South Carolina
South Carolina Birth Certificate: How to Order, Fees and Eligibility
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited October 8, 2026). · 10 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) Vital Records issues birth certificates for births in South Carolina since 1915. A records search with one certified copy costs $12 by mail or $17 with expedited service in person, online or by phone, and each additional copy is $3. You can order in person at any DPH Vital Records office, by mail, or online or by phone through the state's approved vendors; for other states, see our guide to birth certificates by state.
Information last verified on October 8, 2026. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.
This page covers how to order a certified copy of a South Carolina birth certificate, what it costs and how long it takes, who may order one, and how to correct or amend a South Carolina birth record. It applies to births that occurred in South Carolina.
Where to order a South Carolina birth certificate
DPH Vital Records runs a state office at 2600 Bull St., Columbia, SC 29201, and regional Vital Records offices around the state. DPH says all Vital Records offices can issue birth certificates from any county in South Carolina. The phone number is (803) 898-3630.
Since January 1, 2026, DPH lists the same hours for all Vital Records offices: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Check DPH's office locations page for addresses.
Start from DPH's own birth certificates page. It names the two online vendors the state has approved; order from DPH or one of those vendors rather than an unofficial website.
DPH also notes that newborn birth certificates are not mailed to parents automatically, and the hospital will not order one for you.
How to order
In person
Bring a completed application, the $17 expedited search fee and your photo ID to any Vital Records office. DPH says same-day service is its goal and that most requests can be processed the same day, with an average processing time of 30 to 45 minutes.
DPH's pages disagree on how you can pay in person:
- The birth certificates page says to bring exact cash, a money order, or a cashier's check made payable to S.C. DPH.
- The fees page says offices accept a money order or cashier's check payable to S.C. DPH, credit and debit cards, and cash (no bills larger than $50) onsite.
Cash, money orders and cashier's checks appear on both lists. If you plan to pay by card, call (803) 898-3630 before you go.
You can also drop off a request at the state office in Columbia (Richland County), for $12 or $17 depending on the service. DPH accepts drop-offs only at that office.
By mail
Send application form D-2595, the $12 non-refundable search fee and a copy of your photo ID to:
S.C. Department of Public Health, Vital Records Section, P.O. Box 2046, West Columbia, SC 29171
Pay by money order or cashier's check made payable to S.C. DPH. DPH accepts mail requests only at that P.O. Box, and it offers no expedite option for mail. DPH says it automatically rejects applications that arrive without proper identification.
Online or by phone
DPH names two approved online vendors, Go Certificates and VitalChek. Only the person or persons named on the birth certificate may order through an online vendor. The vendors verify your identity and may ask you to upload your ID.
You can also order by phone through VitalChek at 1-877-284-1008, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The same rule applies: only the person named on the certificate may order. VitalChek offers secure next-day delivery with a signature for an additional fee.
How much a South Carolina birth certificate costs
These are the fees DPH publishes:
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Records search with one certified copy, standard (mail) | $12 |
| Records search with one certified copy, expedited (in person, online, phone) | $17 |
| Each additional copy in the same order | $3 |
| Go Certificates processing fee (online) | $8.70 extra |
| VitalChek processing fee (online) | $8.75 extra |
| VitalChek phone order service charge | $12.85 extra |
| Special filing fee for an amendment or delayed registration | $15 per record |
DPH says the $5 expedite fee, effective October 1, 2023, applies to all services with an expected turnaround of 10 business days or less, which is why the first copy costs $17 rather than $12. The search fee is not refunded even if no record is found. DPH says the fee amounts are set in S.C. Code of Regulations 60-19, Section 1300.
How long it takes
DPH publishes these estimates:
| Route | DPH estimate |
|---|---|
| In person | 30 to 45 minutes on average |
| About 4 weeks (birth certificates page) or 2 to 4 weeks (processing-times page) | |
| Phone or online | 5 to 7 business days |
The two mail estimates come from different DPH pages: the birth certificates page says 4 weeks, and the average processing times page says 2 to 4 weeks. If you have a deadline, plan on the longer figure or go in person. These are agency estimates, not guarantees.
Who can order a certified copy
Under S.C. Code 44-63-80, DPH issues a certified copy of a birth certificate to:
- The person named on the certificate, if at least 18
- A parent named on the certificate
- A legal guardian, or a legal representative of one of the above
The statute defines "other legal representative" to include a person or agency with current legal custody by court order, the Department of Social Services for individuals in foster care, court-ordered caregivers including kinship caregivers, an attorney representing the registrant or a listed parent, and certain homeless-services directors and McKinney-Vento liaisons. The Department of Social Services or its designee may also get copies for paternity and child support purposes.
If the registrant has died, immediate family members (and their legal representatives) may get a certified copy by providing an original certified copy of the registrant's death record.
