South Carolina Marriage License Records
South Carolina marriage license records are public documents stored at Probate Courts in all 46 counties. Each Probate Court handles new license applications and keeps signed marriage certificates on file after the wedding takes place. The South Carolina Department of Public Health also holds copies of marriage records from July 1950 through December 2023. You can search for a marriage license through county offices or through the state vital records system. Whether you need a new South Carolina marriage license or a copy of an existing record, this page covers the process, requirements, fees, and where to look.
South Carolina Marriage License Quick Facts
Find Marriage License Offices in South Carolina
The Probate Court in each South Carolina county issues marriage licenses. You can apply at any county. The license is valid for use across the whole state. It does not matter where you plan to hold the ceremony. South Carolina does not require you to be a resident. Couples from any state or country can apply at any county Probate Court office. Two counties work a bit different. In Darlington County and Georgetown County, the Clerk of Court issues marriage licenses instead of the Probate Court. This rule is set out in South Carolina Code Section 20-1-220. All other counties use the Probate Court for license applications.
The South Carolina Judicial Department website lists court contact details for all 46 counties. You can find your local Probate Court address, phone number, and hours through their directory.
Probate Courts handle marriage licenses, estates, guardianships, and other civil matters across South Carolina.
Apply for a South Carolina Marriage License
Both people must show up in person to apply for a South Carolina marriage license. You can go to any Probate Court in the state. South Carolina law requires a written application filed at least 24 hours before the license can be released. The Probate Court will not issue the license until that waiting period passes. Both parties must sign the application. You provide your full name, age, and place of residence. Social Security numbers are required on the form. If you do not have one, a letter from the Social Security Administration will work. Resident aliens may use their alien identification number. The application stays on file as a permanent record at the Probate Court. After the 24 hours pass, the court issues the license once you pay the fee and provide a sworn statement that both parties are legally able to marry under Section 20-1-230 of South Carolina law.
The South Carolina Department of Public Health provides information on how to order certified copies of marriage certificates from the state.
Certified copies from the state vital records office cost $12 for a standard search fee. That fee covers one copy of the marriage certificate if the record is found. Additional copies are $3 each.
Your South Carolina marriage license stays valid for six months after it is issued. If no ceremony takes place in that time, you must reapply. The license works anywhere in the state but not outside South Carolina. During the ceremony, you and your officiant sign three copies. Two go back to the Probate Court. One copy is yours to keep. The court gives you a stamped envelope for mailing the signed copies back. The Eventfully Chic guide walks through the full timeline for applying and signing your South Carolina marriage license.
This guide is helpful for couples planning a wedding in South Carolina who want to know when to apply for their marriage license and how the signing works on the day of the ceremony.
South Carolina Marriage License Requirements
South Carolina has clear rules about who can get a marriage license. Both parties must be at least 16 years old under Section 20-1-100. Any marriage with a person under 16 is void from the start. If either person is between 16 and 18, a parent or guardian must give written consent by signing a sworn affidavit at the Probate Court. The minor must also show proof of age with a birth certificate, hospital certificate, military ID, or passport. There is no blood test needed. You do not have to live in South Carolina to apply. Bring valid photo identification and proof of your Social Security number when you go to the Probate Court.
Acceptable forms of photo ID include a state driver's license, a state ID card, a military ID, or a current passport. For your Social Security number, you can bring the card itself, a W-2, or page one of a tax return that shows your name and number. Non-citizens must bring a valid passport and current visa with their alien registration number.
The South Carolina Secretary of State explains how to get vital records certified or apostilled for use outside the country.
Certified copies of a South Carolina marriage license can come from the county Probate Court or from the state Department of Public Health vital records office.
Marriage Ceremony Officiants in South Carolina
South Carolina law limits who can perform a wedding ceremony. Only ministers of the Gospel, Jewish rabbis, officers authorized to administer oaths, and the chief or spiritual leader of a recognized Native American Indian entity may officiate. Notary publics qualify as officers authorized to administer oaths. These rules come from Section 20-1-20 of the South Carolina Code. The Probate Court does not perform marriage ceremonies. A ceremony is required by law in South Carolina. You cannot simply sign the license and file it without one.
