Introduction to South Carolina Birth Certificates

This article is designed to help you get a South Carolina birth certificate.  Counter to common belief, not everything is on the Internet.  Personal birth certificates are one of the items that are not readily available online, and that is probably a good thing.  You do not want your birth certificate in the public domain, where it can be seen by anyone.  However, this does not mean that you can’t easily get your birth certificate.  

South Carolina birth certificates have been maintained by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control for individuals born in the state of South Carolina since 1915.

South Carolina Birth Certificate Authorized Persons

By South Carolina state law, South Carolina birth certificates are confidential records and can only be obtained by the following authorized individuals:

• Person Named on the South Carolina Birth Certificate
• Mother/Father (or Legal Guardian) of Person Named on the South Carolina Birth Certificate
• Legal Representative of an Authorized Person of Person Named on the South Carolina Birth Certificate

Immediate family members and/or their respective legal representative may obtain a certified copy of a South Carolina birth certificate if the registrant is deceased. An original, certified copy (no photocopies) of the registrant's death record must be submitted with the request. There are no exceptions.

South Carolina Birth Certificate for Genealogy Purpose

To obtain a South Carolina birth certificate for genealogy reasons you need to meet one of the above criteria.

South Carolina Birth Certificate Ordering

Options Option 1 – Order South Carolina Birth Certificate Online

This option is the simplest and easiest way to get your South Carolina Birth Certificate.  Order online and you will get your South Carolina Birth Certificate usually in less than a week.  Many times you will have the option of receiving your vital record by next-day or second-day service.

Order Birth and Death Records Online!  

Option 2 – Order South Carolina Birth Certificate through the Mail

Follow the instructions below, if you are not ordering your South Carolina birth certificate online.  It usually takes 2-4 weeks upon receipt of request to be sent to you:

Step 1: Download Mail-In Application

Step 2: Please provide as much of the following information as possible to locate the South Carolina birth certificate:

• Full name of person at birth on the South Carolina birth certificate
• Date of birth on the South Carolina birth certificate
• Sex on the South Carolina birth certificate
• County (or city) of birth on the South Carolina birth certificate
• Hospital of birth - if not in a hospital state "home" 
• Full maiden name of mother on the South Carolina birth certificate
• Full name of father on the South Carolina birth certificate
• Your name 
• Your signature 
• Your relationship to the person whose South Carolina birth certificate you are requesting 
• Address where the South Carolina birth certificate is to be mailed 
• Self addressed stamped envelope
• Your daytime phone number
• By Mail: Send the above information and the appropriate fee to:

 

SC DHEC – Vital Records

2600 Bull Street

Columbia, SC 29201

Option 3 – In Person

In Person in South Carolina : 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.

South Carolina Birth Certificate Ordering Cost

The fee to search for a South Carolina birth certificate is $12.00, which includes one certified copy of the South Carolina birth certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." For each additional copy of the South Carolina birth certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $3.00. Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to "SC DHEC." Please do not send cash. Fees are not refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service.