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Vital records, as their name suggests, are
connected with central life events: birth,
marriage, and death. Maintained by civil
authorities, they are prime sources of
genealogical information; but, unfortunately,
official vital records are available only for
relatively recent periods. These records,
despite their recent creation in the United
States, are critically important in genealogical
research, often supplying details on family
members well back into the nineteenth century.
The Source: A Guidebook of
American Genealogy,
by Loretto Szucs and Sandra Luebking.
Birth
Records
Birth Records Available: The State Office of
Vital Records located at DHEC, 2600 Bull Street,
Columbia, South Carolina issues two types of
birth certifications: (1) a short form
certification (birth card) and (2) a long form
photocopy. The birth card is a wallet-size
certification that contains the birth
certificate number, the name of the person whose
certificate is being issued, the date of birth,
sex, the county of birth, and the date the birth
was filed. The long form (photocopy) is a copy
of the birth certificate contained in the active
files of the Division of Vital Records.
Certified photocopies can ONLY be issued at the
State Office location.
Restrictions: You are entitled to obtain a
certified copy of a birth certificate if you are
the person named on the certificate (if eighteen
(18) years of age), the parent(s) named on the
birth certificate, the guardian, or a legal
representative of one of these.
Immediate family members and/or their respective
legal representatives may obtain a certified
copy with the submission of a certified copy of
the corresponding death record.
Cost:
Please call to insure current rates are still in
effect.
RECORDS SEARCH -
$12.00 per record
Birth, death, marriage, divorce - Includes one
certified copy, if located. If the record is not
located, the search fee is nonrefundable.
ADDITIONAL COPIES - $3.00 each
Additional copies of the same type record of the
same person ordered at the same time.
SPECIAL FILING FEE - $15.00 per record
The special filing fee is charged when a
certificate is initially amended by reason of
correction affidavit, adoption, legitimation,
paternity acknowledgment, parentage affidavit,
court order and for the establishment of delayed
registrations.
Information
Required:
- Full name of
the person whose birth certificate is being
requested.
- Full date of
birth (month, day, year.)
- County of
Birth.
- Mother’s
full name before she married.
- Full name of
father.
- Signature of
the person requesting the birth certificate
and their current mailing address.
- Relationship
between the person named on the birth
certificate and the person requesting the
certified copy.
- The full
name and complete mailing address of the
person to whom the certificate is to be
mailed.
- Area code
and daytime telephone number of the person
requesting the birth certificate.
- Other
information you consider helpful in the
search for the birth certificate (Example:
full names and dates of birth of brothers
and sisters, nicknames, etc.)
Form for Ordering a Birth Certificate
Send To: Send the
above information and the appropriate fee to:
DHEC
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
(803) 898 3630 |
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In South
Carolina? Each of South Carolina’s forty-six
(46) counties has a vital records office in the
county health department. The Division of Vital
Records has put into place a project to allow
all forty-six (46) county vital records’ offices
to issue short form certifications (birth cards)
for any South Carolina birth, regardless of the
county. This project is referred to as the
Statewide Birth Certification Project. Statewide
Birth Certification allows a customer to obtain
a short form birth card from any county health
department regardless of where in South Carolina
the birth occurred.
Questions:
The usual turnaround time for birth certificates
is more than six (6) weeks.
Death
Records
Death Records Available: Certified copies of
death certificates may be obtained from the
state vital records office located at DHEC, 2600
Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201. Certified
copies of death certificates may also be issued
from the health department in the county of
death. The county vital records office can only
certify deaths that occurred during the last
five years in their county.
Restrictions: You are entitled to a
certified copy of a death certificate if you are
a member of the decedent's family or if you are
their legal representative. Others who
demonstrate a direct and tangible interest may
be issued copies when information is needed to
determine a personal or a property right. Other
applicants may be provided a statement that the
death occurred, including the date and county of
death. For additional information contact the
state office of the Division of Vital Records in
Columbia, South Carolina.
Cost:
RECORDS SEARCH - $12.00 per record
Birth, death, marriage, divorce - Includes one
certified copy, if located. If the record is not
located, the search fee is nonrefundable.
ADDITIONAL COPIES - $3.00 each
Additional copies of the same type record of the
same person ordered at the same time.
SPECIAL FILING FEE - $15.00 per record
The special filing fee is charged when a
certificate is initially amended by reason of
correction affidavit, adoption, legitimation,
paternity acknowledgment, parentage affidavit,
court order and for the establishment of delayed
registrations.
Information
Required:
- Full name of
the person whose death certificate is being
requested
- Full date of
death (month, day, year)
- County where
the person was pronounced dead
- The names of
the decedent's parents
- Signature of
the person requesting the death certificate
and their current mailing address
- Relationship
between the person name on the death
certificate and the person requesting the
certified copy
- The full
name and complete mailing address of the
person to whom the certificate is to be
mailed
- Area code
and daytime telephone number of the person
requesting the death certificate
- Other
information you consider helpful in the
search for the death certificate (Example:
nicknames, alias, place of burial, etc.)
Form for Ordering a Death Certificate
Send To:
Send the above information and the appropriate
fee to:
DHEC
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
(803) 898 3630 |
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In South
Carolina? Death records become public
records after fifty (50) years and then any
person may obtain certified copies. Deaths for
1915-1952 are available for public reviewing at
the South Carolina Department of Archives and
History, 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, South
Carolina 29223. Access to a microfiche index and
microfilm of these deaths is available at the
Archives' Reference Room. No appointment is
needed and there is no charge for viewing the
records. If copies are needed, a work order
provided at the Reference Room must be
completed. The Reference Room staff will provide
information about charges for copies and
schedule for receiving copies. Self-service
copying is available. Inquiries must be made in
person or by telephone. The Reference Room is
open Monday - Friday, 8:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
daily. For additional information, telephone
(803) 896-6104.
