South Carolina, vital records
Locate South Carolina state vital records. List of government and private entities that provide birth records, marriages and decrees, divorces and death.
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Every card below goes to the government office responsible for that record. Use the category buttons to narrow the list.
Vital records
Beginning Nov.
Open official site Open official site South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Vital Records ServicesVital records
Beginning Nov.
Open official site Open official site Birth certificatesVital records
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Open official site Open official site Death CertificatesVital records
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Open official site Open official site Marriage CertificatesVital records
Beginning Nov.
Open official site Open official site Divorce ReportsVital records
Payment MethodsMail RequestsMoney order or cashier's check made payable to S.C.
Open official site Open official site Record Search FeesVital records
Death Indexes 1915 to 1967This page contains links to all of the Death Index log files from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental
Open official site Open official site South Carolina Death Indexes 1915 to 1959Vital records
Doing genealogical research at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History can be a rewarding venture with so many resources available through our.
Open official site Open official site Vital Records at the South Carolina ArchivesState agencies
Official site, cdc.gov.
Open official site Open official site https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/index.htmState agencies
Official site, cdc.gov.
Open official site Open official site https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/index.htmVital records
Vital records most commonly refer to records such as birth and death certificates, marriage licenses divorce decrees, wills, and the like.
Open official site Open official site National Archives — vital records research guideState agencies
Official site, ssa.gov.
Open official site Open official site https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdfGuide
Under S.C. Code 20-3-230 the clerk of court sends a report of each divorce to the state registrar within 30 days after the final decree is filed. The South Carolina Department of Public Health Vital Records issues reports of divorce from July 1, 1962 forward for a $12 search fee that includes one copy if found, with additional copies $3 each, to the person of record, an adult child, a present or former spouse or a legal representative. The Department states that it does not have a copy of the divorce decree, which must be obtained from the Office of the Clerk of Court in the county where the final divorce hearing was held. The request form is at dph.sc.gov.
Guide
These federal and national sources complement South Carolina's state-level records. They are the authoritative sources you should cross-check when South Carolina state records are incomplete or out-of-state activity matters.
CDC, Where to Write for Vital RecordsRecord guide
Guide
Useful local context without burying the official record links above.
At a glance
South Carolina Vital RecordsStateSouth CarolinaOfficial sources12Vital records9Federal3Links checkedSep. 22, 2026Using these vital record sourcesMore South Carolina records on this site: South Carolina public records, Free Background Checks.
Straight answers
Guide
Open only the answer you need.
Does the federal government keep birth certificates?No. The CDC is explicit: 'The Federal Government does not maintain files or indexes of these records.' Every U.S. vital record is kept by the state where the event occurred.
What is the difference between a certified and informational copy?A certified copy has a raised seal and is accepted by SSA, passport offices, and courts. An informational copy is marked 'Informational, Not a Valid Document to Establish Identity' and cannot be used for legal ID.
How long does a mail request take?It varies by state, but a mail order to a state vital records office is typically 4, 8 weeks. Walk-in county clerk requests can be same-day. Online orders through VitalChek add a separate processing time on top of the state's.
Who is legally allowed to order a certified copy?Most states limit certified copies to the registrant, immediate family, and legal representatives. Informational copies are generally available to anyone after a waiting period defined by state law.
What if I was born abroad to U.S. citizen parents?You should have a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA, form FS-240). Replacements come from the U.S. Department of State, not from a state vital records office.
All states
Record guide
Useful local context without burying the official record links above.
At a glance
More South Carolina records on this site: South Carolina public records, Free Background Checks, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas.
Straight answers
Open only the answer you need.
No. The CDC is explicit: 'The Federal Government does not maintain files or indexes of these records.' Every U.S. vital record is kept by the state where the event occurred.
A certified copy has a raised seal and is accepted by SSA, passport offices, and courts. An informational copy is marked 'Informational, Not a Valid Document to Establish Identity' and cannot be used for legal ID.
It varies by state, but a mail order to a state vital records office is typically 4, 8 weeks. Walk-in county clerk requests can be same-day. Online orders through VitalChek add a separate processing time on top of the state's.
Most states limit certified copies to the registrant, immediate family, and legal representatives. Informational copies are generally available to anyone after a waiting period defined by state law.
You should have a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA, form FS-240). Replacements come from the U.S. Department of State, not from a state vital records office.
All states
Every state page lists that state's official vital record sources, each opened and verified.