How to Get South Carolina Vital Records (Start Here)
Vital records in South Carolina — birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce records — are handled at the state level by SC DHEC Division of Vital Records. Marriage licenses are issued locally by the Probate Court Judge.
What this page covers: South Carolina vital record ordering, eligibility requirements, and related databases. What it does not cover: Genealogy records older than the state vital records system (check the Genealogy Resources page for historical records).
Where to start: For certified copies of birth or death certificates, contact SC DHEC Division of Vital Records. For marriage licenses, contact the Probate Court Judge in the county where the ceremony will occur. For divorce records, contact the court that granted the decree.
Common mistake: Birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees come from different offices. Do not assume one office handles all vital records.
Statewide vital-records agency
Parent agency
Records back to
Marriage license issued by
Local intake
South Carolina: Local History & Genealogy Resource Guide
Population
5,478,831
Households
2,122,600
Median Income
$67,804
Median Home Value
$230,400
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by Sam Rokni — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: South Carolina vital records URL verified against the official state publisher at scdhec.gov on the review date. 7 primary .gov sources cited below.
South Carolina Vital Records — Key Facts (2026)
Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for South Carolina — who can request, how to order, and what 2026 changed.
State-only
Issuing authority
Not federal
Restricted
Birth/death access
Usually self + family
75-125 yr
When records become public
Genealogy threshold
VitalChek
3rd-party portal
Used by many states
CDC NVSS
National statistics
Data only, no certificates
The person named
100%
Parent of subject
100%
Spouse of subject
90%
Adult child
90%
Legal representative
80%
General public (recent)
10%
General public (historical 75+yr)
95%
Unit: % likely to receive a certified copy.
What Changed in 2026 — South Carolina Vital Records
2026
South Carolina vital records portal active
The official South Carolina portal at scdhec.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for vital records in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for vital records
The CDC National Vital Statistics System at www.cdc.gov provides federal-level context that complements South Carolina state records.
2026
South Carolina access in 2026
For 2026, South Carolina continues to publish vital records information through state-authorized portals; check scdhec.gov for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE South Carolina's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for the .gov complement.
The 4-Step South Carolina Vital Records Pathway
1
Step 1 — Confirm state of event
Vital records are issued by the state where the event happened. For events in South Carolina, start with the South Carolina health department.
2
Step 2 — Verify eligibility
Most states restrict birth/death to self, parents, spouse, child, or legal rep.
3
Step 3 — Choose ordering method
South Carolina typically allows mail, in-person, or online (often via VitalChek).
4
Step 4 — Genealogy fallback
South Carolina records older than 75-125 years are usually public — try FamilySearch or NARA.
Five Things People Get Wrong About South Carolina Vital Records
❌ Myth: "I can request anyone's South Carolina birth certificate."
✓ Truth: False. Most states (including South Carolina) restrict access to immediate family or legal representatives.
❌ Myth: "Vital records are federal."
✓ Truth: False. They are state-issued. The CDC compiles statistics but does NOT issue certificates.
❌ Myth: "VitalChek is the government."
✓ Truth: False. VitalChek is an authorized third-party vendor used by many states, NOT a federal or state agency.
❌ Myth: "Older South Carolina marriage records are private."
✓ Truth: False. Marriages older than ~75 years are usually public and indexed by genealogy sites.
❌ Myth: "A South Carolina death is recorded the day it happens."
✓ Truth: False. CDC NVSS data has a 1-2 year lag for final figures; provisional data takes 6+ months.
Primary Sources (All .gov / Official)
- scdhec.gov — Official South Carolina Vital Records — State portal for South Carolina vital records
- CDC National Vital Statistics System — National Vital Statistics System
- CDC — Where to Write for Records — CDC state-by-state directory
- National Archives — Vital Records — Federal genealogy & vital guide
- Social Security Death Master File — Social Security death records
- Census — Births and Deaths — Census Bureau vital statistics
- VA — Veterans Records — Veterans Administration records
Related Vital Records Resources
📍 Other South Carolina records:
- South Carolina Court Records →
- South Carolina Criminal Records →
- South Carolina Property Records →
- South Carolina Voter Records →
- South Carolina Wants & Warrants →
- South Carolina Licenses →
- South Carolina Recorded Documents →
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National: U.S. Vital Records hub →
Related Public Records
More South Carolina records: Court records · Criminal records · Wants & warrants · Property records · Voter records · Licenses · Recorded docs
National view of this topic: All states: Vital records
Vital Records Databases
17 official South Carolina vital records sources.
Vital Records
Anderson County Public Access: Disclaimer
Official Free
Neither the County of Anderson, South Carolina nor any agency, officer, elected official or employee of the County of Anderson, South Carolina (collectively known as "the County") warrants the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information on this web site and shall not be liable for ...
Anderson County Public Access: Disclaimer
Official Free
Neither the County of Anderson, South Carolina nor any agency, officer, elected official or employee of the County of Anderson, South Carolina (collectively known as "the County") warrants the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information on this web site and shall not be liable for ...
Online Obituary Index | Beaufort County Library
Official Free
The Online Obituary Index includes the names of more than 24,000 people whose deaths were noted in Beaufort County, SC, local newspapers from 1862 to approximately 1992. The list of names is often updated. For copies of the published obituaries, contact the
General Information | Clerk Of Court's Office
Official Free
Family Court The Family Court has exclusive jurisdiction over all matters involving domestic or family relationships. The Family Court is the sole forum for the hearing of all cases concerning marital disputes, divorce, legal separation, custody, visitation rights, termination of parental rights, adoption, support, alimony, division of marital property, and change of name.
