City guide · Columbia, South Carolina · Details last checked Nov 3, 2026

Columbia, South Carolina document errands: printing, fax, notary, passports and certified copies (2026)

Where to print, fax, notarize, apply for a passport and get certified copies in Columbia, South Carolina, using only official and provider pages. Each fact links to its source. Some facts are statewide or national rather than local. We label those.

Printing, copying, scanning and fax

Richland Library

• Printing and copies: all Richland Library locations have printers and photocopiers. Printers print in color, and the first 10 pages are free; after that it's 25 cents a page. Photocopies are also 25 cents a page. Wireless printing from personal devices is available ^[2]. That help page was last updated Feb 16, 2022.
• Remote printing: upload files at richlandlibrary.com/print with your library card number and PIN; uploads are kept 48 hours, and pickup is curbside or at the pickup window ^[11]. That help page was last updated Sep 21, 2020.
• Fax (send only): all Richland Library locations have fax machines, and the service is free. The library doesn't receive faxes ^[1]. That help page was last updated Oct 11, 2017, so call to confirm.
• Main Library: 1431 Assembly St., Columbia, SC 29201, phone 803.799.9084. Hours: Sunday 2–6 p.m.; Monday–Thursday 9 a.m.–8 p.m.; Friday–Saturday 9 a.m.–6 p.m. The page shows a notice: "Garden Level Closure at Main Beginning Nov. 9" ^[12]. The Census Geocoder places the Main Library in Columbia city ^[8]. We didn't review the other branch pages.
• Scanning: we didn't find a scanning price on the library pages we reviewed.

• Register of Deeds copies: copier or printouts $0.25 a page; instruments or microfilm $0.51 a page; plats $0.78 a page; a copy request by mail is $15, including certification; certification of a true copy is $10 ^[13].
• The UPS Store: its Columbia page lists 8 locations and says its stores offer packing, shipping, printing, shredding, notarizing, faxing and mailbox services ^[14]. The Census Geocoder places only 2 of them in Columbia city: 701 Gervais St. and 141 Pelham Dr. The others are in Forest Acres, Irmo or unincorporated Richland or Lexington County, and the Geocoder didn't match 961 Roberts Branch Pkwy ^[8]. Prices aren't listed; the page says products, services, pricing and hours may vary by location ^[14], so call the store for prices (last checked Nov 3, 2026).

See printing prices and fax prices.

Notary in Columbia

• Richland Library (free): the library offers notary service to the public for free, and you don't need a library card. Electronic notarization isn't offered. Service is offered at all locations, but call the location ahead to make sure a notary is available. It isn't offered in the 60 minutes before closing, and the library can limit how many notarizations it does for each customer ^[3]. An older help page (Oct 16, 2023) says to ask for the notary on duty at the Main Library, 1431 Assembly St., and says there's no charge ^[15].
• What to bring: all signers; completed but unsigned original documents; a valid, unexpired government photo ID (not a picture or copy); and any witnesses you need. You can't ask other library customers or staff to be your witnesses ^[3].
• What the library won't notarize: real estate closings; documents not in English; blank or incomplete documents; photographs or photocopies of official documents; post- or pre-dated documents; and copies of birth, death or marriage certificates ^[3].
• Weddings: the library says its notaries may perform marriages if you already have a South Carolina marriage license, but its spaces can't be used for social gatherings ^[3].
• The UPS Store: its Columbia page lists notarizing ^[14]. Prices aren't listed online; call the store. Notary rules vary by state ^[16].
• How notaries are appointed (statewide): the Governor appoints South Carolina notaries for a ten-year term, and applicants must be registered voters ^[17]. The Secretary of State commissions notaries and keeps their oaths on file. You apply on a paper form mailed to your county legislative delegation office, or to the House of Representatives if your county has none ^[18]. The fee is $25.00, payable to the Secretary of State, plus a $1.43 SC.GOV service fee if you pay by card ^[19]. A notary must report a name or address change within 45 days ^[18].
• Fees (statewide; two laws differ): under § 26-1-100 (2014), a notary can charge at most $5 per signature for an acknowledgment, jurat or signature witnessing, $5 per person for an oath or affirmation without a signature, and $5 per certificate for a verification of fact. A notary who charges must post or show an English fee schedule, may charge a travel fee only if you agree on it in advance, and doesn't have to charge at all ^[17]. The Secretary of State's manual also says up to $5.00 ^[20]. An older section, § 8-21-140 (1898), still lists notary fees of 50 cents for every notarial certificate with seal and 25 cents for administering an oath for an affidavit ^[21]. We didn't find an official note on how the two fit together. The $5 limit is the one the Secretary of State cites.
• No certified photocopies (statewide): a South Carolina notary can't certify or authenticate a photograph or photocopy ^[17]. Notaries also can't advertise as a "notario publico" ^[20].
• Electronic notarization (statewide): the South Carolina Electronic Notary Public Act was signed May 18, 2021. Electronic notarization (IPEN) still requires the notary and the signer to be in each other's presence ^[18].

