Hilton Head Island Birth Records
Hilton Head Island birth records are part of South Carolina's statewide vital records system. Hilton Head Island is a resort and residential island in Beaufort County in the southern tip of South Carolina. The Beaufort County Health Department handles local vital record services for Hilton Head Island residents. Certified birth certificates are available from the state Office of Vital Records in Columbia or through VitalChek online. This page explains how to request Hilton Head Island birth records and what resources are available.
Hilton Head Island Quick Facts
Beaufort County Health Department Birth Records
Hilton Head Island residents can access birth card services through the Beaufort County Health Department at 40 Malphrus Road, Bluffton, SC 29910. This office can issue short form birth cards for any South Carolina birth registered from January 1, 1915 to present. The short form confirms that a birth is on record with the state and is accepted for many routine purposes.
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 assumed vital records duties from the former DHEC on July 1, 2024. The DPH Vital Records page has current forms and ordering options for Hilton Head Island birth records.
The county health department can also issue death certificates for deaths that occurred in Beaufort County within the last five years. For older records or records from other counties, contact the state office.
How to Request Hilton Head Island 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. Walk-in service is also available at the state office.
The Beaufort County public records resource provides information on accessing official records relevant to Hilton Head Island and Beaufort County birth records research.
Who Can Get Hilton Head Island Birth Records
Access to certified Hilton Head Island 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. Hilton Head Island area birth records from 1924 and earlier are now open to the public.
Hilton Head Island Birth Records History
Hilton Head Island was incorporated as a town in 1983, though it had been inhabited for thousands of years and was a significant site during the Civil War. The island was home to Gullah Geechee communities long before resort development began in the 1950s and 1960s. Statewide birth registration in South Carolina began January 1, 1915. For Hilton Head Island families with roots before that date, especially those from Gullah Geechee communities, church records, freedmen's bureau records, and census data are important research sources.
For individuals with no official birth record, S.C. Code Ann. § 44-63-180 allows registration of a delayed birth certificate through the state registrar. The Beaufort County Health Department can assist. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History at 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC 29223 holds historical materials for Beaufort County. The SCDAH online index provides access to selected records. The FamilySearch South Carolina vital records wiki lists free databases for earlier Beaufort County research. For amendment questions, the SC Justice amendment guide covers the process under S.C. Code Ann. § 44-63-140.
Nearby Cities
Hilton Head Island is in Beaufort County in the southern part of South Carolina. The nearby town of Bluffton is also in Beaufort County. Use the links below for birth record resources in nearby cities.