South Carolina Marriage License Requirements

Find out how to get married in SC

If you're getting married in the state of South Carolina you must first apply for a wedding license at any in-state county clerk office. These offices, some of which are referred to as the "marriage license bureau," are usually located in the county probate court or circuit court. This document outlines the requirements you must adhere to in order to get a valid marriage license that can be used statewide. Let's begin…

Cost of Your License

How much does a marriage license cost?

The marriage license fee is roughly $25.00 dollars, although fees may vary from county to county. Out of state applicants will be charged a higher fee than in-state residents. Accepted forms of payment are cash.

Residency Requirement

Are there any special residency conditions for in-state or out-of-state residents?

There are none. You do not have to be a previous or current resident of South Carolina to obtain a marriage license that will be valid statewide.

Waiting Period

After I submit my application how long do I have to wait before I receive my marriage license?

There is a mandatory 1 day waiting period before your license is issued to you. In most states, the waiting period does not include Saturdays, Sundays or federal holidays. In some instances, the day the application is filed is not included within the waiting period timeline.

Is there a waiting period from the moment the license is given to me to the date I'm allowed to actually marry?

No, you can get married immediately after your marriage license is issued.

License Expiration

How long will my marriage license remain valid once it's been issued?

Your marriage license will never expire once it's been issued.

What happens if my marriage license expires before I get a chance to use it?

This scenario wouldn't apply to you because, as stated above, your license will not expire once it's been issued to you.

Age Requirement

How old must I be to get married?

You must be at least 18 years of age or older to marry without parental consent. A birth certificate may be necessary to show proof of age.

What if one or both of us is younger than 18?

If either partner is under 18, one parent or legal guardian must be present. If a parent can not be present, due to death, separation, divorce or other circumstances, proper evidence must be presented for verification. You will need a certified copy of your birth certificate.

Blood Test

Are blood tests and physical exams required?

No blood test or physical exam is required.

Divorced or Widowed Applicants

What if one or both partners have been divorced or have had a spouse die?

If previously married, the date of divorce or date of spouse's death must be provided.

Marriage Name Change

How do I legally change my name before or after I get married?

When you are married, you will receive a marriage certificate, which is a piece of paper proving that you are legally married. This document will serve as evidence of your marriage, which you'll need to complete the process of notifying several government agencies about your name change, as well as any non-government institutions that you do business with (ie, banks, employers, credit cards, memberships, etc).

There is an online marriage name change kit that you can use and complete before or after your marriage takes place. It's applicable for South Carolina or any other state in the union. Completing all the necessary name change documentation prior to your wedding is recommended in order to expedite the name change process.

Proxy Marriage

What is a proxy marriage?

A proxy marriage, also known as a "proxy wedding," is when one or both partners to be married are unable to physically attend the ceremony. The missing person, or persons, will have someone "stand in" for them and serve as their "proxy."

Can I get married by proxy if I'm unable to to be present for the ceremony?

No, getting married by proxy is not allowed in South Carolina. There are actually only five states left that do allow marriage by proxy.

Common Law Marriage

What is a common law marriage?

The term "common law marriage" refers to an informal marriage, based upon cohabitation and a mutual understanding by both partners, rather than getting married through a civil or religious ceremony. The latter, more common approach, would require an actual South Carolina marriage license.

Is a common law marriage a legal option for me instead of undergoing a conventional marriage?

No, common-law marriages are not allowed in South Carolina. This is unsurprising as only one-fifth of the country currently recognizes common law marriage.

Cousin Marriage

Can I get married to my cousin?

Yes, cousin marriages (first, second, etc) are allowed to take place.

Same Sex Marriage

Are same sex marriages legal?

No, same-sex marriages are not allowed or legally recognized in South Carolina, nor are they recognized on the federal level.

Where to Go

Where do I physically need to go to get my marriage license?

South Carolina has 46 offices where a marriage license can be acquired. Simply choose a location below to visit. Phone numbers as well as map and accompanying driving direction links are provided for every address.

