Trans Resource Navigator

South Carolina

ID documents
Restrictive
Care
Restrictive
Shield lawA state law that protects patients and providers of gender-affirming care from investigations, subpoenas, or extradition attempts by states that ban that care.
No

South Carolina lets trans people change their name and their M or F sex marker, but only through the family court: a name change petition requires SLED fingerprinting and child-abuse and sex offender registry checks, and the birth certificate and driver's license need a court order for the sex marker.

More about South Carolina

There is no X option. Adults can still get hormone therapy, but a 2024 law bans public funds (including Medicaid and the state employee plan) for transition care at any age and bans it entirely for minors. There is no shield law.

This state’s pages are drafts written from official sources and not yet checked by a person. What this means

Your documents, in order

Most people go in this order, because each office checks the one before it. On every document, updating your name and changing your gender marker are separate questions with separate answers.

  1. Legal name changeState court
    Name
    LimitedNo newspaper notice, hearing sometimes
  2. Social SecurityFederal, same in every state
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    NoCannot be changed right now
  3. Driver's license / state IDSouth Carolina DMV
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    LimitedM or F with a court order
  4. US passportFederal, same in every state
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    NoCannot be changed right now
  5. Birth certificateOnly if born in South Carolina
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    LimitedM or F with a court order

Born somewhere other than South Carolina? Your birth certificate follows the state where you were born. Choose your birth state

Gender-affirming care

Adults
Limited
Under 18
Banned
Adults in South Carolina can still legally get hormone therapy, including from Planned Parenthood and telehealth, but since May 2024 state law bars any public funds from paying for it at any age, so Medicaid and the…Find clinics, health centers, telehealth, and ways to pay

Local help

Statewide organizations

  • Harriet Hancock LGBT Center[5][6]

    Columbia LGBTQ+ center with a statewide Legal Name & Gender Marker Change Program (free attorney help, fee assistance, free fingerprinting clinic), trans peer support, and a vetted resource guide of affirming providers.

    • Free
    803-771-77131108 Woodrow Street, Columbia, SC 29205

  • SC Equality[7]

    Statewide LGBTQ advocacy organization that tracks bills in the General Assembly and publishes resources.

    • Free
    803-256-6500

  • ACLU of South Carolina[8]

    Civil liberties organization litigating South Carolina's gender-affirming care law (Misanin v. Wilson).

    • Free

  • Trans Lifeline[9]

    Peer-support hotline run by and for trans people, 877-565-8860.

    • Free
    877-565-8860Languages: English, Español
Sources for this page (9)

Sources

9 sources. Numbers in the text, like [1], point here.

  1. S.C. Code Title 15, Chapter 49, Change of NameSouth Carolina Legislature, Law. accessed
  2. Birth CertificatesSouth Carolina Department of Public Health, Official page. accessed
    “The sex listed on a birth certificate may only be changed by an order from a court of competent jurisdiction.”
  3. S.C. Code Title 44, Chapter 42, Gender Reassignment ProceduresSouth Carolina Legislature, Law. accessed
    “Public funds may not be used directly or indirectly for gender transition procedures.”
  4. South Carolina state profileMovement Advancement Project, Organization. accessed
  5. Harriet Hancock LGBT CenterHarriet Hancock LGBT Center, Organization. accessed
  6. SC EqualitySC Equality, Organization. accessed
  7. Misanin v. WilsonACLU of South Carolina, Organization. accessed
  8. Trans LifelineOrganization. accessed