South Carolina public records include any documents or information that are not considered confidential and are available for public inspection. These records can include everything from court documents and government agency records to birth and death certificates and property records. In South Carolina, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) guarantees that the public has the right to access and obtain copies of these records, with some exceptions.
Birth records in South Carolina are managed by the Office of Vital Records and Public Health Statistics, which is a division of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). Birth records are generally considered public records and are available to anyone who can provide the necessary identifying information and pay the required fees. To request a certified copy of a birth record in South Carolina, individuals can complete a request form and submit it to the Office of Vital Records and Public Health Statistics either in person, online, or by mail:
DHEC Vital Records
2600 Bull St.
Columbia, SC 29201
Death records in South Carolina are also managed by the Office of Vital Records and Public Health Statistics. Like birth records, death records are generally considered public records and are available to anyone who can provide the necessary identifying information and pay the required fees. To request a copy of a death record in South Carolina, individuals can complete a request form and submit it to the Office of Vital Records and Public Health Statistics either in person, by mail, or online.
Marriage records in South Carolina are maintained by the county probate court in the county where the marriage license was issued. Marriage records are generally considered public records and are available to anyone who can provide the necessary identifying information and pay the required fees. To request a copy of a marriage record in South Carolina, individuals can contact the county probate court in the county where the marriage license was issued.
Divorce records in South Carolina are maintained by the county family court in the county where the divorce was granted. Divorce records are generally considered public records and are available to anyone who can provide the necessary identifying information and pay the required fees. To request a copy of a divorce record in South Carolina, individuals can contact the county family court in the county where the divorce was granted.
Criminal records in South Carolina are maintained by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Criminal records are generally considered public records and are available to anyone who can provide the necessary identifying information and pay the required fees. To request a copy of a criminal record in South Carolina, individuals can submit a request form to SLED either in person, by mail, or online.
Court records in South Carolina are maintained by the clerk of court in the county where the court proceedings took place. Court records are generally considered public records and are available to anyone who can provide the necessary identifying information and pay the required fees. To request a copy of a court record in South Carolina, individuals can contact the clerk of court in the county where the court proceedings took place.
Property records in South Carolina are maintained by the county assessor's office in the county where the property is located. Property records are generally considered public records and are available to anyone who can provide the necessary identifying information and pay the required fees. To request a copy of a property record in South Carolina, individuals can contact the county assessor's office in the county where the property is located.
In summary, South Carolina public records are documents or pieces of information that are available for public access and pertain to a variety of topics, including but not limited to birth, death, marriage, divorce, criminal history, court proceedings, and property ownership. These records are maintained by various government agencies, and individuals can request and obtain copies of these records by contacting the appropriate agency and providing the necessary identifying information and paying any required fees.