Birth Records South Carolina

In South Carolina, the Division of Vital Records at the South Carolina Department of Health and Environment Control provides certified copes of birth records from 1915 until the present. These are the certificates with the official raised seal. The records are stored in a fireproof vault.

The branch offices for vital records in each of the 46 counties can also supply birth records upon request. However, these offices only have birth records for the previous five years. Each of the county offices may issue birth records for any of the 46 counties.

The department registers, maintains, corrects, certifies, and updates these records in conjunction with several other facilities that may be involved including local health departments, hospitals, funeral directors, and registers of deeds.

The state office issues two different types of birth records: a short form certification and a long form certification. The short form is a birth card that can be carried in a wallet. It does not include the names of the birth parents. It does include the individual�s name, date of birth, county of birth, and sex.

The long form is generated by computer. It includes all of the following: state file number, name of the individual, date of birth, county of birth, the father�s name, the mother�s maiden name, the date the record was filed, and the date the document was issued. This form may only be acquired at the state office and not at any of the county offices.

Individuals who are permitted to request a copy of a birth certificate:

� Legal representative of the estate of the individual named on the birth certificate.
� The parents named on the individual�s birth certificate.
� The guardian of the individual.
� The person named on the birth certificate and at least eighteen years of age.

Individuals who are permitted to request a copy of a birth certificate of a deceased individual:

� Legal representative of the estate of the individual named on the birth certificate.
� The parents named on the individual�s birth certificate.
� The guardian of the individual.
� Immediate family members.
� Applicant must be at least eighteen years of age.

Basic information to be included with requests for birth certificates:

� Full name of the person named on the birth certificate.
� Date of birth. If the exact date of birth is unknown, an additional fee may be charged for retrieval of the information.
� County and city of birth.
� Gender of the individual named on the birth certificate.
� Parents� names. Mother�s name must include her maiden name.
� Social security number of the individual named on the birth certificate.
� Hospital.
� Relationship to the person whose name is on the birth certificate.
� Reason for the request for an official copy of the birth certificate.
� Proof of identification.
� Applicant�s signature.
� Applicant�s daytime telephone number. This includes the area code.
� Applicant�s mailing address.
� Items for which you do not know the correct response should be filled in with the word �unknown.�

Fees associated with acquiring a copy of an official birth certificate:

� A fee may not be required for active and inactive members of the Armed Forces and their dependents.
� A $12.00 fee per copy for civilians. Payment may be made by check or money order for mail order and in person requests.
� If the search yields results, the fee covers the cost of one copy of the record.
� Additional copies are $3.00 if requested at the same time.
� Each additional search is $12.00.
� No refunds are given for searches that do not yield results.
� Telephone and online requests must be paid with Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express. The credit card must be in the name of the requestor.
� An additional fee of $12.95 is charged for online and telephone requests for processing a credit card.
� If you use an express carrier for a telephone or online request, an additional $14.50 will be added to your cost.
� If priority handling is requested for a mail order, an additional $5.00 will be charged. This guarantees that the request is processed and sent within 5 working days.
� Fees at the local municipal offices vary and that office must be contacted directly to acquire the amount of the fee.

Four different methods are available to obtain a copy of a birth certificate: postal mail, in person, telephone, and online.

How to Apply for Certified Copied of Birth Certificates by Telephone

Call the following toll free number: 1-877-284-1008. Follow the instructions provided to you. Fees apply as noted above.

How to Apply for Certified Copied of Birth Certificates Online

You can submit an online request at the following link: http://www.vitalchek.com/homepage.asp  A fee of $17.00 is charged for online service.

Drop down selection menus are used to fill in some of the information that pertains to your request including: type of certificate, city, county, date of the event, and the reason for the request. Select continue once the information has been filled in and you will be taken to a page to select your shipping options. Following this step, you will be required to complete the application.

The certificate will only be mailed to the address that corresponds to the credit card
account that is used for payment. Regular requests are generally processed within ten to fourteen business days. Birth certificates will be sent through postal mail unless a request and payment has been made for an express carrier, UPS Air. A signature is required to receive a certified copy of the birth certificate through an express carrier. An additional charge of $14.50 is assessed for the use of an express carrier.

In addition to the regular fee, a convenience fee of $12.95 will be charged. All payment must be made with a credit card. Online services are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

How to Apply for Certified Copied of Birth Certificates by Postal Mail

A postal mail application to request an official copy of a birth certificate can be obtained at the following link: www.scdhec.net/vr/pdf/ccbc.pdf

You can obtain an application form by sending a request along with a stamped envelope with your name and address to the following address:

S.C. DHEC
Division of Vital Records
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Send the completed form with signature, a legible copy of a government issued photo identification card, and payment information to the following address:

S.C. DHEC
Division of Vital Records
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Regular requests usually take more than four weeks to process. Priority requests are processed within less time. To receive the requested records in less than four weeks, check the expedited service box on the form.

How to Apply for Certified Copied of Birth Certificates in Person

To request a copy of a birth certificate in South Carolina, you must visit the customer service area at the following location:

S.C. DHEC
Division of Vital Records
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

You will need a completed application form. This can be downloaded at the following link: www.scdhec.net/vr/pdf/ccbc.pdf  or you can acquire one at the customer service center. Identification is required. Acceptable forms of identification include a state issued driver�s license or non-driver photo identification card that includes the current address.

