Guide to South Carolina Marriage Records

Marriage records in South Carolina document marriages licensed and recorded in the state. Typically, marriage records contain the names of the married people, the date and county of the marriage, the marriage license number (when applicable), and the name of the officiant. Additional information may be included in the application for a marriage license or in the marriage record.

A marriage license is a required authorization for individuals seeking to marry. When the wedding ceremony is finished, the officiant completes the certificate section of the license and returns it to the appropriate office for recordkeeping. Hence, a marriage certificate is the document that proves the fact of marriage. However, the term “marriage records” can refer to the application, license, recorded certificate, or related county entry.

People search South Carolina marriage records for various purposes, including to prove that a marriage occurred and for administrative and legal matters. Marriage records can also be used to document a name change, trace family history, or obtain information relevant to divorce, estates, and inheritance.

Types of Marriage Records in South Carolina

South Carolina marriage records are typically available in these common forms:

Marriage Certificates

A marriage certificate confirms that a marriage was performed and registered properly with the state for documentation. This document can serve as proof of marriage, and it usually includes the names of the parties to the marriage, the time and place of the ceremony, and information about the officiant.

A copy of this document is obtained when a person needs confirmation of their marriage to make changes to their personal information, such as a name change or other issues related to claims and government documentation.

Certified copies of South Carolina marriage certificates are issued by the probate court. However, the state Department of Public Health (DPH) issues certified copies for marriages recorded with the state from July 1950 to December 2023.

Marriage Licenses

A marriage license is a mandatory document that couples must obtain before they can legally marry. It differs from a certificate in that it is obtained before the event and serves as a permit. On the other hand, the marriage certificate is only available after the wedding ceremony.

Marriage licenses in South Carolina are only issued and processed by county probate courts. Once the probate court issues the marriage license, it does not expire, but it must be used only within South Carolina.

Marriage Record Verifications

South Carolina established a limited method for marriage verification for people who are ineligible to obtain a certified copy of the marriage certificate from the Department of Public Health. Under state regulations, this category of applicants may obtain only a statement confirming that the marriage took place, including the date and county of the event.

A verification statement differs from a certified copy because it only verifies basic information, and it does not provide a certified copy of the marriage record.

The DPH issues statements for marriages held from July 1950 through December 2023. For marriages before or after this period, copies of the verification statement may be requested from the probate court that issued the license.

Are Marriage Records Public in South Carolina?

Basic South Carolina marriage records, such as the couple's names, the date of marriage, and the county, are publicly available to any interested party.

However, certified copies are available only to individuals eligible to obtain them. Such persons include spouses named on the record, their adult children, and a present or former spouse.

Older marriage records may be available from county probate offices or other archival collections.

What Information Is Included in a Marriage Record?

A South Carolina marriage record may contain:

• Full names of both spouses
• Marriage date
• Marriage location
• County where the license was issued
• Marriage license or certificate number
• Ages or dates of birth
• Residences
• Officiant's name or information
• Date the application was filed
• Date the license was issued

Although marriage-license applications require details such as Social Security numbers or other personal identification numbers, such sensitive information is not made publicly available in marriage record searches.

How to Find Marriage Records in South Carolina

Step 1: Identify the Marriage Details

Before contacting a marriage record custodian to perform a marriage record search, you must gather basic information, such as the full legal names of both individuals (including maiden names) and the approximate date of the wedding. The county where the marriage license was issued would also help narrow down a search.

Step 2: Find the Record Custodian

Identify the appropriate custodian maintaining the record you want. For older records before 1950 and recent ones after December 2023, contact the county probate court. Otherwise, contact the State Vital Records Office in the DPH.

Step 3: Choose How to Search

There are several ways to find marriage records in South Carolina. They include the following:

• Online: By using an approved website such as VitalChek to search for state records or county-specific probate portals.
• By mail: You can complete a physical application and submit it directly to either the Department of Public Health (DPH) or the probate court.
• In person: You can visit the DPH office in Columbia or any of its 16 branch offices, as well as local probate offices.
• Using a third-party agency: You may be able to find older marriage information on genealogical sites (such as FamilySearch), but this information is not official, and the documents cannot be certified.

Step 4: Submit a Record Request

To execute your record request, you must provide:

• A completed, signed state or county vital records application form.
• A clear copy of a valid government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID card, or passport).
• The non-refundable search fee (typically $12.00 for state searches, which includes one certified copy if found).
• Confirmation of whether you want a certified copy (stamped for legal name changes) or an uncertified copy (informational purposes only).

How to Get a Certified Marriage Certificate in South Carolina

To obtain a DPH-certified copy of a South Carolina marriage certificate, you must be:

• One of the married parties
• An adult child of either party
• A present or former spouse of either party
• A legal representative of either party

A DPH marriage-record application request requires that requesters complete an application and submit a valid government-, school-, or employer-issued photo ID. Applicants must also submit appropriate fees:

• $12 for a standard mail search, including one certified copy if found
• $17 for an expedited search
• $3 for each additional copy ordered at the same time
• An additional $12.85 VitalChek service fee for online or telephone orders, plus any applicable shipping charges

Mail requests should be paid by money order or cashier's check made payable to South Carolina DPH. Complete applications may be mailed to:

The typical processing time for mail requests sent to the DPH is approximately 4 weeks. Online orders via VitalChek take 5 to 7 business days. County probate courts offer in-person certified copy services, and the DPH may also provide them.

Note that counties often provide broader access to marriage records than the DPH. This is because South Carolina Code § 20-1-340 instructs issuing probate judges to furnish certified copies of county marriage records, and individual counties set their copy fees.

