Carolina Forest Birth Records
Carolina Forest birth records are part of South Carolina's statewide vital records system. Carolina Forest is a rapidly growing census-designated place in Horry County, located near Myrtle Beach along the Grand Strand coast. Birth records for Carolina Forest residents fall within the Horry County vital records system. The Horry County Health Department in Conway handles short form birth card services. Certified birth certificates are available from the state Office of Vital Records in Columbia or through VitalChek online. This page covers how to request Carolina Forest birth records.
Carolina Forest Quick Facts
Horry County Health Department Birth Records
Carolina Forest residents can access birth card services through the Horry County Health Department at 2267 Air Base Road, Conway, SC 29526. This office can issue short form birth cards for any South Carolina birth registered from January 1, 1915 to present.
Long-form certified birth certificates are only available from the South Carolina Department of Public Health Office of Vital Records at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201. The state office phone is (803) 898-3630. The DPH took over vital records duties from the former DHEC on July 1, 2024. The DPH Vital Records page has current forms and ordering options for Carolina Forest birth records.
The county health department can also issue death certificates for deaths that occurred in Horry County within the last five years. For older records or records from other counties, contact the state office.
How to Request Carolina Forest Birth Certificates
The search fee is $12.00, non-refundable under S.C. Code Ann. § 44-63-110. This covers a search and one certified copy if the record is found. Additional copies at the same time are $3.00 each. Payments must be by money order or cashier's check payable to "SCDHEC - Vital Records."
To order by mail, complete Form D-2595 from the DPH birth certificates page. Include a copy of your photo ID and payment, then mail to 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201. For online orders, VitalChek is the authorized vendor. The first copy is $17.00.
VitalChek is available around the clock for Carolina Forest residents who need to request a birth certificate without visiting the state office in Columbia.
Who Can Get Carolina Forest Birth Records
Access to certified Carolina Forest birth records is restricted under S.C. Code Ann. § 44-63-80. Eligible individuals include the person named on the certificate if they are 18 or older, a parent listed on the record, a legal guardian, a legal representative, and immediate family members of a deceased person who provide a certified death certificate. The SC Department of Social Services may also access records for child support and paternity purposes.
All applicants must include a copy of a valid photo ID. Under Section 44-63-80(D), birth records become publicly available 100 years after the date of birth. Carolina Forest area birth records from 1924 and earlier are now open to the public.
Carolina Forest Birth Records History
Carolina Forest is a planned community that developed in the 1990s and 2000s and has grown into one of the most populous unincorporated communities in South Carolina. Because most Carolina Forest residents were born elsewhere and moved to the area, birth records for this community span many counties and states. For births in Horry County, the state system captures all records from January 1, 1915 forward.
For individuals with roots in Horry County before 1915, researchers should consult church records, census data, and family Bibles. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History at 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC 29223 holds historical materials for Horry County. The SCDAH online index provides digital access to selected records. The FamilySearch South Carolina vital records wiki lists free databases for earlier Horry County research. For amendment questions, the SC Justice amendment guide covers the process under S.C. Code Ann. § 44-63-140.
Nearby Cities
Carolina Forest is in Horry County near Myrtle Beach on the Grand Strand. Nearby cities include Myrtle Beach to the south and Socastee to the west. Use the links below for birth record resources in nearby cities.