Office hours are between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays. State holidays are excluded. Same day service is available and usually takes about 45 minutes.

Interested in obtaining your birth certificate?

Here is a list of counties, offering information on who to contact, so that you can apply for your own birth certificate today:

South Carolina: ~ http://www.statelocalgov.net/state-sc.htm

Abbeville County ~ http://www.abbevillecountygovernment.org/index.htm
Abbeville, SC
864 - 459 - 4023

Aiken County ~ http://www.aikencounty.net/DspOfcList.cfm
Aiken, SC
803 - 642 - 2000

Allendale County
Allendale, SC
803 - 584 - 3157

Anderson County ~ http://www.andersoncountysc.org/
Anderson, SC
864 - 260 - 4049

Bamberg County
Bamberg, SC
803 - 245 - 3008

Barnwell County
Barnwell, SC
803 - 541 - 1031

Beaufort County ~ http://www.bcgov.net/clerk_court/clerk_court.php
Beaufort, SC
843 - 470 - 5319

Berkeley County ~ http://www.co.berkeley.sc.us/js/probate/index.php?
Moncks Corner, SC
843 - 761 - 6900

Calhoun County
St - Matthews, SC
803 - 874 - 3514

Charleston County ~ http://www.charlestoncounty.org/index2.asp
Charleston, SC
843 - 740 - 5890

Cherokee County
Gaffney, SC
864 - 487 - 2584

Chester County
Chester, SC
803 - 385 - 2604

Chesterfield County
Chesterfield, SC
843 - 623 - 2376

Clarendon County
Manning, SC
803 - 435 - 8774

Colleton County ~ http://66.129.122.145/officials.aspx
Walterboro, SC
843 - 549 - 7216

Darlington County ~ http://www.darcosc.com/ProbateCourt/
Darlington, SC
843 - 398 - 4310

Dillon County
Dillon, SC
843 - 774 - 1423

Dorchester County ~ http://www.dorchestercounty.net/Probate.htm
St - George, SC
843 - 563 - 0136

Edgefield County ~ http://www.edgefieldcounty.sc.gov/elected.htm
Edgefield, SC
803 - 637 - 4076

Fairfield County
Winnsboro, SC
803 - 712 - 6519

Florence County
Florence, SC
843 - 665 - 3085

Georgetown County ~ http://www.georgetowncountysc.org/
Georgetown, SC
843 - 527 - 6325

Greenville County ~ http://www.greenvillecounty.org/Register_Of_Deeds/
Greenville, SC
864 - 467 - 7170

Greenwood County ~ http://www.co.greenwood.sc.us/probatecourt.aspx
Greenwood, SC
864 - 942 - 8625

Hampton County ~ http://www.hamptoncountysc.org/index.asp?NID=3
Hampton, SC
803 - 943 - 7512

Horry County ~ http://www.horrycounty.org/probatecourt/
Conway, SC
843 - 248 - 1294

Jasper County ~ http://www.jaspercountysc.org/probate_court.htm
Ridgeland, SC
843 - 726 - 7718

Kershaw County
Camden, SC
803 - 425 - 1500

Lancaster County ~ http://www.lancastercountysc.net/ProbateCourt/
Lancaster, SC
803 - 283 - 3379

Laurens County ~ http://www.sccounties.org/
Laurens, SC
864 - 984 - 7315

Lee County
Bishopville, SC
803 - 484 - 5341

Lexington County ~ http://www.lex-co.com/Departments/Index.html
Lexington, SC
803 - 359 - 8324

Marlboro County ~ http://www.marlborocounty.sc.gov/elected.htm
Bennettsville, SC
843 - 479 - 5610

Marion County ~ http://www.co.marion.sc.us/
Marion, SC
843 - 423 - 8244

McCormick County
McCormick, SC
864 - 465 - 2630

Newberry County
Newberry, SC
803 - 321 - 2118

Oconee County ~ http://www.oconeesc.com/rmc/index.html
Walhalla, SC
864 - 638 - 4275

Orangeburg County ~ http://www.orangeburgcounty.org/
Orangeburg, SC
803 - 533 - 6280

Pickens County ~ http://www.co.pickens.sc.us/
Pickens, SC
864 - 898 - 5903

Richland County ~ http://www.scdhec.net/vr/birth.htm
Columbia, SC
803 - 748 - 4700

Saluda County ~ http://www.scdhec.net/vr/birth.htm
Saluda, SC
864 - 445 - 7110

Spartanburg County
Spartanburg, SC
864 - 596 - 2556

Sumter County ~ http://www.sumtercountysc.org/
Sumter, SC
803 - 436 - 2166

Union County ~ http://www.countyofunion.com/
Union, SC
864 - 429 - 1625

Williamsburg County ~ http://www.scdhec.net/vr/birth.htm
Kingstree, SC
843 - 354 - 6655

York County ~ http://www.yorkcountygov.com/department.aspx?deptID=37
York, SC
803 - 684 - 8513

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