If you're getting married in South Carolina, you must first apply for a marriage license.
It'll cost you $30.00 to $100.00, plus you'll have an unlimited amount of time to use it, as it won't expire.
To get married in South Carolina, first apply for a marriage license at any probate court. The probate judge or clerk will process your application.
Your county residency only affects the license fee, not where you can apply or marry.
A South Carolina marriage license costs between $30 and $100. The fee varies by county and residency. Most applicants pay about $50.
Your marriage license can be used anywhere in South Carolina, but only in South Carolina.
The marriage license application will ask for your name, birth surname, birthdate, birthplace, race, sex, residence, total prior marriages, and social security number or alien identification number.
You and your prospective spouse must apply together in person. Applying absentee is not an option.
If you're at least 18 years old and mentally competent, you can marry without parental consent.
If you're 16 or 17 years old, you can marry with the consent of a custodial parent or guardian. Consent can be granted in person or by sworn affidavit.
If you're below the age of 15, you can't marry, except in cases of pregnancy.
Update: On December 12, 2018, State Senator Katrina Shealy (R) introduced Senate Bill S0196, which would outlaw marriage below the age of 16.
Update 1: On December 18, 2018, South Carolina House Representatives Beth Bernstein, Neal Collins, and Shannon Erickson pre-filed House Bill 3369, which would rescind the pregnancy exception provision that allows minors to marry.
Update 2: As of November 30, 2022, state law no longer allows females below the age of 18 to marry without parental consent if she's pregnant or have given birth to a child.
Complete a 6-hour premarital preparation course within a year before marriage to get a one-time $50 state income tax credit. The course must be taken together. The tax credit will be split 50/50. Show your certificate of completion when applying to have your license properly notated.
Your marriage license will be ready for pick up 24 hours after filing your application. Remember, most probate courts are closed weekends.
The mandatory 24-hour wait can't be waived, nor will a license be issued in advance showing tomorrow's "effective" date.
South Carolina marriage licenses do not expire, which is a rarity among states.
If you're at least 18 years old, bring valid government-issued photo ID that verifies your age.
In addition to showing photo ID, minors must surrender an original or certified copy of their birth, baptismal, or hospital certificate.
The consenting parent must bring ID. If divorced, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree proving custody. Guardians, bring ID and proof of guardianship.
Some probate courts will ask to see your social security card or another document containing your social security number.
You don't have to get a premarital blood test. However, you'll be given information on family planning.
Some probate courts will ask to see a certified copy of your divorce decree, especially if divorced within the past year.
Widows and widowers don't need to bring their late spouse's death certificate.
Changing your name after marriage in South Carolina isn't automatic. The name change process utilizes your marriage certificate to authorize various federal and state organizations to honor your request. They must be alerted individually, starting with the Social Security Administration.
Witnesses aren't required to attend your marriage ceremony.
You can be married by a minister of the gospel, rabbi, notary public, official authorized to administer oaths, or leader of a state-recognized Indian entity.
You and your prospective spouse can't act as your own officiant. A third-party must be involved.
Some probate courts provide civil ceremony services by appointment for roughly $20.
Your marriage license must be returned to the issuing probate court for recording and indexing within 15 days after the ceremony.
Probate courts sell certified marriage certificate copies for about $5, but only for marriage licenses their office issued. The state's vital records office also sells them for $12, but only spanning July 1950 to December 2014.
You can't get married by proxy by using a stand-in to represent you. Physical attendance of your ceremony is mandatory.
Marriage without first divorcing is allowed if your spouse has abandoned you for the past five years and their whereabouts is unknown.
You can indeed marry your first cousin.
You can't marry a descendant, ascendant, sibling, stepsibling, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew. Cousins are ok though.
The South Carolina Supreme Court abolished common law marriage in South Carolina effective July 24, 2019. However, common law marriages established before this date will remain valid.
Where will you apply?
