Find Birth Records in South Carolina
South Carolina birth records are official documents maintained by the Office of Vital Records at the South Carolina Department of Public Health. The state has kept official birth records since January 1, 1915. Residents can search for a birth record or order a certified birth certificate through the state office in Columbia, online through VitalChek, or at a local county health department for a short form birth card. This guide covers how to search and obtain South Carolina birth records.
South Carolina Birth Records Quick Facts
South Carolina Birth Records at the State Office
The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) is the state agency that manages all vital records. The DPH was formerly known as DHEC until July 1, 2024, when DHEC split into two agencies. The Office of Vital Records is located at 2600 Bull Street in Columbia. You can reach them by phone at (803) 898-3630. The office handles birth certificate issuance, record amendments, paternity services, and adoption-related birth record requests.
The DPH Vital Records main page provides detailed information about ordering birth certificates, downloadable application forms, and answers to common questions about eligibility and processing times for South Carolina birth records.
The DPH website outlines three ways to request a birth record: in person at the Columbia office, by mail with a completed form, or online through VitalChek. Hospital birth reports are not valid for legal purposes. Only a state-issued birth certificate works for school enrollment, a driver's license, a passport, or other official needs in South Carolina.
The state office has kept records since January 1, 1915. Before that date, the state did not register births. Charleston is a notable exception, as it began recording births in 1877. Georgetown started in 1883. For anyone born before 1915, delayed birth certificates may be available through the county health department where the birth occurred.
Note: The DPH mailing address is 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201, and the phone number is (803) 898-3630.
How to Get a South Carolina Birth Certificate
You can obtain a South Carolina birth certificate in several ways. Each method has its own steps and time frame. All requests require proof of identity and eligibility before the state will release a record.
The CDC guide on South Carolina vital records confirms the state fee structure and provides official federal guidance on what to include with your request.
The search fee is $12.00, which is non-refundable under S.C. Code Ann. § 44-63-110. This fee covers a search of the records and includes one certified copy if the record is found. Additional copies ordered at the same time cost $3.00 each. Payment must be made by money order or cashier's check made payable to "SCDHEC - Vital Records."
To request a birth certificate by mail, you must complete the official application form, Form D-2595. You can find and download this form on the DPH website. Include a photocopy of your valid photo ID and your payment. Mail your request to the Office of Vital Records at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201. In-person service is available at the state office in Columbia during regular business hours.
The DPH birth certificates page provides current instructions, required documentation, and accepted forms of identification for all South Carolina birth record requests.
County health departments across South Carolina can issue a short form birth card for any birth registered in the state from 1915 to present. These offices cannot issue long-form certified copies. For any legal purpose requiring a full certified copy, you must contact the state Office of Vital Records.
Note: The long form birth certificate contains the complete details from the original record, including parent names and birthplace, and is required for passports and most legal matters.
Who Can Request South Carolina Birth Records
South Carolina law limits who may obtain a certified copy of a birth certificate. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 44-63-80, only certain individuals are eligible to request a birth record from the Office of Vital Records.
Those who may request a South Carolina birth certificate include the following:
- The person named on the certificate, if they are at least 18 years old
- A parent named on the birth record
- A legal guardian with supporting documentation
- A legal representative acting on behalf of the registrant
- Immediate family members of a deceased person, with a certified death certificate
- The Department of Social Services, for paternity or child support purposes
VitalChek is the official online vendor authorized by South Carolina to process birth certificate orders from eligible requestors.
Through VitalChek, the first copy costs $17.00, which includes the state fee plus a processing charge for the online service. Additional copies ordered at the same time are $3.00 each. You must submit identification and proof of eligibility when placing your order. VitalChek offers both long form and short form birth certificates for South Carolina births from 1915 to present.
Section 44-63-80(D) provides a key exception for older records. When 100 years have passed after a date of birth, the record must be made available for public viewing. This means birth records from 1925 and earlier are now available for public access in South Carolina.
South Carolina Birth Records History
Statewide birth registration in South Carolina began on January 1, 1915. Before that date, birth records were kept at the local level, if at all. The state has maintained records through the vital statistics division ever since, and this collection now spans more than a century.
Charleston stands apart in South Carolina history. The city began recording birth records in 1877, nearly 40 years before the rest of the state. The City of Charleston Board of Health Birth Certificates from 1877 to 1901 are available on 15 rolls of microfilm at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. A Charleston Birth Index covering 1877 through 1900 is also available at FamilySearch. Georgetown began keeping birth records in 1883, also before statewide registration.
The Library of Congress guide on South Carolina vital records documents the full history of record-keeping in the state and points researchers to the key databases available for early birth documentation.
The Library of Congress notes that during the colonial period, the Church of England recorded christenings, marriages, and burials. These church records serve as substitutes for vital records before modern registration began. For those researching South Carolina family history before 1915, these church records and county-level documents are the primary sources.
