A marriage license is the paper a couple buys before a wedding. In Charleston County, Probate Court issues it from the Judicial Center at 100 Broad Street, Suite 469. Both applicants appear in person, show identification, and answer a short set of questions. The office then holds the license for a waiting period before the ceremony. A completed license becomes the record that later proves the marriage.
This page explains who may apply, what to bring, and what happens after the ceremony. It covers fees, the waiting period, the return of the signed license, and the certificate that follows. Corrections and search problems get their own sections below. Rules come from state law and county practice, so confirm the details with the office before a visit. Bring both identification cards and a method of payment.
How to Search Marriage Licenses
Marriage license searches start with the names on the application and the month of the wedding.
- Official Website Search Portal: https://www.charlestoncounty.gov/departments/probate/
- Office address: 100 Broad Street, Suite 469, Charleston, SC 29401.
- Phone line: (843) 958-5183.
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Division: Marriage License Division, Probate Court, Judicial Center.
- Topics on this page: requirements, fees, the waiting period, the ceremony, the certificate, and corrections.
Charleston County SC Marriage License Requirements
State law sets the base rules for a marriage license, and the county applies them at the counter. Both applicants must appear, and each must be old enough and free to marry. Identification must match the name on the application. A prior marriage must be ended by a decree or a death. The sections below cover each requirement in the order the clerk checks it.
Probate Court sits inside the Judicial Center at 100 Broad Street in downtown Charleston. The Marriage License Division handles applications, issues the license, and records the signed copy after the wedding. A clerk can confirm whether a license was issued and whether the ceremony has been recorded. The panel below carries the street address, the division phone line, and the public counter hours. Arrive before the counter closes.
| Office detail | Verified information |
|---|---|
| Location | Charleston County Probate Court, Marriage License Division, Judicial Center, 100 Broad Street, Suite 469, Charleston, SC 29401 |
| Contact Number | (843) 958-5183 |
| Office Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. |
| Official Website Search Portal | https://www.charlestoncounty.gov/departments/probate/ |
A license is not the same as a certificate. The license is the permission to marry, and it exists before the wedding. The certificate is the proof that the wedding took place, and it comes from the signed license after the officiant returns it. A clerk can sell a copy of either item, and the fee differs. Ask for the certificate when a bank or a passport office needs proof.
Age Requirements
An applicant who is 18 or older may sign without a parent. A person aged 16 or 17 usually needs a parent or a guardian to consent in person or in writing. A younger applicant may need a court order. The clerk checks photo identification for the birth date. Rules on age come from state law, and the office applies them without exception at the counter.
Identification Requirements
Each applicant brings a current government photo identification. A driver’s license, a state identification card, a passport, or a military card works. A birth certificate may be requested when the identification is new or the name changed. The full name on the identification should match the name on the application. A clerk can explain the rule when a document carries an old address or a maiden name.
Application Information
The application asks for the full name, age, home address, and marital status of each applicant. It asks for the names of both parents, including a mother’s maiden name. Each person signs under oath that the answers are true. A false statement can void the license. The clerk types the details into the state system and prints the license for the ceremony. Read the form before you sign it.
| Document | Who provides it | When the office asks |
|---|---|---|
| Photo identification | Each applicant | At the counter |
| Birth certificate | Applicant | When identification is new |
| Divorce decree | Applicant | When a prior marriage ended |
| Death certificate | Applicant | When a prior spouse died |
| Parental consent | Parent or guardian | When an applicant is under 18 |
| Court order | Applicant | When a court set the terms |
A missing document is the most common reason a counter visit fails before it starts. Call the office with your details before you drive downtown. A clerk can say which papers apply to your case. A divorce decree from another state is usually accepted when it carries a court seal. A name change needs the order that granted it. Bring the originals and a paper copy of each.
Previous Marriage Information
A prior marriage must be over before a new license is issued. A divorced applicant shows the final decree, and the date on the decree must come before the application. A widowed applicant shows a certified death certificate. The office may keep a copy for its file. A pending divorce blocks a license until a judge signs the final order. Bring the paperwork, not a photograph on a phone.
Eligibility Requirements
Both applicants must be unmarried and not closely related by blood or marriage. State law lists the relationships that bar a license. A person under guardianship may need a guardian’s consent. Neither applicant may be under the influence at the counter. The clerk can refuse an application when a required paper is missing or a fact looks wrong. Ask the office about any fact that may block the request.
Marriage License Fees and Validity
A marriage license carries a fee set by state law and collected by the county. The amount is small, and the office can quote it in one call. A waiting period follows the application, and the license stays valid for a limited time. A couple who waits too long must apply again and pay again. Read the dates printed on the license before the wedding.
