Division of Vital Records
S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201
telephone # (803) 898-3630
fax #: (803) 898-3761
WEB Site- http://www.scdhec.net/
Forms- http://www.scdhec.gov/vr/forms.htm
BIRTH CERTIFICATES
What is available? 1915 - present
SC Birth Certificates are subject to privacy restrictions for 100
years.
Who may request a copy?
 | Person named on the records (18 or older). |
| Parent |
| Guardian |
| Legal representatives of those named above.
|
Copy of ID required.
REQUIRED INFORMATION FOR A BIRTH RECORD
| Full name of the person whose birth certificate is being requested |
| Full date of birth (month, day, year) |
| County of Birth |
| Mother's full name before she married |
| Full name of father |
| Signature of the person requesting the birth certificate and their
current mailing address |
| Relationship between the person named on the birth certificate and
the person requesting the certified copy |
| The full name and complete mailing address of the person to whom
the certificate is to be mailed. |
| Area code and daytime telephone number of the person requesting
the |
| Other information you consider helpful in the search for the birth
certificate (Example: full names and dates of birth of brothers and
sisters, nicknames, etc.) |
DEATH CERTIFICATES
What is available? 1915-present.
SC Death Certificates are subject to privacy restrictions for 50
years.
Who may request a copy?
| Member of decedent's family or legal representative |
| Others who demonstrate a direct and tangible interest when
information is needed to determine a personal or a property right. |
| Other applicants may be provided a statement that the death
occurred, including the date and county of death |
Copy of ID required.
Certified copies of death certificates may be obtained from the state
vital records office located at DHEC, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC
29201. Certified copies of death certificates may also be issued from
the health department in the county of death. The county vital records
office can only certify deaths that occurred during the last five years
in their county.
REQUIRED INFORMATION FOR A DEATH SEARCH
| Full name of the person whose death certificate is being requested |
| Full date of death (month, day, year) |
| County where the person was pronounced dead |
| The names of the decedent's parents |
| Signature of the person requesting the death certificate and their
current mailing address |
| Relationship between the person name on the death certificate and
the person requesting the certified copy |
| The full name and complete mailing address of the person to whom
the certificate is to be mailed |
| Area code and daytime telephone number of the person requesting
the death certificate |
| Other information you consider helpful in the search for the death
certificate (Example: nicknames, alias, place of burial, etc.) |
Death records become public records after fifty (50) years and then
any person may obtain certified copies. Deaths for 1915-1952 are
available for public reviewing at the South Carolina Department of
Archives and History, 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, South Carolina
29223. Access to a microfiche index and microfilm of these deaths is
available at the Archives' Reference Room. No appointment is needed and
there is no charge for viewing the records. If copies are needed, a work
order provided at the Reference Room must be completed. The Reference
Room staff will provide information about charges for copies and
schedule for receiving copies. Self-service copying is available.
Inquiries must be made in person or by telephone. The Reference Room is
open Monday - Friday, 8:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. daily. For additional
information, telephone (803) 896-6104.
MARRIAGE RECORDS
What is available? 1911 - present. Certified copies of marriage
records from July 1950 to the present may be obtained from the Vital
Records Office in Columbia, South Carolina, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia,
SC 29201. Copies of marriage records that occurred PRIOR to July 1950
may be obtained from the Office of the Probate in the county where the
original marriage license was issued.
REQUIRED INFORMATION FOR A MARRIAGE SEARCH
| Full name and date of birth of the groom · Full name and date of
birth of the bride |
| Full date of marriage (month, day, year) |
| County where the license was issued |
| Signature of the person requesting the marriage record and their
current mailing address |
| Relationship between the married parties and the person requesting
the certified copy |
| Full name and complete mailing address of the person to whom the
certificate is to be mailed |
| Area code and daytime telephone number of the person requesting
the marriage record |
| Any additional information you consider helpful in the search for
the marriage record (Example: previous married names, nicknames,
etc.) |
DISSOLUTION RECORDS (Divorce, separation, annulment)
What is available? 1949 - present. To obtain a certified copy of the
actual decree of divorce that was issued based on the divorce hearing,
please notify the Office of the Clerk of Court in the county where the
hearing was held. The Office of the Clerk of Court is usually in the
county seat of each county.
Who may request a copy?
| You are one of the divorced parties (husband or wife) |
| Adult children of divorced parties |
| Present or former spouse of either divorced party |
| Respective legal representative |
REQUIRED INFORMATION FOR A DIVORCE SEARCH
| Full name and date of birth of the husband |
| Full name and date of birth of the wife |
| Date of divorce |
| County where the divorce hearing was held |
| Signature of the person requesting the divorce record and their
current mailing address |
| Relationship between the divorced parties and the person
requesting the certified copy |
| Full name and complete mailing address where the certified copies
are to be mailed |
| Area code and daytime telephone number of the person requesting
the divorce record |
| Any additional information you consider helpful in searching the
divorce indexes (Example: nicknames, etc.) |
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