Passports in Columbia

The U.S. Department of State's Passport Acceptance Facility Locator data lists 4 facilities with a Columbia, South Carolina address. The Census Geocoder places 3 of them in Columbia city ^[7][8]:

• Outside the city: the locator also lists the Sandhills Post Office, 1805 Clemson Rd., Columbia, SC 29229, phone 803-865-8833 ^[7]. The Census Geocoder places it outside the city limits ^[8].
• Appointments: the locator says to schedule post office passport appointments at usps.com/scheduler. For the two University of South Carolina offices, it says walk-ins are accepted and passport times follow the school holiday schedule ^[7]. The locator doesn't say whether the campus offices serve the general public; call first.
• Photos: the locator lists photos at all 3 offices in the city ^[7]. USPS lists a $15.00 photo fee nationally ^[22].
• Post office fees (national): a $35.00 acceptance fee and a $15.00 photo fee "if needed" ^[22].
• Faster return delivery (national): two official pages list different prices. USPS lists "$22.05—1- to 3- day delivery service for faster return shipping to you from the State Department" ^[22]. The State Department's fee page lists 1–3 business day return delivery at $26.87, for passport books only ^[23]. We couldn't re-read the State Department page on Nov 3, 2026, because it blocked our check. Confirm the fee with the acceptance facility before you pay.

See the passport checklist and passport photo prices.

Birth, death, marriage, court and recorded-document copies

Birth and death certificates (Richland County Vital Records office)

• Where: the state's Richland County Vital Records office is at 2600 Bull St., Columbia, SC 29201, phone (803) 898-3630 ^[5]. The Census Geocoder places it in Columbia city ^[8]. There's no separate city or county fee; state fees apply.

Birth and death certificates from the state (statewide)

• State fees (statewide): a records search is $12 and includes one certified copy; an expedited search is $17, because a $5 expedite fee has applied since October 1, 2023 to services that take 10 business days or less. Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time are $3 each, and the special filing fee for an amended certificate is $15 ^[24].
• In person (statewide): birth and death certificates are usually ready in 30–45 minutes at the $17 expedited fee, paid with exact cash, a money order or a cashier's check ^[4][25]. The fee page also lists credit and debit cards and cash (no bills over $50) for on-site service ^[24]. Regional offices issue long-form birth certificates ^[4] and death certificates from 2005 on ^[25]. Since January 1, 2026, all Vital Records offices are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. and Wednesday 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. ^[5].
• By mail or drop-off (statewide): mail takes about 4 weeks at the $12 fee, to S.C. Department of Public Health, Vital Records Section, P.O. Box 2046, West Columbia, SC 29171, paid by money order or cashier's check. Drop-offs are accepted only at the state office in Richland County (2600 Bull St., Columbia): $12 for about 4 weeks or $17 for 5 business days or less ^[4][25][24].
• Online or by phone (statewide): through GoCertificates, $17 plus $3 for each additional copy and an $8.70 processing fee, or VitalChek online, $17 plus an $8.75 processing fee; by phone, VitalChek charges $12.85. Processing takes 5–7 business days ^[4][25].
• Amendments (statewide): since Nov. 17, 2025, the Richland County office (formerly called the State Office) no longer does same-day amendments; most in-person amendment requests take 1–2 business days ^[24].
• Divorce reports (statewide): DPH has certified copies of the Report of Divorce for divorces from July 1962 to December 2025, by mail only for now: in-person requests are currently unavailable ^[26]. The divorce decree itself comes from the county Clerk of Court ^[27].

