Hello folks, I’m a new parent in South Carolina and I need to get a birth certificate for my newborn. Can anyone guide me on where and how to obtain it? Any tips or advice will be much appreciated!"
1 Like
How to obtain a birth certificate for your newborn in South Carolina:
Where to Apply:
You have two primary options for obtaining a birth certificate in South Carolina:
State Vital Records Office: You can apply in person or by mail at the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) State Vital Records Office located at:
- Address: 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201
- Phone: (803) 898-3630
- Website: South Carolina Vital Records
Local Registrar: Alternatively, you can apply at the local registrar’s office in the county where your baby was born. This may be more convenient based on your location.
What You’ll Need:
Completed Application: Download and fill out the birth certificate application form, available at SCDHEC Vital Records.
Proof of Identity: Bring a valid government-issued ID such as a driver’s license or passport for yourself.
Hospital Information: Provide the name, address, and phone number of the hospital where your baby was born.
Fees: Expect a search fee (approximately $12) and an additional fee for each copy of the birth certificate requested (around $3). Payment methods vary by location and may include cash, check, or money order.
Additional Tips:
Processing Time: Processing times vary; typically, it takes about 4 weeks for a standard birth certificate by mail or 5 business days for an expedited one (with an additional fee) from the state office. Local registrars may have different processing times, so it’s advisable to check directly with them.
Ordering Multiple Copies: Consider ordering extra copies of the birth certificate for future needs like daycare enrollment or applying for social security.
Online Services: South Carolina offers limited online services for birth certificates. For more details, visit the SCDHEC website or contact their office directly.
1 Like
Here’s how to get a newborn birth certificate in South Carolina: After giving birth in a South Carolina hospital, the hospital will register your baby’s birth with the state, but they do not automatically send you the birth certificate. To get your newborn’s birth certificate, you must request it yourself by mail, in person at the DHEC office in Columbia or a regional vital records office, or online through a vendor like VitalChek. The process takes 5-7 business days online or 30 days by mail. You’ll need to provide the baby’s full name, date of birth, county of birth, mother’s maiden name, and father’s name if listed. The fees are $17 for the first copy plus $3 for each additional copy when ordered online. Newborn birth certificates are not public records until 100 years after the birth date. Only the parents named on the certificate can request it. Once you receive the official long-form birth certificate, keep it in a safe place as you’ll need it for things like enrolling your child in school and applying for a Social Security number and passport.
1 Like
As a new parent in South Carolina, you can obtain your newborn’s birth certificate by requesting it from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) Vital Records Office. The process is:
- Request the certificate online through an approved vendor like VitalChek. The average processing time is 5-7 business days. Fees include a $17 non-refundable expedited searching fee, $3 for each additional copy, and an $8.70 processing fee.
- Request by phone through VitalChek.
- Request in-person at the DHEC office located at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201, or at a Regional Vital Records Office.
- Request by mail or drop-off at the DHEC office.
Be prepared to provide your child’s full name, date of birth, county of birth, mother’s maiden name, and father’s name (if listed on the certificate). The hospital will not automatically mail you the birth certificate after filing the information. You must request it separately using one of the methods above.