License Fee
The fee is set by state statute, and the county collects it when the application is filed. The charge is modest, and the clerk can state the exact amount before you pay. A certified copy of a record usually costs a separate fee. Payment is due at the counter, and the license is not issued until it is paid. Ask for a written receipt with the license.
Accepted Payment Methods
The office takes cash, a money order, and a debit or credit card in most cases. A personal check may be refused, and a card may carry a small service charge. A mailed application should include a money order for the exact amount. Ask which methods the counter takes before you stand in line. Keep the payment stub with your copy of the form and the receipt.
Fee Waivers and Discounts
A waiver is rare for a marriage license. State law sets the fee, and the county has little room to reduce it. Some offices waive a copy fee for a person who cannot pay, and a clerk can explain the rule. A member of the military does not receive an automatic discount in most counties. Ask about any local program before you pay at the counter.
Waiting Period
South Carolina requires a wait of about 24 hours between the application and the ceremony. The clock starts when the clerk accepts the form and the fee. A couple who apply on Friday may wed on Saturday. Some offices issue the license at once and rely on the couple to honor the wait. Confirm the rule with the clerk before you set a wedding time.
License Expiration
A license stays valid for a set period, usually one year from the issue date. A wedding after that date needs a new license and a new fee. The date sits near the top of the form, and the officiant should check it before the ceremony. A couple who postpone a wedding should ask about an extension. State law controls the term, and the county cannot extend it.
Using and Recording the Marriage License
The license only matters if the ceremony happens and the paper comes back. An authorized officiant performs the wedding, signs the license, and returns it to Probate Court. The clerk then records the marriage and creates the certificate. A couple should confirm the return before they leave for a honeymoon. A license that never returns leaves no public record of the wedding. Ask the officiant when the paper will go back.
Authorized Officiant
South Carolina allows a minister, a priest, a rabbi, or a public official to perform a wedding. The officiant must be active in the role and registered where the law requires. A friend who is ordained online may qualify in some counties and not in others. Ask the office whether a particular officiant is accepted. A wedding held by an unauthorized person may not produce a valid record.
Marriage Ceremony
The ceremony may follow any form the couple chooses. It must include a short declaration that the two people take each other as spouses. Witnesses are usual, and the license has room for two signatures. The officiant pronounces the marriage and signs the form. A ceremony without the license in hand still needs the paper signed on the same day or soon after the vows.
Completing the License
The officiant fills in the date, the place, and the names of the witnesses. The signature of the officiant goes on the line marked for it. A couple should check every field before the paper leaves the room. A blank line can delay the record for weeks. The office may reject a form with a missing date or an unsigned section. Ask the officiant to use black ink.
| Step | What happens | Usual timing |
|---|---|---|
| Application | Both applicants sign at the counter | Same day |
| Waiting period | State law sets the pause | About 24 hours |
| Ceremony | Officiant performs and signs | Within the license term |
| Return | Signed license goes to Probate Court | A few weeks |
| Recording | Clerk enters the record | Days after return |
| Certificate | Certified copy is issued | On request |
The order of these steps matters more than the dates. A license returned before the ceremony is not valid, and a ceremony held after the term needs a new license. A clerk who sees a gap in the timeline may ask for an explanation. Keep the receipt from the application, the signed license, and the certificate together. A plain folder protects the seals. Bring the folder to every later request.
Returning the License
The signed license goes back to the Probate Court that issued it. State law sets a return window, and the office can state the current rule. A hand delivery at the counter is fastest. A mailed copy should include a short note with a phone number. Keep a photograph of the signed form until the record appears in the index. Call the clerk when a month passes with no record.
Recording the Marriage
Recording turns the signed license into a permanent record. The clerk enters the full names, the date, and the officiant into the county book and the state system. A record number is assigned at that point. The process may take a few days after the paper arrives at the office. Ask for the record number, since a copy order moves faster with it. Note the number in your file.
Marriage Certificate After the Ceremony
A marriage certificate proves the wedding took place. Probate Court creates it from the signed license, and a certified copy carries the seal. A couple often orders copies for a name change, an insurance file, and an immigration case. A plain print from a website is not proof. The sections below explain the copies, the request methods, the fees, and the wait. Order two copies at the start.
Certified Marriage Certificate
A certified certificate carries a raised seal, a signature, and the date of issue. It names both spouses, the ceremony date, the place, and the officiant. Most agencies accept it as proof of marriage. A certified copy comes from the office that recorded the license, which is usually the county probate court. A state health office may hold a copy for recent years too. Ask which office holds the record.