Performing a ceremony without seeing a valid marriage license is against the law. An officiant who does so faces a fine of $25 to $100 or jail time of 10 to 30 days under Section 20-1-210. Once the ceremony is done, the officiant must return two signed copies of the marriage license to the Probate Court within 15 days. The court records the certificate and sends one copy to the Division of Vital Records at the South Carolina Department of Public Health.
South Carolina Marriage License Fees
Marriage license fees in South Carolina vary by county. Each Probate Court sets its own rate. Greenville County charges $45 for local residents and $95 for out-of-state couples. Charleston County charges $70 through its online LOVE application system. Oconee County charges $30 for South Carolina residents and $45 for non-residents. Spartanburg County charges $80. On top of the base fee, state law adds $20 to every marriage license under Section 20-1-375. That extra $20 goes to the Domestic Violence Fund. All fees are typically non-refundable.
South Carolina also offers a one-time $50 state income tax credit for couples who finish a qualifying premarital preparation course. The course must last at least six hours. A licensed professional counselor or an active member of the clergy must teach it. Both partners must attend together and complete the course within 12 months of applying for the marriage license.
You can order copies of marriage certificates online through VitalChek, the state's authorized ordering service for vital records.
VitalChek processes orders in 5 to 7 business days. The service charges a $17 expedited searching fee plus a $12.85 processing fee and shipping costs on top of the base state fees.
Search South Carolina Marriage Certificates
After a wedding in South Carolina, the signed marriage license goes back to the Probate Court. The court records the certificate and sends one copy to the Division of Vital Records at the Department of Public Health. The state office holds records for marriages from July 1950 through December 2023. For records outside those dates, you need to contact the Probate Court in the county that issued the license. You can request a certified copy of a South Carolina marriage certificate by mail, online, or in person. The standard mail fee is $12 and covers the search plus one copy. Extra copies cost $3 each. The CDC vital records page for South Carolina lists the mailing address and current fees for mail requests.
Mail requests go to the SC Department of Public Health, Vital Records Section, P.O. Box 2046, West Columbia, SC 29171. Payment must be by money order or cashier's check made payable to SCDHEC Vital Records.
When requesting a South Carolina marriage certificate, you need the following:
- Full names of both spouses as they appear on the marriage license
- Date the marriage took place
- County where the license was issued
- A photocopy of your valid photo ID
- Payment by money order or cashier's check for mail requests
Note: Applications sent without proper identification are rejected and not processed by the South Carolina vital records office.
South Carolina Marriage Records History
South Carolina Probate Courts have kept marriage license records since July 1, 1911. Before that date, churches and religious organizations were the main keepers of marriage records in the state. Some counties have records that go back further through their own courthouse archives. The state began collecting copies through the Division of Vital Records in July 1950. Under the South Carolina Family Respect Act, the Governor's office publishes a pamphlet that every Probate Court gives to couples when they apply for a marriage license. This pamphlet covers family values and the responsibilities of marriage in South Carolina.
For genealogy research, Ancestry offers historical South Carolina marriage record collections that can help trace family history.
Ancestry provides access to marriage indexes, vital records, and other documents for family history research across South Carolina.
The South Carolina Attorney General has issued opinions on how to establish an official record of marriage when the original certificate was never filed. Under Section 20-1-570, you can file affidavits from witnesses or a certificate from the officiant to create an official record. The Attorney General's opinion explains the full process for establishing a marriage record in South Carolina.
South Carolina marriage laws are found in Title 20, Chapter 1 of the South Carolina Code of Laws.
This chapter covers who may marry, the license application process, recording requirements, and all other rules for marriage in South Carolina.
Title 20 of the South Carolina Code sets the rules that every Probate Court follows when processing marriage license applications across the state.
South Carolina Marriage License by County
Each of the 46 counties in South Carolina has a Probate Court that issues marriage licenses and keeps marriage records on file. Pick a county below to find local office details, fees, and resources for marriage license records in that area.
Browse Marriage License in South Carolina Cities
Residents of major cities apply for a marriage license at the Probate Court in their county. Pick a city below to learn about the marriage license process in your area.