Under S.C. Code Ann. § 44-63-180, individuals born in South Carolina prior to 1915 who have no official record can register a delayed birth certificate through the state registrar and the county health department in the county where they were born. The earliest example in South Carolina is Andrew Jackson's delayed birth certificate from 1766.
Amending Birth Certificates in South Carolina
A South Carolina birth certificate can be changed after it is issued. You may need to correct an error, add a father's name, or update other information. Amendments are processed through the DPH or through a court hearing, depending on the type of change needed.
South Carolina Justice provides a detailed guide to amending birth certificates, including the types of evidence you can submit to support a correction request.
Acceptable supporting evidence includes hospital records, school records, insurance policies, census records, health department records, work records on company letterhead, military records (DD214), and parent birth records. The DPH is also required to provide translated materials and an interpreter for non-English speakers who need to amend a record.
Under S.C. Code Ann. § 44-63-140, South Carolina also has a process for adoptees to access original birth certificates under specific circumstances. After adoption, an amended birth certificate is issued that shows the adoptive parents. Eligible adoptees may apply to review the original record through the DPH. Contact the Office of Vital Records at (803) 898-3630 for information on starting an amendment or accessing an original birth record under this section. You can also download the official application from the DPH birth certificate application form.
Genealogy and Historical South Carolina Birth Records
South Carolina has a well-documented collection of historical vital records. Genealogists researching family history in the state have access to a range of databases, archives, and research tools. The combination of early county-level registration and the statewide system begun in 1915 means records are available across a broad time span.
The South Carolina Historical Society holds manuscript collections that include personal records, family histories, and some copies of vital documents from families across the state.
The society's vertical files are organized by surname and contain genealogical research and biographical data. Their online catalog lets you search for specific families and records. Researchers can submit requests for reproductions of items held in the collection.
The FamilySearch wiki for South Carolina vital records lists several key databases available at no cost. These include 1681-1935 South Carolina Births and Christenings, 1766-1900 South Carolina Delayed Birth Certificates with index and images, and 1915-1917 South Carolina Births. The telephone number for FamilySearch research inquiries related to South Carolina records is 803-734-4830.
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History (SCDAH) is at 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC 29223. Their phone number is 803-896-6196. The archives are open Tuesday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The collection includes federal and state census records, county probate records, land records, family histories, cemetery records, newspapers, and state death certificates. First-time visitors must register before accessing the collection.
Lawson Research provides a forensic genealogist toolbox for South Carolina, offering a curated set of research tools for tracing families in the state.
Forensic research tools can help locate birth records that are difficult to find through standard channels, including delayed registrations and pre-1915 documentation in South Carolina.
Documenting a South Carolina Birth Without a Certificate
Some South Carolina residents need help proving a birth that was never officially registered. This situation is most common for older individuals born before 1915 or in rural areas where records were not routinely kept.
This guide on documenting a South Carolina birth walks through the steps you can take to establish proof of birth when no official certificate exists.
The guide covers a range of alternative documents that can support a birth claim in South Carolina. These include family Bible records, old school records, church baptismal records, insurance policies, and early census entries. Marion County offers a strong historical example: the county clerk recorded entries from family Bibles when residents came to register delayed birth certificates, creating a rich documentary trail that still supports birth record requests today.
Note: If you need to establish a birth record, call the DPH Office of Vital Records at (803) 898-3630 to learn what evidence is needed for the delayed registration process in South Carolina.
South Carolina Birth Records Law
South Carolina law governs who can access birth records, how they are kept, and what fees apply. These rules are found in Title 44, Chapter 63 of the South Carolina Code of Laws.
The South Carolina Code of Laws Title 44 Chapter 63 is the primary legal framework for vital statistics in the state, tracing its origins back to 1878.
Section 44-63-10 establishes the methods and forms for gathering vital statistics. Section 44-63-20 creates the bureau of vital statistics and sets up the system for registering and certifying births. Section 44-63-30 designates the Director of DPH as the state registrar and requires fireproof storage for all official records. Section 44-63-80 governs access to birth certificates, and Section 44-63-110 sets the non-refundable $12 search fee for birth records in South Carolina.
The South Carolina Archives Online Index provides public access to a range of historical records from the Department of Archives and History. This resource includes indexes to multiple record series from 1675 to 1929, among other collections that support genealogical research in South Carolina.
Browse South Carolina Birth Records by County
Each of South Carolina's 46 counties has a health department that can issue short form birth cards for any South Carolina birth from 1915 to present. Long-form certified copies are issued only through the state Office of Vital Records in Columbia. Select a county to find local office information and birth record resources.
Birth Records in South Carolina Cities
South Carolina cities do not maintain separate vital records offices. Birth records are handled at the county health department or the state Office of Vital Records in Columbia. Select a city to find local resources for birth records in that area.