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South Carolina
Locations
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by crisco 4 years, 4 months ago
Wiki
State Offices
South Carolina Department of Health
and Environmental Control
Division of Vital Records
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Mailing address:
South Carolina Department of Health
and Environmental Control
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 898-DHEC (3432)
Tel: (803) 898-3630
Fax: (803) 898-3761
Email: Director of Vital
Records
Email: Director of Customer
Service
Website
South Carolina State Archives
The Official Web Site of
the State of South Carolina
1301 Gervais Street, Suite 710
Columbia, SC 29201-3326
Website
South Carolina law requiring the filing of birth and death certificates became effective January 01, 1915.
Remarks: By law, only certain persons are
entitled to copies of vital records. The division also provides for
the registration of induced terminations of pregnancy.
Amendments & Corrections
The procedures and requirements depend upon the specific information to be changed and whether any previous changes have been made.
Remarks: You should indicate the correction you wish to make. Staff will review the certificate on file and advise you. This process may be initiated by mail or onsite at a county vital records office of the state office.
The apostille is issued by the SC Secretary of State's Office. We do prepare the birth certificate in a different manner when the certificate will be submitted for an apostille.
Remarks: Therefore, you will need to state the purpose of your request as "apostille" and provide the name of the country for which it is needed.
Options to obtain a certified copy:
Walk-In - Average processing time is 30-45 minutes. Processes long-form birth certificates (required for travel), birth cards, death certificates, marriage certificates and divorce reports;
Mail - Average processing time is 2-4 weeks (standard), 3-5 business days (expedited). A $12 non-refundable standard searching fee; $17 for expedited service;
Phone - Call 1-877-284-1008 (toll-free). Average processing time is 5-7 business days;
VitalCheck - Secured online applications to request for vital records, which accepts all major credit card payments, can be made through VitalCheck with an additional charge for their service.
Vital Records
Birth
Location:
South Carolina Department of Health
and Environmental Control
Division of Vital Records
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Mailing address:
South Carolina Department of Health
and Environmental Control
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 898-DHEC (3432)
Tel: (803) 898-3630
Fax: (803) 898-3761
Email: Director of Vital
Records
Email: Director of Customer
Service
Website
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.
Long/Short: $12.00 per copy
Time-frame: Since January 1915
Notes: Additional copies of the same
Long/Short birth records ordered at the same time of certification
are $3.00 each.
Remarks: 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.
Delayed Birth Record Established
A delayed birth record can be established if three (3) different documents verifying the birth facts claimed are submitted.
The documents that are submitted must be at least ten (10) years old and must show the place and the date the document was filed.
Remarks: Copies of document are not acceptable. Only original or certified copies will be accepted.
- Verifying Birth Facts
To be acceptable, records that are submitted must have been on file at least the required length of time, they must verify the facts claimed, they cannot contain alterations, and must be the original not a Xerox of the original and they must be submitted.
Legitimacy
If there is not a father on the certificate and the mother was not married at birth or anytime during pregnancy, a legitimation of birth can be completed. You can initiate that process at a county vital records office or the state office.
Remarks: A certified copy of the marriage license will be required and both parents will have to sign an affidavit in the presence of a notary.
If the father can be added, an affidavit will be mailed which both parents will need to sign in presence of a notary and return with the $15 amendment fee.
Paternity Acknowledgement
A paternity acknowledgment can not be completed if the mother was married anytime during the pregnancy or at birth or if a father is recorded on the birth record.
Remarks: The amendment fee is $15 in addition to the fees for certified copies of the birth certificate.
The first actions occur at the Family Court. If you do not have an attorney, you can access the guidelines and forms.
We do not issue any forms until the family court has completed their initial process.
Remarks: Please be advised that processing generally takes 3 -4 months. If you wish to expedite, you may submit an additional $5 and mark request as "expedite" with processing completed in about 2 weeks.
Death
Location:
South Carolina Department of Health
and Environmental Control
Division of Vital Records
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Mailing address:
South Carolina Department of Health
and Environmental Control
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 898-DHEC (3432)
Tel: (803) 898-3630
Fax: (803) 898-3761
Email: Director of Vital
Records
Email: Director of Customer
Service
Website
City of Charleston deaths from 1821 are on file at Charleston County Health Department. Ledger entries of Florence City deaths from 1895 to 1914 are on file at Florence County Health Department.
Long/Short: $12.00 per copy
Time-frame: Since January 1915
Notes: Additional copies of the same
Long/Short death records ordered at the same time of certification
are $3.00 each.
Remarks: Ledger entries of Newberry City deaths from the late 1800's are on file at Newberry County Health Department. These are the only early records obtainable.
Marriage
Location:
South Carolina Department of Health
and Environmental Control
Division of Vital Records
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Mailing address:
South Carolina Department of Health
and Environmental Control
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 898-DHEC (3432)
Tel: (803) 898-3630
Fax: (803) 898-3761
Email: Director of Vital
Records
Email: Director of Customer
Service
Website
Certified copies of marriage records from July 1950 to December 2010 may be obtained from the Vital Records Office in Columbia, South Carolina, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201.
Fee: $12.00 per copy
Time-frame: Since July 1950
Notes: Additional copies of the same records
ordered at the same time of certification are $3.00 each.
Remarks: Copies of marriage records that occurred prior to July 1950 and after December 2010 may be obtained from the Office of the Probate in the county where the original marriage license was issued.
Fees charged by DHEC for these services do not apply to copies obtained from the Office of the Probate Judge.
Divorce
Location:
South Carolina Department of Health
and Environmental Control
Division of Vital Records
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Mailing address:
South Carolina Department of Health
and Environmental Control
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 898-DHEC (3432)
Tel: (803) 898-3630
Fax: (803) 898-3761
Email: Director of Vital
Records
Email: Director of Customer
Service
Website
Reports of divorce are available from July 01, 1962 forward. SCDHEC does not have a copy of the divorce decree.
The actual divorce decree must be obtained from the Office of the Clerk of Court in the county where the final divorce hearing was held.
Fee: $12.00 per copy
Time-frame: Since July 1962
Notes: Additional copies of the same records
ordered at the same time of certification are $3.00 each.
Remarks: You should contact the Clerk of Court's office in the county where the divorce was filed for a copy of the decree.
