South Carolina

ACCEPTANCE OF CALIFORNIA PRE-BIRTH ORDER

No, a Post-Birth Order is required. Once entered, the Order should be provided directly to Vital Records.

PatterJY@dhec.sc.gov

Jessica Y. Patterson

Operations Manager

Division of Vital Records

S.C. Dept. of Health & Environmental Control

Birth Certificates

Timing - Varies by county, but the typical time frame is 2-4 weeks.

Title - Parents can choose to be listed as father or mother.

GC - The initial birth certificate can include the name of the GC with the name of an IP.  The birth certificate can later be revised to remove the name of the GC.

statutes / case law

Gestational Surrogacy is permitted as there is no statute or case law prohibiting it.

Is there a statute or published case law that addresses the rights of a donor over the resulting eggs, sperm, embryo or child?  No.

Venue

County of the child's birthplace, county of the GC’s residence, or county where the medical procedures pursuant to the surrogacy agreement are performed.

Do results vary by venue?  Yes.

Are motions to waive venue accepted?  Yes.

Electronic signatures / e-notarizaTIONS

Traditional signatures and traditional notarizations required.

Second / step parent adoptions

Can the non-biological parent in a same-sex couple obtain a second parent adoption based solely on the fact that the child was born in the state (i.e., neither of the Intended Parents lives in the state)?  Yes.

Will courts grant second parent adoptions or stepparent adoptions to heterosexual couples living in the state?  Yes.

Does the couple need to be married?  No.
 
Will courts grant second parent adoptions or stepparent adoptions to same-sex couples living in the state?  Yes.

Does the couple need to be married?  No.