Share your questions or comments
Hi Tina. Go to any probate court. Bring $30 to $100, photo ID, divorce decree (if applicable), and maybe your social security card. You'll get your marriage license 24 hours after you apply.
Karen Harnesberger says:how many marriage licenses were applied for in Greenville County during the year of 2018? I need this information for my business plan for a bank loan for a wedding venue. Thank you, Karen Harneberger
Staff says:The CDC has marriage stats up to 2017. If you need 2018 statistics, you'll have to contact the Greenville County Probate Court clerk.
Selena holder says:How can me and my boyfriend that's from Mexico and he only has a passport get married at the court house
Staff says:he only has a passport get married at the court houseThat's sufficient ID. Yasmine Barnett says:
Did you get info? My fiancé has his Mexican passport and Mexican ID !! I’m going through the same thing but where I went to ask for info they require a Social Security Number.. Without a SSN we can’t get marry !! Plz help
Editor says:but where I went to ask for info they require a Social Security NumberSocial security number for U.S. citizens. Alien identification number for non-U.S. citizens. Nancy B says:
We want to marry on the sand at Folly Beach. IS there a listing or directory available to find an official that will marry us there?
Staff says:Hi Nancy. You'll have to hire a minister or other type of officiant to perform your marriage like any other wedding professional for hire. Just search for South Carolina officiants in your area. You could also try contacting the Charleston County probate court for local recommendations.
Ethan Pate says:So, after we get our marriage license at the court house, are we legally married? or do we have to have a ceremony.
Staff says:Hi Ethan. Your marriage license merely permits you to marry. The ceremony is necessary to make your marriage legal.
Linda M Hughes says:I hate downtown traffic, is there another location to apply for a marriage license besides University Ridge in Greenville County?
Editor says:is there another location to apply for a marriage license besides University Ridge in Greenville County?
No, Greenville County only has that one location. You don't have to apply in Greenville. You may apply in any South Carolina county, but the fees will vary. You'll also probably miss out on the discounted fee for county residents. Not all counties provide the discount though.
Nina says:We want to get married but wait to have the ceremony till next year when we have more money. Is that an issue? We dont want a Church official to marry us as we arent religious. So can the court marry us instead? And how much?
Editor says:We want to get married but wait to have the ceremony till next year when we have more money.
If your marriage is going to be solemnized now, the ceremony you have next year will be an informal event that doesn't use your marriage license. Your marriage date will be what takes place prior.
So can the court marry us instead? And how much?Yes, the probate court can marry you through a civil ceremony. It'll cost you about $20. Kelly Hughey says:
where is the closes probate court, that will marry someone, other than Gaffney sc , they don't perform marriages anymore
Editor says:where is the closes probate court, that will marry someone, other than Gaffney sc
Gaffney is in Cherokee County. Cherokee's neighboring counties are Spartanburg, Union, Chester, and York. Use the office locations drop-down to get the office addresses.
Brandan Allen says:Does the Horry County Courthouse allow small civil ceremonies for weddings, if so how do I make an appointment?
Editor says:Does the Horry County Courthouse allow small civil ceremonies for weddings
Yes, ceremonies are conducted in the probate court during normal business hours, which is 8am to 5pm, Monday through Friday.
if so how do I make an appointment?
You can find the Horry County Probate Court contact information using the counties dropdown. You may not have to make an appointment if you arrive well before closing time. You also don't have to have your ceremony performed on the same day you receive your marriage license.
Zina says:Can me and my fiance get a marriage license in NC where we reside and have the ceremony in SC? Or do we need to get our marriage license in SC?
Editor says:HI Zina. Since your ceremony will take place in South Carolina, you must get a South Carolina marriage license.
Rachel says:Does Berkeley County Probate court do civil ceremonies? And if so how would I go about scheduling one?