ID requirements
DPH requires a valid, current government, school or employer issued photo ID of the applicant before it searches the records, and it returns requests without proper ID unprocessed. Accepted IDs include an unexpired DMV license, ID card or permit, a school or employer photo ID, an unexpired military card, an unexpired U.S. or foreign passport, and a permanent resident card. DPH's ID requirements page has the full list.
Long form only
DPH says a computer-generated long form is the only version of the birth certificate it issues; it stopped taking short form requests in January 2015. DPH says the certificate South Carolina issues is acceptable for all legal purposes, including obtaining a U.S. passport (DPH raised seal and apostilles page).
For a first U.S. passport, federal rules call for a birth certificate that shows your full name, place and date of birth, and your parents' full names, is signed by the official custodian of birth records, bears the issuing office's seal, and shows a filing date within one year of birth (22 CFR 51.42). For REAL ID, federal rules accept a certified copy of a birth certificate filed with the vital statistics office in your state of birth (6 CFR 37.11). State-issued vital records used abroad need an apostille from that state's secretary of state (USA.gov).
Correcting or amending a South Carolina birth record
DPH separates corrections from amendments, and S.C. Code 44-63-150 provides that a change made more than one year after the birth is marked amended.
- Correction. If an error was made during the original filing and is discovered within 1 year of the birth, DPH reviews the original documents. No amendment fee is charged, and no notation shows which fields changed.
- Administrative amendment. If the original documents do not support the change, or more than 1 year has passed, you need documentary evidence such as a marriage license or school, medical, hospital or DMV records. The amended fields are noted at the bottom of the certificate with the date, and the $15 special filing fee applies.
Since November 17, 2025, DPH says the Richland County office in Columbia does not process amendments the same day. DPH says most in-person amendment requests at regional offices, including the Richland County office, are completed within 1 to 2 business days once the central-office amendment team reviews them, and court-ordered amendments may take up to 2 weeks.
Adding a father
DPH lists two administrative routes, each with the $15 fee:
- Legitimation, when the parents marry after the birth. It needs a certified copy of the marriage license and a notarized affidavit.
- Paternity acknowledgment. It is not available if the mother was married at any time during the pregnancy or at the birth, or if a father is already listed on the certificate.
DPH notes that paternity acknowledgments are not issuable documents under S.C. Code 44-63-165. They are sealed and can be inspected only on a court order.
Legal name change
To put a court-ordered name change on a South Carolina birth certificate, submit a certified copy of the court order with the $12 search fee and the $15 amendment fee. The court process itself is covered in our guide to South Carolina name change laws.
Sex designation
DPH's birth certificates page, updated September 14, 2026, says the sex listed on a birth certificate may be changed only by an order from a court of competent jurisdiction. To request the change, submit a certified copy of the court order with a birth certificate application, the $12 search fee, $3 for each additional copy, and the $15 amendment fee.
If a birth was never registered
Under S.C. Code 44-63-90 and 44-63-100, a birth that was never recorded can be registered late. DPH says establishing a delayed certificate administratively requires three different documents that verify the birth facts:
- For a registrant older than 10, the documents must have been created at least 10 years before the application.
- For a registrant 10 or younger, they must be dated at least one year before the application or within the first year of life.
- Each document must show the registrant's correctly spelled full name and age or date of birth; at least one must show the full date of birth, at least one a South Carolina birthplace, and at least one the parentage, including the mother's maiden name. DPH accepts only originals or certified copies.
If the documents are not enough, you can petition the family court for a Delayed Certificate of Birth Established by Court Order. Under S.C. Code 44-63-100, the petition needs the registrar's certification that no record was found, dated less than two years before filing. South Carolina law bars a delayed certificate for a person who has died (S.C. Code 44-63-90). The $15 special filing fee applies.
DPH says a home birth must be registered within 5 days. A parent can take the newborn to a hospital within 5 days, an attending DPH- or LLR-licensed midwife can file the record, or the birth mother can file administratively within 1 year using DPH's Home Birth Registration Packet, which DPH asks parents to request before the birth (registration@dph.sc.gov or (803) 898-3620). The packet route requires proof of pregnancy, proof of a live birth and proof that the birth occurred in South Carolina.
Adoption and original birth records
After an adoption, the registrar prepares a supplementary birth certificate in the adoptee's name showing the adoptive parents. Submit the adoption certificate or decree, an application, the copy fees, and the $15 amendment fee. DPH says processing generally takes 2 to 3 months by mail. Access to the original, pre-adoption certificate is covered in our guide to South Carolina adoption records.
Older records and genealogy
Under S.C. Code 44-63-80(D), once 100 years have passed after the date of birth, birth records must be made available in photographic or other suitable format for public viewing. DPH's page does not describe an informational copy for more recent births. Whether birth certificates are public in other states is covered in are birth certificates public records.
