Certified Copies in South Carolina: Where and What It Costs
Certified copies
Ordering Certified Copies in South Carolina
Where to order a certified vital record or corporate record issued in South Carolina, what it costs, what the office requires, and what happens to it afterwards.
- Birth certificate
- $12.00 search fee including one certification; $3.00 each additional
- Death certificate
- $12.00 including one certification; $3.00 additional
- Marriage
- $12.00 including one certification
- Divorce
- $12.00; report only, decree from the county Clerk of Court
Vital records
Issued by: South Carolina DPH, Office of Vital Records
Post to: Office of Vital Records, DPH, PO Box 2046, West Columbia, SC 29171
Verify current fees: (803) 898-3630
| Record | Certified copy |
|---|---|
| Birth | $12.00 search fee including one certification; $3.00 each additional |
| Death | $12.00 including one certification; $3.00 additional |
| Marriage | $12.00 including one certification |
| Divorce | $12.00; report only, decree from the county Clerk of Court |
What South Carolina requires
- The $12.00 search fee is non-refundable even if no record is found.
- Money order or cashier cheque only, payable to DPH - Vital Records.
- A photocopy of valid picture ID is required.
- Births and deaths from January 1915; marriage from July 1950; divorce reports from July 1962.
Corporate records
A certificate of good standing and certified copies of formation documents for a South Carolina entity come from South Carolina Secretary of State, normally online and often the same day.
South Carolina Secretary of State
- Order from the state where the entity was formed, not where it trades.
- A certificate of good standing is a statement of current status. A certified copy of the articles is a different product; if a foreign authority asks for the formation documents, you need the latter.
- Ask for a certified or exemplified copy. A plain download from the state website carries no seal and cannot be authenticated.
What happens next
Once you hold the certified copy, authentication in South Carolina goes through South Carolina Secretary of State, at $5.00 per document.
Questions people actually ask
Where do I order a South Carolina birth certificate?
From South Carolina DPH, Office of Vital Records. Post to Office of Vital Records, DPH, PO Box 2046, West Columbia, SC 29171. A certified copy is $12.00 search fee including one certification; $3.00 each additional.
Does the South Carolina Secretary of State issue birth certificates?
No. Vital records come from the health department; the Secretary of State handles corporate records and, in most states, the apostille. They are separate offices with separate fees.
What will South Carolina reject?
The $12.00 search fee is non-refundable even if no record is found.
Can I have it apostilled straight away?
Yes, and that is the right order. Order the certified copy first, then send it for authentication. Do not sign, stamp or laminate it in between, and do not open a sealed envelope.
This guide is published by a private document processing service. It is not legal advice and we are not a government agency. Requirements change without notice, so confirm anything critical with the mission before you post documents.