Editor says: Hi Rachel. I don't believe they do perform civil ceremonies, although they are authorized to. Joanna says:Can you get married at the probate court on Decker Blvd ? If so is an appointment needed and how do you make an appointment?
Editor says: Hi Joanna. You will have to contact the probate court and make an appointment. jag says:I'm planning to marry my girl. shes a foreign national btw. Is a Passport with Visa acceptable as proof for alien identification number? or how does that work? Plus having a link/list showing which probate courts offer civil ceremonies would be really great. The only reason im asking this is cos based on what ive read so far, not all courts offer them.
Editor says:Passport with Visa acceptable as proof for alien identification number?That's sufficient ID.
having a link/list showing which probate courts offer civil ceremonies would be really great.
Although all probate courts are permitted to perform marriages, not all do. And not all those that do publish their services. If there's a set of counties you're considering, reply back here and I'll try and look that up for you.
Jay says:We got married last October and I turned in the probate judge copy but never turned in the probate/dhec copy. It totally slipped my mind. Are we legally married if I didn’t turn in that copy?
Editor says: Hi Jay. You should be good if the probate copy was turned in. David Dennis says: Who files the marriage license after the marriage? Editor says: Hi David. Whoever officiates the marriage should turn in the marriage license. Marie says:We have had our marriage license over a year but havent found a place to get married. We got it in york county. Is it still good? Also which counties let you get married in the courthouse? York county does not.
Editor says:Is it still good?South Carolina marriage licenses don't expire after issuance.
which counties let you get married in the courthouse?
There isn't a defined list of courthouses that do civil ceremonies. You'll have to contact them individually to inquire. The ones that do often require an appointment.
Ambur White says:How much does it cost for a Courthouse marriage after you already have the marriage license and what Courthouse can we go to get married at in Sumter,SC
Editor says:How much does it cost for a Courthouse marriage after you already have the marriage licenseAbout $20, give or take.
and what Courthouse can we go to get married at in Sumter,SC
None. The courthouse in Sumter County used to perform civil marriage ceremonies, but not any more. Get in touch with a reverent, ordained minister, or notary public instead.
Kristina says:Is there a courthouse in Greenville County that will marry you? The one on University Ridge says that they don't…
Editor says:Is there a courthouse in Greenville County that will marry you?No, but here's a list of notaries that perform marriages. Sarah Carsten says:
My boyfriend is from Germany and I am from South Carolina. We are looking at what would be the most cost-effective way for us to get married legally in the future. He has a German passport and a German ID card, while I have a Social Security Card, passport and a SC driver's license. Will this be enough for us to get married in South Carolina legally? Also, if it is and we can get married legally in SC, how much would it cost us?
Editor says:Will this be enough for us to get married in South Carolina legally?
how much would it cost us?
Civil ceremonies cost around $20. Getting married by an non-governmental officiant or notary public varies. They set the own price. Getting married by a notary should set you back between $50 and $100.
Sharon says:Hi , I want to marry my fiancé , she is from Ireland , has valid visa in passport , when I called the courts about obtaining a Marriage License they told me we both have to bring our SSC's with us , how can we get around that .Thank you
Editor says:Hi Sharon. Did you make clear to the court that your fiance didn't have a SSN? At worse, you may have to provide a statement from the SSA that your fiance doesn't have a SSN.
Michael says:We are from Tennessee and planned on getting married on Saturday. We found out there is a 24 hour wait for the license. Is there any location that we can apply tomorrow and recieve the license to get married on Saturday? Thank you for the help.
Editor says:Hi Michael. The 24-hour wait is standard across the state. At best you could request the license be issued immediately, with its effective date stamped for Saturday. You may want to call ahead to determine if this would even be possible.
Serenity Jackson says:I live in Florida and my fiancé lives in South Carolina. I would like my pastor from Florida to officiate our wedding in South Carolina. Is that allowed?
Editor says:Is that allowed?Yes, that's allowed. Rachel Reid says:
What would I need to get married? We are thinking about getting married around the holiday - a courthouse wedding and wanted to be sure.