Abbeville County , Probate Court

Court Sq & Main St
Abbeville, SC 29620

864-459-4626

Aiken County , Probate Court

109 Park Ave SE
Aiken, SC 29801

803-642-2002

Allendale County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 737
Allendale, SC 29810

803-584-3157

Anderson County , Probate Court

100 S Main St
Anderson, SC 29622

864-260-4049

Bamberg County , Probate Court

110 N Main St
Bamberg, SC 29003

803-245-3008

Barnwell County , Probate Court

Courthouse # 112
Barnwell, SC 29812

803-541-1031

Beaufort County Clerk , Probate Court

100 Ribaut Road
Beaufort, SC 29901

843-525-7440

Berkeley County , Probate Court

300 California Ave, # B
Moncks Corder, SC 29461

843-719-4519

Calhoun County , Probate Court

302 Railroad Ave
St Matthews, SC 29135

803-874-3514

Charleston County , Judicial Center

100 Broad St, Suite 469
Charleston, SC 29401

843-958-5183

Cherokee County , Probate Court

1434 N Limestone St
Gaffney, SC 29342

864-487-2583

Chester County , Probate Court

140 Main St
Chester, SC 29706

803-385-2604

Chesterfield County , Probate Court

200 W Main St
Chesterfield, SC 29709

843-623-2376

Clarendon County , Probate Court

Courthouse # 103
Clarendon, SC 29102

803-435-8774

Colleton County , Probate Court

200 E Washington St
Walterboro, SC 29488

843-549-7216

Darlington County , Probate Court

10 Public Sq., # 208
Darlington, SC 29532

843-398-4310

Dillon County , Probate Court

401 W Main St, # 303
Dillon, SC 29536

843-774-1423

Dorchester County Recorder , Probate Court

101 Ridge St
St George, SC 29477

843-832-0105

Edgefield County , Probate Court

124 Courthouse Sq
Edgefield, SC 29824

803-637-4076

Fairfield County , Probate Court

Congress & Washington St
Winnsboro, SC 29180

803-635-1411

Florence County , Probate Court

80 N Irby St, # Msc-L
Florence, SC 29501

843-665-3085

Georgetown County Clerk , Probate Court

715 Prince St
Georgetown, SC 29442

843-527-6325

Greenville County Clerk , Marriage License

301 University
Ridge # 1200
Greenville, SC 29601

864-467-7571

Greenwood County , Probate Court

Room 114 County Court House
Greenwood, SC 29646

864-942-8625

Hampton County , Probate Court

Elm St
Hampton, SC 29924

803-943-7512

Horry County Clerk , Probate Court

1201 3rd Ave
Conway, SC 29526

843-248-1294

Jasper County Recorder , Probate Court

305 Russell Ave
Ridgeland, SC 29936

843-726-7718

Kershaw County Clerk , Probate Court

1121 Broad St
Camden, SC 29020

803-425-1500

Lancaster County , Probate Court

116 W Dunlap St
Lancaster, SC 29720

803-283-3379

Laurens County , Probate Court

321 S Harper St
Laurens, SC 29360

864-984-7315

Lee County , Probate Court

11 Court House Sq
Bishopville, SC 29010

803-484-5341

Lexington County Clerk , Probate Court

139 E Main St, # 110
Lexington, SC 29072

803-359-8324

Marion County , Probate Court

201 Court St, # 202
Marion, SC 29571

843-423-8244

Marlboro County , Probate Court

P.O. Box 455
Bennettsville, SC 29512

843-479-5610

McCormick County , Probate Court

133 S Mine St, # 101
Mc Cormick, SC 29835

864-465-2630

Newberry County Recorder , Probate Court

1309 College St
Newberry, SC 29108

803-321-2118

Oconee County , Probate Court

211 W Main St
Walhalla, SC 29691

864-638-4275

Orangeburg County , Probate Court

Amelia St R M C Dept #108
Orangeburg, SC 29116

803-533-6280

Pickens County , Probate Court

222 Mcdaniel Ave
Pickens, SC 29671

864-898-5903

Richland County Probate , Court-Marriage License

1701 Main St
Columbia, SC 29202

803-748-4709

Saluda County , Probate Court

100 E Church St
Saluda, SC 29138

864-445-7110

Spartanburg County , Probate Court

366 North Church St
Spartanburg, SC 29301

864-596-2556

Sumter County Clerk , Probate Court

141 N Main St
Sumter, SC 29150

803-436-2166

Union County , Probate Court

200 W Main St
Union, SC 29379

864-429-1625

Williamsburg County , Probate Court

125 W Main St
Kingstree, SC 29556

843-354-6655

York County Clerk , Probate Court

2 South Congress St
York, SC 29745

803-684-8513