Do it yourself

In the State of South Carolina apostilles are issued by the office of Mark Hammond South Carolina Secretary of State in Columbia.

Documents submitted for apostille need to comply with the following guidelines:

  • Birth and death certificates and other vital records need to be issued by the Vital Records Division of the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).
  • Marriage certificates need to be issued and bear the signature of the county Probate Judge or the DHEC office, with the exception of documents bearing the signature of the Probate Judge in Richland, Greenville, Horry and Charleston counties whose signatures will be acceptable for apostille.
  • In order to apostille divorce judgments, divorce decrees need to be issued by the clerk of the county where the divorce was executed and to bear the county stamp. Documents bearing signatures of the deputy or assistant cannot be submitted for apostille.
  • Notarized documents must bear the stamp, date and signature of a currently valid and commissioned South Carolina Notary Public.
  • Documents written in a foreign language must be translated and the translation notarized in order to be acceptable at the SOS.
  • Diplomas, transcripts, report cards and other academic records need to be notarized and bear the signature of the school principal or University registrar.
  • In order to apostille police reports you cannot use records downloaded from the Internet. You need notarized pen-in-hand signed documents from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Div., local sheriffs or police departments.
  • Any other document with the signature of a government official that has his or hers signature registered with the Secretary of State can be submitted for apostille.

New copies:

Copies of vital records can be obtained from the SC DHEC, Division of Vital Records 2600 Bull St, Columbia, SC 29201, phone (803) 898-3630.

Apostille South Carolina contacts:

Visit in person or mail documents to:
South Carolina Secretary of State
Authentication Office
1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 525
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone (803) 734-2512

Website: http://www.scsos.com/apostilles
Price and processing time:

Price is $2 per apostille with payment made to the “South Carolina Secretary of State”.
Processing time is same-day counter service or 3 days for mailed orders.