource for ordering certified vital records across the nation. VitalChek makes purchasing your familys most important documents, such as South Carolina birth certificates, simple, fast and secure:
  • Simple step-by-step ordering with easy to use editing features to help ensure the accuracy of your order.
  • Fast online ordering, processing & delivery options to help get your certificate as quickly as possible.
  • Secure ordering processes that are designed to help protect your identity online.
• VitalChek offers the convenience of ordering South Carolina birth certificates for yourself or your family from the privacy of your home or office, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, with no hidden fees or unexplained charges. No traffic, no standing in line, no parking, no hassles.

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Required Documents

• State Issued Driver's license (can be expired)
• United States, or Foreign passports
• Military ID
• Photo-ID cards from a government sponsored program

Office Locations & Contacts

Contact Details

Office of Vital Records

SC DHEC

2600 Bull Street

Columbia, SC 29201

Certificates may also be obtained from your local county. Use the contact information below to inquire.

Abbeville County : 201 Court Square Abbeville, SC 29620-2452
Phone: 864-366-5312

Aiken County : 109 Park Ave. SE Aiken, SC 29801
Website

Allendale County : 292 Barnwell Hwy. Allendale, SC 29810
Website

Anderson County : P.O. Box 8002 Main Street County Courthouse Anderson, SC 29622
Phone: 864-260-4000 Website

Bamberg County : P.O. Box 150 On Main Street Bamberg, SC 29003-0150
Phone: 803-245-2025

Barnwell County : 141 Main Street Barnwell, SC 29812-0723
Phone: 803-541-1031

Beaufort County : 1501 Bay Street Beaufort, SC 29902
Phone: 843-521-2088

Berkeley County : 223 North Live Oak Drive Moncks Corner, SC 29461-2331
Phone: 843-761-6900

Calhoun County : 302 South Railroad Ave. St. Matthews, SC 29135-1452
Phone: 803-874-3524

Charleston County : 4050 Bridgeview Drive North Charleston, SC 29405
Phone: 843-740-0801

Cherokee County : 125 E. Floyd Baker Blvd. Gaffney, SC 26342
Phone: 864-487-2562

Chester County : 140 Main Street Chester, SC 29706
Phone: 803-385-2605

Chesterfield County : Courthouse, 200 W. Main St. P.O. Box 529 Chesterfield, SC 29709
Phone: 843-623-2574

Clarendon County : 3 West Keitt Street Manning, SC 29102
Website

Colleton County : 101 Hampton Street Walterboro, SC 29488
Website

Darlington County : 1100 Courthouse Square Darlington, SC 29532
Website

Dillon County : 301 West Main Street Dillon, SC 29536
Website

Dorchester County : 201 Johnston Street St. George, SC 29477
Website

Edgefield County : 124 Courthouse Square Edgefield, SC 29824
Phone: 803-637-4000

Fairfield County : 101 S. Congress St. Winnsboro, SC 29180
Phone: 803-712-6526

Florence County : 180 N. Irby St. Florence, SC 29501-3431
Phone: 843-665-3031

Georgetown County : P.O. Box 421270 , 129 Screven Street, Georgetown, SC 29442-4200
Phone: 843-545-3063 Fax: 843-545-3292 Website

Greenville County : 305 E. North Street Greenville, South Carolina 29601
Website

Greenwood County : 528 Monument Street Greenwood, SC 29646
Website

Hampton County : 1 Courthouse Square Hampton, SC 29924
Website

Horry County : 1201 Third Avenue Conway, SC 29526
Website

Jasper County : 305 Russell St. Ridgeland, SC 29936
Phone: 843-726-7728

Kershaw County : 1121 Broad St., Room 313 Camden, SC 29020
Phone: 803-425-1500

Lancaster County : 104 N. Main St. Lancaster, SC 29721
Website

Laurens County : 100 Hillcrest Square Laurens, SC 29360
Phone: 864-984-3538

Lee County : 123 Main Street Bishopville, SC 29010
Phone: 803-484-5341 Website

Lexington County : 205 E. Main St. Lexington, SC 29072
Phone: 803-359-8000 Website

Marion County : Marion, South Carolina 29571
Phone: 843-423-3904 Website

Marlboro County : 105 Main Street Bennettsville, SC 29512
Website

McCormick County : 610 South Mine Street McCormick, SC 29835
Phone: 864-852-2231 (Office) / 864-852-2783 (Fax) Website

Newberry County : 1226 College St. Newberry, SC 29108
Website

Oconee County : 415 South Pine Street Walhalla, SC 29691
Phone: 864-718-1023 Website

Orangeburg County : 190 Gibson Street Orangeburg, SC 29115
Website

Pickens County : 214 E. Main Street Pickens, SC 29671
Website

Richland County : 1701 Main Street Columbia, South Carolina 29202
Phone: 803-929-6000 Website

Saluda County : 100 E. Church St. Saluda, South Carolina 29138 Phone: 864-445-4500
Website

Spartanburg County : 180 Magnolia St. Spartanburg, South Carolina 29306
Website

Sumter County : 13 E. Canal St. Sumter, SC 29150
Website

Union County : 210 West Main Street Union, SC 29379
Phone: 864-429-1600 Fax: 864-429-1603 Website

Will

Eligibility

You are entitled to obtain a certified copy of a South Carolina birth certificate if you are the person named on the certificate (must be 18years of age), the parent(s) named on the birth certificate. All others must submit proof of entitlement (i.e. guardianship papers, power of attorney, etc.).

Fees

By mail/in person

• Certified copy: $12.00
• Additional copy: $3.00 each

Online

• Certified copy: $17.00
• Additional copy: $3.00 each

Validity

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

Please attach documents which can be used by people who would like to follow this procedure.    

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents which would help other people who would like to follow this procedure.    

Processing Time

In person

Most South Carolina birth certificates can be issued while you wait.

By mail

2-4 weeks upon receipt of request to be sent to you.

Instructions

• The South Carolina Division of Vital Records (South Carolina Vital Records) issues certified copies of South Carolina birth certificates for events that occurred in the State of South Carolina.
• Birth Certificates are available for events that occurred within the State of South Carolina from 1915 to present.
• State office has records since January 1915. City of Charleston births from 1877 are on file at Charleston County Health Department. Ledger entries of Florence City births are on file at Florence County Health Department. Ledger entries of Newberry City births from the late 1800's are on file at Newberry County Health Department. These are the only early records obtainable.
• You may order you copy of birth records by mail, in person, and online (VitalChek).
• Additional copies of the same birth records ordered at the same time of certification are $3.00 each.
• Acceptable method of payment is a money order or a cashier's check made payable to SCDHEC.

Required Information

• Name as it appears on the birth certificate.
• Date of Birth
• Place of birth
• Gender
• Race
• Mother's full Maiden Name and the Father's full name
• Has name ever been changed other than Marriage
• Name and address of the applicant
• Phone number, including area code
• Reason for requesting the certificate
• Relationship to the person named on the Certificate

Need for the Document

There are many situations in which you might need your birth certificate. It is a record of your own birth, and so you should be able to find a certified copy quite easily, by following simple steps.