Marriage licenses (Richland County Probate Court)

• State law (statewide): you file a written application with the probate judge at least 24 hours before the license is issued (in Darlington and Georgetown counties, with the clerk of court instead) ^[28]. A $20 fee for the Domestic Violence Fund is added to each license, and couples who finish a qualifying premarital preparation course can get a one-time $50 state income tax credit ^[28].
• Older copies from the state (statewide; the page gives two date ranges): DPH says its marriage records cover July 1950 to December 2025, and in-person requests are currently unavailable. The same page later says the Columbia office has July 1950 to December 2018, and that records before July 1950 or after December 2018 come from the probate office in the county that issued the license ^[29]. Mail requests are $12 with one certified copy and $3 for each additional copy ^[29].
• Richland County fee and application: the fee is $45.24. All transactions are online only, and payment is by debit or credit card only. After the 24-hour waiting period, the license is mailed to the address you give ^[6].
• Who can marry you: Richland County's page says ministers of the Gospel, accepted Jewish rabbis and officers authorized to administer oaths in South Carolina can perform a ceremony ^[6]. Lexington County's page notes that a South Carolina notary public is authorized to administer oaths and so can perform a marriage ceremony ^[30].
• Premarital counseling credit: a one-time $50 tax credit is available for premarital counseling; Richland County asks you to email the signed certification right after you submit the online application ^[6].
• Copies: certified copies are ordered online at $8 a copy. Card payments aren't refundable; allow two business days after you complete the request, and the copy is mailed ^[31].
• Office: Probate Court, 1701 Main St., 2nd Floor, Ste. 207, Columbia, SC 29201, phone 803-576-1961; marriage licenses 803-576-1963; Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. ^[6][31]. The Census Geocoder places 1701 Main St. in Columbia city ^[8].
• Lexington County (other part of the city): Lexington County Probate Court takes applications in person or by mail. The fee is $30.00, paid by cash, check or money order. In-person applications are taken Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m., and both applicants must appear. There's a 24-hour wait before the license is issued ^[30]. A South Carolina license from any county can be used anywhere in the state ^[30][6].

Recorded documents (Richland County Register of Deeds)

• State law (statewide, uniform since 2019): under § 8-21-310, registers of deeds collect $15 to record a deed and $25 for a mortgage, plat, lease, easement, power of attorney or other document affecting real estate. A power of attorney is free with deployment orders to a combat zone. Separate acknowledgements or affidavits not attached to another document are $10 ^[21]. The county's posted fees follow; if they differ from the statute, ask the office which applies.
• Richland County fees: $15 to record a deed, plus deed tax of $3.70 per thousand ($2.60 state; $1.10 county); $25 for a power of attorney or a plat of any size; and $10 for an affidavit. Payment is by check or cash only, with checks payable to the Richland County Treasurer ^[13].
• Where and when: Richland County Judicial Center, 1701 Main St., Room 101, phone 803-576-1910, Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Staff can point you in the right direction but can't do the search for you or advise on documents. Online records access is by paid subscription by the day, week, month or year ^[32].
• Copies: $0.25 a page for copier or printouts; $0.51 for instruments or microfilm; $0.78 for plats; $15 for a copy request by mail, including certification; $10 to certify a true copy ^[13].

Court record copies (Richland County Clerk of Court)

• State law (statewide): § 8-21-310 sets uniform clerk fees, including $10 for an official certificate under the seal of the court and $10 for filing a notary commission. It sets $100 for filing a first complaint, in addition to a separate fee under § 14-1-204(B)(1) that we didn't read ^[21]. The county's posted fees follow; if they differ from the statute, ask the Clerk which applies.
• Richland County: Clerk of Court, Richland County Judicial Center, 1701 Main St., Room 205, Columbia, SC 29201, phone 803-576-1950, fax 803-576-1785, Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. The office handles civil, criminal and family cases ^[33][34]. We didn't find a copy-fee list on the county's Clerk of Court pages; call before you go (last checked Nov 3, 2026).

