South Carolina Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records

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See Also Researching in Vital Records - 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.......

Include the official recordation of marriages, births, and deaths. Bible records, cemetery records, and church records are private sources that may supplement the official records.

A law mandating registration of all births and deaths in South Carolina was signed into law on 1 September 1914. Actual registration began in 1915, and South Carolina achieved ninety percent compliance within a few years. Original copies of birth and death certificates are filed with the state, and copies can be obtained by writing to South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Office of Vital Records and Public Health Statistics, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201.

The above office accepts Visa or MasterCard for payment for urgent requests made by phone. There is an additional fee for this service including postal costs. Each South Carolina county has a copy of the state's records, and a few cities have records pre-dating the state-wide registration requirement: Charleston began keeping birth records in 1877 and death records in 1821, and Georgetown was authorized to establish a vital records registration system in 1883. The Church of England parishes created in 1706 recorded christenings, marriages, and burials, and these registers can serve as vital records for much of the colonial period.

Search South Carolina Historical Records - Databases include Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Voter Lists & Census Records; Immigration & Emigration Records; Obituary Records; Military Records; Family Tree Records; Pictures; Stories, Memories & Histories; Directories & Member Lists and much more....

South Carolina had no law requiring marriage licenses or registration until 1911. Assembly Act No. 70, “An Act to require Marriage Licenses and Regulate their Issuances,” became effective on 1 July 1911. Licenses are on file with the judge of probate in each county. Prior to 1911, marriages were legal if performed according to canonical law; common law marriages also were recognized. Many churches recorded marriages, but when compared with the vast number of marriages that took place, the number of documented marriages is small. Marriage settlements, made by a widow and her second husband to protect the heirs of her first husband, and pre-marital agreements, not necessarily involving widows, were popular for a while. These records date from about 1760 to about 1890 and may be found in county conveyance books or the South Carolina Department of Archives and History and on microfilm at the FHL. Newspapers accounts of marriages from 1732 to the present are a primary source of marriage documentation.

Until 1949, divorce was illegal in South Carolina. Since then, divorces are the province of the county court, and all inquiries should be directed to the county clerk of court.

South Carolina DHEC, Division of Vital Records is located at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201; telephone # (803) 898-3630, fax #: (803) 799-0301. They have the following records:

  • The fee to search for a birth, Marriage or Death certificate is $12.00, which includes one certified copy of the certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." There were no South Carolina birth or Death "certificates" before January 01, 1915. You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.
  • For each additional copy of the certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $3.00. Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to "S.C. DHEC, Division of Vital Records." Please do not send cash. Fees are non refundable. Additional fees of $5.00 are required for expedited service. The expedite fee guarantees a response leaving the Division of Vital Records within three (3) working days. A response can be in the form of a letter, a telephone call, or a certification being mailed.
  • Mail all Applications to: S.C. DHEC, Division of Vital Records is located at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201. You can download an application online for Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates or Death Certificates. Ordering Online: You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.

HOW TO OBTAIN A CERTIFIED COPY OF A BIRTH LICENSE

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. The completion date for this project was April 03, 2000. 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.

REQUIRED INFORMATION FOR A BIRTH RECORD

  • 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 where the certificate is to be mailed.
  • Area code and daytime telephone number of the person requesting the 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.)

HOW TO OBTAIN A CERTIFIED COPY OF A MARRIAGE LICENSE
You can download this form to obtain a Certified Copy of a Marriage License

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.

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.

REQUIRED INFORMATION FOR A MARRIAGE SEARCH

  • 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.)

HOW TO OBTAIN A CERTIFIED COPY OF A DEATH CERTIFICATE

Certified copies of death certificates may be obtained from the state vital records office located at DHEC, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201 or You can download this form to obtain a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate. 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. There were no South Carolina Death certificates before January 01, 1915

REQUIRED INFORMATION FOR A DEATH SEARCH

  • 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.)

Death records become public records after fifty (50) years and then any person may obtain certified copies. Deaths for 1915-1949 are available for public reviewing at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, South Carolina 29223 or search online HERE. 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.

Links For Birth Records

Links For Marriage Records

Links For Death Records

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