FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 20, 2008
DHEC's State Vital Records Office onsite services temporarily suspended
COLUMBIA – In order to provide better customer service, the State Vital Records office located at 2600 Bull Street in Columbia will be updated beginning Nov. 3, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control announced today.
"Although the expansion and updating at our state offices will prevent us from being able to provide walk-in customer service for approximately four months, this construction is critical to being able to meet the increasing needs of people seeking our services," said Luanne Miles, director of DHEC’s Division of Vital Records. "Our office will make every effort to satisfy customer's needs in alternative ways to minimize inconvenience during the closure."
According to Miles, during the construction period, all other methods for requesting vital records, such as mail and expedited online and phone requests, will continue while the onsite customer service area is closed. Also, those who need to make corrections or amendments to a birth or death certificate may schedule an appointment or complete the paperwork by mail.
"Vital records offices in each county will continue to issue certificates for deaths that occurred in that county within the last five years, as well as the short form for any birth that occurred in the state since Jan. 1, 1915," Miles said. "County staff can also provide information and assistance to people who need to make a correction or change to a birth certificate, although birth certificates needed for travel or passport applications must be the long form, which can only be issued by the state office." Miles said.
"A closure date announced earlier had to be delayed because of construction schedules," Miles said. "The renovations are now slated to begin November 3 and should be completed in late February."
For more information about Vital Records, see DHEC's Web site at: http://www.scdhec.gov; write DHEC’s Vital Records Office at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, S.C. 29201; or call (803) 898-3630.
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For more information:
Luanne Miles – (803) 898-3324
E-mail – mileslb@dhec.sc.gov
or
Clair Boatwright – (803) 898-4461
E-mail – boatwrc@dhec.sc.gov
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