Apostilles (statewide)

• Who issues them (statewide): the South Carolina Secretary of State, in Columbia. It certifies documents signed by South Carolina officials and documents notarized by a commissioned South Carolina notary, but only documents that will go to a foreign country. The Secretary of State has a separate page for countries outside the Hague Convention ^[35].
• Fee (statewide): $5.00 per document, not per page, by cash, personal, business or cashier's check, or money order ^[36]. Checks and money orders go to the Secretary of State's Office ^[35].
• How to send (statewide): the Authentication Cover Letter, a self-addressed stamped return envelope, payment and the documents, by mail, UPS or FedEx, or by hand between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., to SC Secretary of State's Office, Attn: Authentications, 1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 525, Columbia, SC 29201 ^[35]. Phone (803) 734-2512 ^[36]. Foreign-language documents need an English translation signed by the translator, with the translator's signature notarized ^[35].
• Vital records (statewide): photocopies aren't accepted; records must be certified by the issuing agency. Birth and death certificates must come from the state Vital Records office; marriage licenses from the county Probate Court or the state; divorce decrees from the county Clerk of Court or the state ^[27]. That page still calls the state office DHEC; vital records are now run by the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) ^[24].

More on certified copies: how to get a certified copy.

Money orders

USPS money order fees are national: $2.65 for $0.01 to $500.00, and $3.75 for $500.01 to $1,000.00. Pay with cash or a debit card, not a credit card. The limit is $1,000 per domestic money order ^[37]. Other sellers: money order guide.

Shredding

• Free event (upcoming): Keep the Midlands Beautiful, a nonprofit, lists a paper shred event on November 14 at Columbia Place Mall for Richland County residents only. Richland County events run 8 a.m. to noon, or until the truck is full. You can bring up to five boxes or bags of paper; business material isn't accepted; show a driver's license or other proof of residency ^[38]. Its earlier 2026 dates, including April 18 at Columbia Place Mall, are past.
• State events (statewide, past): the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs listed free shred events in October 2026; they are now past ^[39].
• The UPS Store: its Columbia page lists shredding ^[14]. Prices aren't listed online; call the store.

For paid per-pound shredding, see where to shred documents.

Questions

Sources

Sources last checked Oct 29 or Nov 3, 2026, as marked on each, except the locator data file.

