South Carolina Marriage, Death, Birth 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.

PLEASE READ!! There were no South Carolina birth or Death certificates before January 01, 1915

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 (see Church Records).

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 (see Newspapers).

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.

Choose A County 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. 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.

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

   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. You can also order Order Electronically and get the certificates much quicker by ordering HERE.

Click Here to Search South Carolina Birth, Marriage & Death Records! - Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information. Look also for baptism, christening, and burial records in this collection.

Below is a list of online resources for South Carolina Vital Records.

• South Carolina Marriages, 1641-1965: This database contains marriage information from selected areas of South Carolina from 1641-1965.
• South Carolina Newspaper Marriage Notices, 1732-1801: This database, reproduced from the original book published in 1902, is an index to marriage notices in the newspaper between 1732 and 1801.
• South Carolina Baptist Marriages, 1835-65: This database is a collection of marriage and death notices from three newspapers in South Carolina between 1835 and 1865.
• South Carolina Baptist Marriages, 1866-87: This collection of marriage and death notices is derived from Baptist newspapers in South Carolina. Three newspapers were the basis of this database; The South Carolina Baptist covering 1866-1868, The Working Christian covering 1869-1878, and The Baptist Courier covering 1878-1887.
• South Carolina Death Index, 1915-1949: This database is an index to deaths occurring in the state of South Carolina from 1915-1949.
• South Carolina Death Index, 1950-1952: This database is an index to deaths occurring in the state of South Carolina from 1950 to 1952.
• South Carolina Baptist Deaths, 1835-65: This database is a collection of marriage and death notices from three newspapers in South Carolina between 1835 and 1865.
• South Carolina Baptist Deaths, 1866-87: This collection of marriage and death notices is derived from Baptist newspapers in South Carolina. Three newspapers were the basis of this database; The South Carolina Baptist covering 1866-1868, The Working Christian covering 1869-1878, and The Baptist Courier covering 1878-1887.
• Search All U.S and Foriegn Birth, Marriage and Death Records
• Search U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
• Search Obituary Collection
• Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE

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. Fees charged by DHEC for these services do not apply to copies obtained from the Office of the Probate Judge.

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.