Marriage License Division: Probate Court
Official Free
We are unable to process your request at this time. For additional information: Please copy this error message screen and email to Charleston County at webmaster@charlestoncounty.org with Subject line as - Unable to access Incident_ID - 7444898936442073521
vital records | South Carolina Department of Public Health
Official Free
South Carolina Death Indexes 1915-1967 · This page contains links to all of the Death Index log files from the SC Department of Public Health - Division of Vital Records. The images are compressed in a format that requires a specialized Plugin for Internet Explorer.
County of Greenville, SC
Official Free
If you are under 18 but at least 16 years old, please schedule an appointment by contacting our office at 864-467-7571, 864-467-7468, or email us at probatemarriage@greenvillecounty.org . Your Wedding Ceremony · Marriage licenses issued anywhere in South Carolina are valid for ceremonies performed ...
Horry County Archives Center at CCU (Local History Articles) – Horry County Historical Society
Official Free
Established by the Horry County Higher Education Commission in 2006, the Horry County Archives Center (HCAC) at Coastal Carolina University focuses on researching the history of Horry County and, t…
Horry County Historical Newspapers – Horry County Historical Society
Official Free
This site seeks to continue what that program began by continuing to digitize and make accessible as many historical newspapers originating in South Carolina as we can find. The Horry County Archives Center at Coastal Carolina University requested and provided the funding for the digitization of the Horry County historic newspapers.
Death Certificates | South Carolina Department of Public Health
Official Free
Immediate family members of the decedent's family or the legal representative of an immediate family member may obtain a certified copy of a death certificate . Other applicants may be provided a statement that the death occurred, including the date and county of death, but not an actual certified ...
Marriage License Application
Official Free
You may search for a Marriage License that was applied for in Richland County. Licenses applied for before 1993 may not show a date of marriage. A name search is available below. If you find the license you are searching for, you can order it online only by following the instructions below.
Spartanburg County Public Libraries
Official Free
This searchable database of obituaries and death notices has been generated from local sources such as the Spartanburg Herald, Spartanburg Journal, Spartanburg Herald-Journal, Carolina Spartan, City Register of Deaths and other miscellaneous publications. It has been created by staff of the ...
Kennedy Room of Local and South Carolina History
Official Free
One of the most important and unique offerings of the Kennedy Room is its index of deaths from Spartanburg newspapers. This index begins with the earliest Spartanburg newspaper available, the July 17, 1844 edition of the Carolina Spartan, to the current issue of the Spartanburg Herald-Journal. This comprehensive, ongoing project has yet to complete indexing 1923-1929. Indexes Available ... In addition, the Kennedy Room offers the index to South Carolina death certificates from 1915 through 1959, and death certificates on microfilm from 1915 through 1966.
Media Contact
Official Free
All media inquiries for Sumter ... Sumter County Communications Coordinator (803) 436-2319 office jperry@sumtercountysc.gov Freedom of Information Act Requests: SC Code 30-4-30 Right to inspect or copy public records; fees; notification as to public availability of records; presumption upon failure to give notice; records to be available when requestor appears in person (South Carolina Code of Laws ...
Find a Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records
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Search or browse cemeteries and grave records for every-day and famous people from around the world. ... Please select a location with GPS coordinates indicated by a map icon() to continue. Please select a cemetery indicated by a Find a Grave icon() to continue. ... When searching in a cemetery, use the ? or * wildcards in name fields. ? replaces one letter. * represents zero to many letters. E.g. Sorens?n or Wil* Search for an exact birth/death year or select a range, before or after.
Greenville Area, South Carolina Obituaries | Local obits for Greenville Area, South Carolina | Legacy.com
Official Free
Born in Greenville County, he was the son of the late June and Carmelita Lawrence Burdine. Surviving: his companion, four sons, Rodney... ... Watkins, Garrett & Woods Mortuary, Inc. - Greenville ... Watkins, Garrett & Woods Mortuary, Inc. - Greenville · Mr. Wayon Charles Arnold1958 - 2026 · Mr. Wayon Charles Arnold, 67, of Greenville, South Carolina, transitioned on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital.
Real Property Official Records Search
Official Free
Recorder of Deeds Overview... South Carolina is divided into 46 recorder districts with an elected or appointed Recorder or Clerk responsible for each office. Documents related to the ownership of real estate within the county are recorded at either the Recorder of Deeds Office, or the Clerk ...
South Carolina Counties
46 South Carolina counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I order a South Carolina birth certificate?▼
Certified birth certificates for events in South Carolina are issued by the Official South Carolina Vital Records at scdhec.gov. Requests can be made by mail, in person, or (in most cases) online through the state's authorized vendor. The county of registration may also be able to issue certified copies for recent local events.
How do I get a South Carolina death certificate?▼
South Carolina death certificates are issued by the Official South Carolina Vital Records; eligibility (next of kin, executor, legal representative) and ID documentation requirements are listed at scdhec.gov. For deaths within the last year, the county clerk or local registrar where the death occurred can often issue a copy more quickly.
Can I look up a South Carolina marriage or divorce record online?▼
South Carolina marriage and divorce records are not generally available in a free, name-searchable online index. The Official South Carolina Vital Records (scdhec.gov) handles certified copies; the underlying license/decree is filed with the county clerk or court that issued it, which is also a primary search point.
How long does it take to get a South Carolina vital record?▼
Standard South Carolina vital-record processing times vary from a few business days (in-person same-day at some county clerks) to several weeks for mailed requests. The Official South Carolina Vital Records publishes current turnaround times at scdhec.gov. Expedited processing is usually available for an additional fee.
What ID do I need to order a South Carolina certified vital record?▼
The Official South Carolina Vital Records requires government-issued photo identification (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID) and proof of your relationship to the record holder, if applicable. The full list of acceptable ID and supporting documents is published at scdhec.gov.