How to Get a Marriage License in South Carolina

Applications for a marriage license in South Carolina are submitted to the probate court office. Some counties, such as Charleston County, offer fully digital online applications, while others mandate an in-person appointment.

The minimum age for applicants seeking a marriage license in South Carolina without parental intervention is 18. Minors aged 16 or 17 may apply only if a parent or legal guardian appears in court to sign a notarized consent form, alongside a certified long-form birth certificate, which must be permanently filed with the court. Marriages are not authorized for minors under the age of 16.

When applying, both individuals must provide their Social Security cards or an official document showing the numbers, such as an income tax return. Also, a valid government photo identification, such as a driver's license or passport, must be submitted. Furthermore, applicants must provide a sworn statement that they are legally entitled to marry, together with their names, ages, and residences. There are no South Carolina residency constraints; hence, out-of-state residents may apply at any county probate office.

Marriage-license fees vary by county, typically ranging between $30 and $120. Exact fees depend on the county where couples apply and their residency status. Lexington County charges $39; Charleston County currently lists a $70 fee; and Horry County charges $55 for Horry County residents, $80 for other South Carolina residents, and $120 for out-of-state residents.

South Carolina requires a 24-hour waiting period between filing the application and issuance of the license. However, once the license is issued, it does not expire.

The wedding ceremony must be performed by an individual authorized under state law. Examples of such persons include ministers of the Gospel, Jewish rabbis, officers authorized to administer oaths in the state, or the recognized spiritual leader of a state-recognized Native American entity.

After the ceremony, the officiant must complete the marriage documents, give one copy to the couple, and return the other two copies to the issuing office within 15 days.

Who Can Request Marriage Records?

You can obtain a certified copy of a marriage certificate if you are:

• One of the married parties
• The married party's adult child
• A present or former spouse of either married party
• The married party's legal representative

Note that government agencies such as the South Carolina Department of Social Services may request copies for purposes authorized by law.

Genealogists, researchers, and unrelated third parties can use county indexes, public probate records, and archival collections. However, other applicants may be provided with a statement that the marriage occurred, including the date and county in which the marriage license was issued.

Free and Online Marriage Record Searches

Although certified copies of marriage records require payment, many county probate courts permit the public to search their records at no cost. For example, Greenville County probate court allows searches by applicant name and license year, while Lexington County probate court provides separate marriage searches for records from 1911 to 1987 and 1986 to the present.

FamilySearch and the South Carolina Department of Archives and History (SCDAH) allow researchers to access historical records for free without any restrictions. The SCDAH offers online indexes, catalogs, archival research services, and county probate materials.

To obtain the marriage records if the date and county are unknown, initiate the search using genealogical indexes to narrow down the date range and county of marriage. Thereafter, a formal application can be filed with the DPH or the appropriate probate court.

Common Law Marriage in South Carolina

Since 2019, South Carolina has abolished common-law marriage, although common-law marriages fully established in the state before July 24 of that year remain legally binding.

The Palmetto State recognizes common-law marriages established in states that still allow the practice, provided the couple met the requirements for recognition in that state while living there.

Common-law marriages cannot be established in South Carolina without a probate license application. Therefore, this type of marriage does not create public vital statistics records unless the family court issues an official order declaring the union legal.

How to Correct an Error on a Marriage Record

Married individuals named in a marriage record may request corrections to errors or missing information. Note that only the county probate court that issued the original marriage license and recorded the certificate is authorized to process and issue amendments.

Common errors that may need amendment include incorrect dates, misspelled names, incorrect personal information, and errors made by the officiant when completing the marriage document.

You typically need to submit an application (determined at the county level), a sworn affidavit, proof of identity, and supporting legal documents or correct information to the clerk of the probate court in the county where the marriage occurred.

The probate court determines what supporting documentation is required based on the correction. Depending on the error, the correction may require identification, an affidavit, documentary proof of the correct information, or completion of a replacement or corrected marriage document.

Fees for marriage record corrections are set at the county level, meaning they vary from one county to another. For example, Charleston and Horry counties charge $6.75 for correcting a marriage record. Also, processing time varies by county, as corrections are reviewed and recorded by the probate office.

Marriage Records and Name Changes

A certified marriage certificate is generally required to change your name after marriage. This is because it provides official evidence of a status change, allowing agencies to legally update your records. Such agencies include the following:

• Social Security Administration (SSA): An original certified copy of the South Carolina marriage certificate, along with form SS-5, must be presented to update the identity record.
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV): Once the SSA updates the profile, the certified marriage certificate must be brought to a DMV office within 30 days to update the driver's license.
• U.S. Department of State: Required to modify or re-issue a federal passport under a new surname.

Using a valid South Carolina marriage certificate to change your name to your spouse's surname does not correct an error on a marriage record. If there is a mistake on your marriage record, you must submit an amendment application to the relevant county probate office to correct the error. Changing your name using a certified copy of a marriage certificate only updates external identity records; the original marriage document remains unchanged.

Marriage Records for Genealogy and Family History

Historical marriage records are an essential tool for genealogists seeking to trace family histories. You can find older marriage records online through FamilySearch and the South Carolina Department of Archives and History.

To search historical marriage records on genealogical platforms:

• Start broad with a spouse's name and an approximate decade
• Narrow by county once a likely location emerges
• Cross-reference census records, which sometimes list marital status and approximate marriage year

Note that historical records have their limitations. State marriage licensing did not begin in South Carolina until 1911, meaning that marriages that occurred before that date may not be documented. Furthermore, even after 1911, some records may not be digitized or included in an online index. For records not available online, a probate court or an archival search may be needed.

Frequently Asked Questions