Editor says:Hi Rachel. Not all probate courts offer courthouse weddings. You'll have to contact them in advance and ask about availability and scheduling an appointment. If need be, you can apply in one probate court and get married in another.
Erika Turner says: Do the court house in Sumter SC do civil Marriage? Editor says: Hi Erika. The Sumter County Probate Court does not perform courthouse civil marriages. Kiefer says:If i got a marriage license in jan but never picked it up or got married is it still good now. I am getting married next wk thanks
Editor says: Hi Kiefer. You can still use your marriage license, even after a year. Mark says:Hello, What is required for getting married to a foreigner? Will she just need her birth certificate and ID? My fiancee is Korean and we are planning on getting married in December.
Editor says: Hi Mark. Passport and visa would suffice. Rebecca Durrance says:We are both residents of FL, but plan on being in SC in April, we would like to get married while there. Is this possible and if so what do we need to apply? He is divorced and I am a widow. Thank you in advance. Rebecca
Editor says:Hi Rebecca. There are no special requirements for out-of-state residents. Bring ID and your social security card. If you can't bring the latter, bring a document that shows your SSN. Your partner should bring a certified copy of their divorce decree. Widowers typically don't have to show their late spouse's death certificate, but if you already have it, it doesn't hurt to bring as well. Finally, make sure you factor in the 24-hour waiting period before receiving your license.
Cindy Elaine says:We have the license but it was never signed/returned to the probate judge, then we decided to cancel our wedding a few months later. Will this affect our ability to marry other people in the future? Since the license never expires in SC.
Editor says:Hi Cindy. You may want to look into getting your marriage annulled. Counting on a non-return to make your marriage event disappear is a brittle path.
Ms Laquanda Perlote says:How much do it cost for me and my boyfriend to get marry for the first time and can we bring witness with us
Ms Laquanda Perlote says: Do we have to pay or do the witness have to pay a fee for being there with us Editor says: Hi Laquanda. The ceremony fee is approximately $20. There's no fee for witnesses to attend. Editor says:Hi Laquanda. The average is $50, but the range is quite wide. Use the locations lookup to see the precise fee. Witnesses are up to the person, courthouse, or judge performing your marriage. You'll have to consult with them.
Kaylee says:Hello, My Fiancé and I are getting Married in June in Horry County, SC. We were told we could file for our Marriage Licenses online, instead of driving to Conway twice in one week. Is this true? If so, what website would we use.
Editor says:We were told we could file for our Marriage Licenses online
Unless they've gotten it buried somewhere on the Horry County Probate Court website, I don't see any such functionality. You'll have to contact them back and get the link.
Carl says:I am a notary in SC. I have officiated a wedding before and did the ceremony and such. This time, I have been asked to witness a wedding and they wanted a minister from out of the country to actually perform the ceremony with me being there. If I am in attendance and they have all appropriate ID, along with me fill out the paperwork after the ceremony when I meet with them privately, is this acceptable and legalize their marriage? Basically, the only thing I won’t do is go over their vows. I would do all my due diligence afterwards. Is this acceptable? Thank you.
Editor says: Hi Carl. Whoever goes over their vows needs to fill out the certificate of marriage. Ray says:Good morning , I am a licensed ordained minister in WV. My daughter wants to get married in South Carolina, what will I need to do to perform the ceremony. Thank you
Editor says:what will I need to do to perform the ceremony.Nothing special. Just perform the ceremony. No registration needed. Megan says:
If we get married in Virginia this weekend because my mother's health is in jeopardy, can we also get married in South Carolina? Do we need to do a renewal of vows or can we get a marriage license also in South Carolina. Our original plan was IOP marriage but we will do this ceremony in a week so my mother can attend our wedding. What do we need to do for the ceremony in SC?