1. Richland Library, "Ask Us FAQ: fax (last updated Oct 11, 2017)": askus.richlandlibrary.com/faq/207280 (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
2. Richland Library, "Ask Us FAQ: printing and copying (last updated Feb 16, 2022)": askus.richlandlibrary.com/faq/207278 (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
3. Richland Library, "Notary Services": richlandlibrary.com/services/notary-services (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
4. South Carolina Department of Public Health, "Birth Certificates (updated Sept. 14, 2026)": dph.sc.gov/public/vital-records/birth-certificates (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
5. South Carolina Department of Public Health, "Office Locations, Vital Records (updated Aug. 11, 2026)": dph.sc.gov/public/vital-records/about-vital-records/office-locations (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
6. Richland County Probate Court, "Marriage": richlandcountysc.gov/Courts-Safety/Probate-Court/Marriage (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
7. U.S. Department of State, Passport Acceptance Facility Locator (locator data file, downloaded Oct 28, 2026, filtered to South Carolina): passportfacilitylocator.travel.state.gov (last checked Oct 28, 2026)
8. U.S. Census Bureau, "Census Geocoder (address to geography lookup)": geocoding.geo.census.gov/geocoder (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
9. U.S. Census Bureau, "2025 Gazetteer place file, South Carolina": www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2025_Gazetteer/2025_gaz_place_45.txt (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
10. U.S. Census Bureau, "2020 Place by County relationship file, South Carolina": www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/codes2020/place_by_cou/st45_sc_place_by_county2020.txt (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
11. Richland Library, "Ask Us FAQ: remote printing (last updated Sep 21, 2020)": askus.richlandlibrary.com/faq/238596 (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
12. Richland Library, "Main Library": richlandlibrary.com/locations/main (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
13. Richland County Register of Deeds, "Recording Fees": richlandcountysc.gov/Property-Business/Mapping-and-Records/Register-of-Deeds/Recording-Fees (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
14. The UPS Store, "The UPS Store Locations in Columbia, South Carolina": locations.theupsstore.com/sc/columbia (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
15. Richland Library, "Ask Us FAQ: notary (last updated Oct 16, 2023)": askus.richlandlibrary.com/faq/207408 (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
16. The UPS Store, "Notary Services Nationwide": theupsstore.com/store-services/notary-services (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
17. South Carolina Legislature, "South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 26, Chapter 1 (Notaries Public)": scstatehouse.gov/code/t26c001.php (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
18. South Carolina Secretary of State, "Notaries": sos.sc.gov/services-and-filings/notaries (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
19. South Carolina Secretary of State, "Notary Public Application and Renewal Application (PDF, form dated 10.14.26)": sos.sc.gov/sites/sos/files/Documents/Mail%20In%20Service/Notaries/NP_Application_10.14.26.pdf (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
20. South Carolina Secretary of State, "Notary Public Reference Manual 2023 (PDF)": sos.sc.gov/sites/sos/files/Documents/Mail%20In%20Service/Notaries/Notary%20Public%20Reference%20Manual%202023.pdf (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
21. South Carolina Legislature, "South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 8, Chapter 21 (Fees and Costs)": scstatehouse.gov/code/t08c021.php (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
22. USPS, "Passports": usps.com/international/passports.htm (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
23. U.S. Department of State, passport fees page (Last Updated March 19, 2026): travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/help/fees.html (last checked Oct 29, 2026)
24. South Carolina Department of Public Health, "Fees - Vital Records (Birth, Death, etc)": dph.sc.gov/public/vital-records/about-vital-records/fees-vital-records-birth-death-etc (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
25. South Carolina Department of Public Health, "Death Certificates (updated Sept. 14, 2026)": dph.sc.gov/public/vital-records/death-certificates (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
26. South Carolina Department of Public Health, "Divorce Reports (updated Oct. 14, 2026)": dph.sc.gov/public/vital-records/divorce-reports (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
27. South Carolina Secretary of State, "Certification of Vital Records (apostilles)": sos.sc.gov/services-and-filings/apostilles/certification-vital-records (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
28. South Carolina Legislature, "South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 20, Chapter 1 (Marriage)": scstatehouse.gov/code/t20c001.php (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
29. South Carolina Department of Public Health, "Marriage Certificates (updated Oct. 14, 2026)": dph.sc.gov/public/vital-records/marriage-certificates (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
30. Lexington County Probate Court, "Marriage Licenses": lex-co.sc.gov/departments/probate-court/marriage-licenses (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
31. Richland County Probate Court, "Marriage Licenses": richlandcountysc.gov/Courts-Safety/Probate-Court/Marriage/Marriage-Licenses (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
32. Richland County Register of Deeds, "Register of Deeds": richlandcountysc.gov/Property-Business/Mapping-and-Records/Register-of-Deeds (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
33. Richland County Clerk of Court, "Common Pleas": richlandcountysc.gov/Courts-Safety/Civil-Court/Common-Pleas (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
34. Richland County Clerk of Court, "Clerk of Court": richlandcountysc.gov/Government/Elected-Offices/Clerk-of-Court (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
35. South Carolina Secretary of State, "Apostilles": sos.sc.gov/services-and-filings/apostilles (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
36. South Carolina Secretary of State, "Authentication Cover Letter (PDF, revised July 2026)": sos.sc.gov/sites/sos/files/Documents/Mail%20In%20Service/Apostilles/AuthenticationCoverLetter2026.pdf (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
37. USPS, "Money Orders": usps.com/shop/money-orders.htm (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
38. Keep the Midlands Beautiful (nonprofit event organizer), "Paper Shredding Events": keepthemidlandsbeautiful.org/paper-shredding-events (last checked Nov 3, 2026)
39. South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, "Shred Events": consumer.sc.gov/Shred-Events (last checked Nov 3, 2026)

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