This article is general legal information about South Carolina birth certificates, not legal advice. Fees and procedures change; confirm with South Carolina DPH Vital Records before ordering. Information last verified on October 8, 2026.
Related
- Birth certificates by state
- Are birth certificates public records?
- South Carolina adoption records
- South Carolina name change laws
Last updated: October 8, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a birth certificate in South Carolina?
DPH charges $12 for a records search with one certified copy by mail and $17 for expedited service in person, online or by phone, plus $3 for each additional copy. Online vendors add a processing fee of $8.70 (Go Certificates) or $8.75 (VitalChek).
Can I get a South Carolina birth certificate the same day?
Often, if you go in person. DPH says same-day service is its goal, most requests can be processed the same day, and the average in-person processing time is 30 to 45 minutes at any Vital Records office.
How long does a South Carolina birth certificate take by mail?
DPH's birth certificates page says about 4 weeks, while its average processing times page says 2 to 4 weeks. DPH offers no expedite option for mail requests, and phone or online orders take 5 to 7 business days.
Who can get a copy of a South Carolina birth certificate?
Under S.C. Code 44-63-80, the person named on the certificate (at 18 or older), a parent named on it, or a legal guardian or legal representative of one of them. Only the person named on the certificate may order through an online vendor.
How do I correct a birth certificate in South Carolina?
An error from the original filing found within 1 year of the birth can be corrected with no amendment fee. Later changes, or ones the original documents do not support, need documentary evidence and the $15 special filing fee, and the change is noted on the certificate.
Can I change the sex on a South Carolina birth certificate?
DPH says the sex on a birth certificate may be changed only by an order from a court of competent jurisdiction. Submit a certified copy of the order with an application, the $12 search fee and the $15 amendment fee.
Updates
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 44: HEALTH
§ 44-63-80Certified copies of birth certificates; to whom issued; "South Carolina Family Respect" pamphlet to be included with certified copiesIn force
(A) Except as otherwise provided, certified copies of the original birth certificate or any new or amendatory certificate, exclusive of that portion containing confidential information, must be issued only by the state registrar and only to the registrant, if of legal age, his parent or guardian, or other legal representative, and upon request to the Department of Social Services or its designee for the purpose of establishing paternity or establishing, modifying, or enforcing a child support obligation. The registrar shall include a copy of the pamphlet "South Carolina Family Respect", as provided in Section 20-1-720, when it mails or sends the certified copy of the birth certificate. However, the certified copy of the birth certificate may not disclose the name of the father in any illegitimate birth unless the name of the father is entered on the certificate pursuant to Section 44-63-163 or Section 44-63-165.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at scstatehouse.gov
§ 44-63-90Issuance of certificate where birth has not been registeredIn force
When the birth of a person born in the State has not been registered, a certificate may be filed subject to these regulations prescribed by the state registrar of vital statistics. However, when it appears that an applicant for a certificate of birth cannot produce minimum prescribed documentation, satisfactory as to validity, to the state registrar, the applicant may be denied a certificate of birth and advised as to the reason for the denial. No delayed birth certificate may be registered for a deceased person.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at scstatehouse.gov
§ 44-63-100Registering birth by way of petition for Delayed Certificate of Birth Established by Court OrderIn force
(A) A petition may be filed in the South Carolina family court of petitioner's residence, or if petitioner no longer resides in South Carolina, in a court of competent jurisdiction in the state of petitioner's residence, for an order establishing a record of the name at birth, subsequent name changes, gender at birth, gender changes, date of birth, county of birth, and the full name of the mother prior to any marriages, and the full name of the biological father of the person whose birth is sought to be registered by way of a Delayed Certificate of Birth Established by Court Order. (B) The petition must allege that the person for whom a delayed certificate of birth is sought was born in this State, that no record of birth exists, and that the petitioner has failed to produce the minimum required documentation to the State Registrar of Vital Statistics for an administrative establishment of a delayed birth certificate. A certification from the State Registrar of Vital Statistics must be attached to the petition stating that no birth record has been located in the records of this State. This certification must be dated less than two years before the petitions' filing date.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at scstatehouse.gov
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Sources and References
- South Carolina Department of Public Health: Birth Certificates(dph.sc.gov).gov
- SC DPH: Vital Records Office Locations(dph.sc.gov).gov
- SC DPH: Fees for Vital Records(dph.sc.gov).gov
- SC DPH: Average Processing Times(dph.sc.gov).gov
- South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 44, Chapter 63 (Vital Statistics)(www.scstatehouse.gov).gov
- SC DPH: ID Requirements for Vital Records(dph.sc.gov).gov
- South Carolina DPH: Raised Seal and Apostilles(dph.sc.gov).gov
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations: 22 CFR 51.42(www.ecfr.gov).gov
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations: 6 CFR 37.11(www.ecfr.gov).gov
- USA.gov: How to authenticate an official U.S. document(www.usa.gov).gov