Questions:
The usual turnaround time for death certificates
is more than six (6) weeks.
Marriage records
Marriage
Records Available: Certified copies of
marriage records from July 1950 to the present
may be obtained from the Vital Records Office in
Columbia, South Carolina, 2600 Bull Street,
Columbia, SC 29201.
Copies of marriage records that occurred PRIOR
to July 1950 may be obtained from the Office of
the Probate in the county where the original
marriage license was issued. Fees charged by
DHEC for these services do not apply to copies
obtained from the Office of the Probate Judge.
Restrictions:
You are entitled to a certified copy of a
marriage record if you are one of the married
parties (bride or groom), their adult child(ren),
a present or former spouse of either married
party, or their respective legal representative.
Other applicants may be provided with a
statement that the marriage occurred, including
the date and county the marriage license was
issued.
Cost:
RECORDS SEARCH - $12.00 per record
Birth, death, marriage, divorce - Includes one
certified copy, if located. If the record is not
located, the search fee is nonrefundable.
ADDITIONAL COPIES - $3.00 each
Additional copies of the same type record of the
same person ordered at the same time.
SPECIAL FILING FEE - $15.00 per record
The special filing fee is charged when a
certificate is initially amended by reason of
correction affidavit, adoption, legitimation,
paternity acknowledgment, parentage affidavit,
court order and for the establishment of delayed
registrations.
Information
Required: Please provide as much of the
following information as possible for us to
locate the marriage certificate:
- Full name
and date of birth of the groom
- Full name
and date of birth of the bride
- Full date of
marriage (month, day, year)
- County where
the license was issued
- Signature of
the person requesting the marriage record
and their current mailing address
- Relationship
between the married parties and the person
requesting the certified copy
- Full name
and complete mailing address of the person
to whom the certificate is to be mailed
- Area code
and daytime telephone number of the person
requesting the marriage record
- Any
additional information you consider helpful
in the search for the marriage record
(Example: previous married names, nicknames,
etc.)
Form for Ordering a Marriage License
Send To:
Send the above information and the appropriate
fee to:
DHEC
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
(803) 898 3630 |
|
In South
Carolina? Certified copies of marriage
records from July 1950 to the present may be
obtained from the Vital Records Office in
Columbia, South Carolina, 2600 Bull Street,
Columbia, SC 29201.
Copies of marriage records that occurred PRIOR
to July 1950 may be obtained from the Office of
the Probate in the county where the original
marriage license was issued. Fees charged by
DHEC for these services do not apply to copies
obtained from the Office of the Probate Judge.
Questions:
The usual turnaround time for marriages is more
than six (6) weeks.
Divorce Records
Divorce
Records Available: You can obtain a copy of
a report of divorce from the state office in
Columbia, South Carolina.
To obtain a
certified copy of the actual decree of divorce
that was issued based on the divorce hearing,
please notify the
Office of the Clerk of Court in the county
where the hearing was held. The Office of the
Clerk of Court is usually in the county seat of
each county.
Restrictions:
You are entitled to a copy of a report of
divorce if you are one of the divorced parties
(husband or wife), their adult child(ren), a
present or former spouse of either divorced
party, or their respective legal representative.
Other applicants may be provided a statement
that the divorce occurred, including the date
and county of divorce.
Cost:
RECORDS SEARCH - $12.00 per record
Birth, death, marriage, divorce - Includes one
certified copy, if located. If the record is not
located, the search fee is nonrefundable.
ADDITIONAL COPIES - $3.00 each
Additional copies of the same type record of the
same person ordered at the same time.
SPECIAL FILING FEE - $15.00 per record
The special filing fee is charged when a
certificate is initially amended by reason of
correction affidavit, adoption, legitimation,
paternity acknowledgment, parentage affidavit,
court order and for the establishment of delayed
registrations.
Information
Required: Please provide as much of the
following information as possible for us to
locate the divorce certificate:
- Full name
and date of birth of the husband
- Full name
and date of birth of the wife
- Date of
divorce
- County where
the divorce hearing was held
- Signature of
the person requesting the divorce record and
their current mailing address
- Relationship
between the divorced parties and the person
requesting the certified copy
- Full name
and complete mailing address where the
certified copies are to be mailed
- Area code
and daytime telephone number of the person
requesting the divorce record
- Any
additional information you consider helpful
in searching the divorce indexes (Example:
nicknames, etc.)
Form for Ordering a Divorce Record
Send To:
Send the above information and the appropriate
fee to:
DHEC
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
(803) 898 3630 |
|
In South
Carolina? You can obtain a copy of a report
of divorce from the state office in Columbia,
South Carolina.
To obtain a
certified copy of the actual decree of divorce
that was issued based on the divorce hearing,
please notify the
Office of the Clerk of Court in the county
where the hearing was held. The Office of the
Clerk of Court is usually in the county seat of
each county.
Questions:
The usual turnaround time for divorces is more
than six (6) weeks.
South Carolina Vital Record
Databases
Ancestry.com
South Carolina State Database
A large collection of databases of births,
deaths, marriages, census, obituaries,
directories, estate records, and service
records.(14
Days Free!) |
