How do I get a copy of a birth certificate?

South Carolina Department of Public Health (formerly SCDHEC), Office of Vital Records (state level - Columbia) / County Health Departments (some early records for specific cities)

Step by Step

How to do it

Determine eligibility: SC birth records are restricted. Eligible: the person named (if adult), parents, legal guardian, legal representative, spouse, child, grandchild, sibling, and others with direct and tangible interest. Birth records less than 100 years old (approximate open-records threshold) are restricted.
Choose your method:
ONLINE (GoCertificates or VitalChek - authorized SC vendors): Order at scdhec.gov/vital-records or through VitalChek or GoCertificates; these are the only authorized vendors; SC charges $17 expedited search fee for online orders (non-refundable); additional processing fees by vendor; processing 5-7 business days; results by mail
BY MAIL (SC Vital Records): Complete birth certificate application (available at scdhec.gov/vital-records/birth-certificates); include photocopy of valid government-issued photo ID; money order or cashier's check (NO personal checks) payable to "SCDHEC - Vital Records"; mail to: Office of Vital Records, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201; fee: $12 per copy (mail); $3 each additional copy at same time; fee nonrefundable
IN PERSON (Columbia): Office of Vital Records, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201; bring valid photo ID; hours M-F; $17 per copy in person; limited walk-in hours available - call ahead
Note: Some early Charleston births (from 1877) are at Charleston County Health Department; Florence City births (ledger entries) at Florence County Health Department; Newberry City births (late 1800s) at Newberry County Health Department
Submit with valid photo ID copy and proof of qualifying relationship
Pay the fee

Details

What you need to know

Required Docs

Completed birth certificate application
Photocopy of valid government-issued photo ID
Proof of qualifying relationship if requesting for another
Payment: money order or cashier's check for mail (NO personal checks); card may be accepted online/in-person

Fee

$12 per copy (mail); $3 each additional copy at same time; fee nonrefundable IN PERSON (Columbia): Office of Vital Records, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201; bring valid photo ID; hours M-F; $17 per copy in person; limited walk-in hours available - call ahead Note: Some early Charleston births (from 1877) are at Charleston County Health Department; Florence City births (ledger entries) at Florence County Health Department; Newberry City births (late 1800s) at Newberry County Health Department Step 3 - Submit with valid photo ID copy and proof of qualifying relationship Step 4 - Pay the fee

Processing Time

Mail: several weeks; online: 5-7 business days; in-person: faster (call ahead)

Online Option

GoCertificates (gocertificates.com) and VitalChek (authorized); avoid unauthorized vendors

Where to Go

SC Vital Records (Columbia); online through GoCertificates or VitalChek; some county health departments for specific older city records

County-specific variations apply

State has records from January 1915; earlier records very limited. Charleston County Health Department has some Charleston city births from 1877. Florence and Newberry County Health Departments have limited ledger entries from late 1800s.

South Carolina Notes

Important state-specific details

State has birth records since January 1915.
NO personal checks accepted by mail - money order or cashier's check only.
$12 fee (mail) or $17 (in-person/online) is the nonrefundable search fee; includes one copy if found.
Only use GoCertificates or VitalChek for online orders - other vendors may cause delays.
Marriage records at SC Vital Records: available from July 1950; earlier marriage records at county Probate Court.

Official Source

State office contact

State Office

SC Department of Public Health, Office of Vital Records - scdhec.gov/vital-records | (803) 898-3630 | 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201