Editor says:can we also get married in South Carolina?Not legally.
can we get a marriage license also in South Carolina
South Carolina won't issue you a marriage license to remarry your current spouse. Only a few states allow this. Unfortunately, South Carolina isn't among them.
What do we need to do for the ceremony in SC?
You can perform an informal vow renewal. Your marriage will be legally recorded in Virginia. South Carolina wouldn't establish a record of it.
Yasmin Davidson says:My boyfriend and I want to get married in Richmond County. He does not have a SSN. He's from overseas. Can we still get a marriage license?
Editor says:Hi Yasmin. Your boyfriend doesn't have to supply a SSN if he doesn't have one. It won't get in the way of your getting a marriage license.
Delphina says:How can me and my husband legally get married he is currently incarcerated in SCDC. and I live in NM. is there a way possible?
Editor says:Hi Delphina. Your partner must make arrangements. They'll make a security assessment and decide to approve or decline. Your marriage would have to take place in South Carolina. Likely within the prison.
Sara Elizabeth says:I was wondering what the process is and if it's possible for my fiance to get married even though he is incarcerated right now? He's in another county but we're from Lauren's county. I don't know if that matters. Does he have to start the process with an application or form from the prison or do I?
Editor says:Does he have to start the process with an application or form from the prison or do I?
It's better if your partner starts the process with prison officials, but you're free to contact them to inquire.
Minister Kevin says:I recently became a minister of a church online in order to officiate a wedding in Charleston County. Is there some kind of documentation that I have to provide the probate court to show that I am an "ordained minister of the Gospel?" Thank you.
Editor says:Hi Kevin. You're not required to provide the probate court any credentials. South Carolina doesn't register officiants.
Lanae Smalls says:Hey me and my boyfriend are looking to get married. I'm from Charleston and he from Walterboro. What do we need to be married?
Editor says:What do we need to be married?
There are no residency restrictions. You can get your marriage license anywhere in South Carolina, then marry anywhere in the state.
Diana Scott says: Can a REAL ID be used instead of social security card? Editor says:Hi Diana. A Real ID is fine for ID purposes, but it won't have your social security number, so it's no good for that. Some courts will ask to see something with your social security number. If you don't have a SS card, they may accept something else, such as a W-2 or pay stub.
E Camp says: Can I get married by the probate judge in Richland, Lexington, Kershaw or Fairfield County? Editor says:Can I get married by the probate judge
Hi Layne. At a minimum, bring government-issued photo ID. If you're a minor, bring a certified copy of your birth certificate. If you've been divorced, you may have to bring your divorce decree. Some offices may want to see your social security card. You can call ahead to confirm if added documents are needed.
Jenny Rutland says:My common law husband and I have lived together for 20 years and have one child together. Is this considered a legal marriage? We were concerned, due to our age, if death occurs, their might be further issues with Social Security etc. We are considering actual getting married, if this is going to cause issues. Is it required to have a ceremony or can we obtain a marriage license without a ceremony to be considered legally married? Thanks in advance for your assistance!
Editor says:Is this considered a legal marriage?
The length of time you've been together doesn't establish a common law marriage. Even if it's decades. You have to show intention to marry (such as a written agreement) or something informal where you refer to yourselves as husband and wife publicly.
We were concerned, due to our age, if death occurs, their might be further issues with Social Security
If you were to get married, this would erase all doubt. You should consider consulting with a South Carolina lawyer versed in common-law marriages and how it would affect future benefits if you don't formally marry.
Is it required to have a ceremony or can we obtain a marriage license without a ceremony
Ceremony is required, but it needn't be elaborate. You can have the probate court do it for a modest fee. Or hire a third-party, such as a notary public.
Jenny Rutland says: Thank you for your assistance! Sam says:I am married in another state, I don't know where my ex lives. I have tried looking at public records and online for the last three years. I have even tried social media. Do I need to get a divorce first to marry my fiance now? I live in South Carolina for 5 years.