Informational Copy
An informational copy shows the same details without a seal. It serves family history and personal files. A bank, a passport office, or a foreign government usually rejects it. The fee is lower, and the print may come faster. Ask the agency that will receive the copy which version it requires. A second order costs a second fee, so choose well before you pay. A plain photocopy is not a certificate.
Certificate Request Methods
A request may go through the counter, the mail, or an online service. A counter visit needs photo identification and the names. A mail order needs a written request, a payment, and a return envelope. An online order may use a card and a delivery address. Each route carries its own wait, and the counter is usually fastest when the record is on site at the office.
Certificate Fees
The fee for a certificate follows a state schedule, and the clerk can quote it before printing. A certified copy costs more than an informational one. A search fee may apply when the requester has no date or record number. A mailed copy may add a small postage charge. Ask for the total and keep the receipt with the certificate. Bring a payment method the counter accepts.
Certificate Processing
A certificate for a marriage recorded years ago may print the same day. A recent ceremony needs the signed license first, and that return can take a few weeks. An archived record may need a retrieval before the copy is made. Ask for a pickup date, then call before you return. A certified copy is not mailed until the record is complete and indexed at the office.
Marriage License Corrections
A wrong letter on a license can cause trouble years later. A passport office may question a name that does not match a birth certificate. The office that issued the license handles the fix, and the request should name the exact field and the correct value. A clerical error moves fast, and a change of fact needs proof. Start with a certified copy and a written request.
Correcting Applicant Information
A name, a birth date, or an address may be wrong on the application. The couple’s own handwriting often settles the question. Ask the office to compare the license with the application on file. A correction may need a birth certificate, a passport, or a photo identification. A clerk can tell you which fields the office can change without a court order. Bring the paper that shows the right value.
Correcting Clerical Errors
A typing mistake by county staff is the easiest fix. The office can correct a misspelled name, a transposed number, or a wrong date in its own system. Bring the certified copy and a short note that points to the error. A supervisor may need to approve the change. Ask for a new certified copy after the fix, and check that the seal and signature are fresh.
Supporting Documentation
Proof must match the fact you want to change. A birth certificate supports a full name or a date of birth. A passport or a military record may serve the same purpose. A court order supports a change of name after a divorce or a marriage. Send copies, keep the originals, and list each document in a cover letter. A clerk can name the paper that fits your case.
Amended License or Record
An amendment adds a note to the file and keeps the original entry. The office may issue a corrected license, or it may record the change beside the first entry. A certified copy after the change shows the current detail. Some agencies still see the old version in their own records. Ask for a letter that explains the correction when a third party questions the record.
Marriage License Search Problems
A license that cannot be found usually sits in a different public index than expected. The wedding may have happened in another county, the year may be wrong, or the officiant may never have returned the paper. The name on the application may differ from the name used later in life. The sections below take each case and name the fix. Write down each search you try.
License Not Found
Check the county where the ceremony took place, not the county of residence. A license issued in Charleston County stays here even when the couple moved away. If the wedding was out of state, that state holds the record. Ask the clerk for a search across a range of years. A record with no signed return still sits with the officiant, not with the court file.
Incorrect Applicant Information
A search fails when the name in the index differs from the name you type. Try the maiden name, a middle initial, and a shorter form. A clerk may have entered a first name in the surname field. Check the spelling of a common name with a vowel swap. Ask the office to run a search on the sound of the name rather than the letters.
Incorrect License Number
A license number may contain a year, a book, and a page. Copy it from the certified certificate rather than from a handwritten note. A digit read as a letter can send a search to the wrong volume. Try the number with and without the year. Give the clerk the names and the date as well, since a license number is a shortcut and not a requirement.
Marriage Not Yet Recorded
A wedding held last week may not appear in the index yet. The officiant has several weeks, in some cases, to return the signed license. The clerk then enters the record and assigns a number. Ask when the paper arrived before you assume a loss. A copy order can be placed once the clerk confirms that the record exists. Call the office before you mail a request.
Record Held by Another County
A license belongs to the county that issued it, not to the county where the couple lives now. A wedding in Beaufort, Georgetown, or Berkeley County is recorded there. A couple who applied in one county and wed in another should ask which office holds the license. The issuing office controls the record. A request to the wrong county returns a polite refusal and a suggestion.
Charleston County SC Marriage License FAQs
These questions come from couples and from family members who need a copy years later. Each answer names the office, the form, and the detail that saves a trip. The waiting period, the fee, and the return window follow state law, and the county applies the rules at the counter. Confirm the current practice by phone before you go. Bring both identification cards and a payment method.
How Do I Search Charleston County SC Marriage Licenses?
Call or visit the Marriage License Division at 100 Broad Street, Suite 469. Give the names of both spouses, the month and year of the wedding, and any record number you hold. A clerk checks the county index and the state system and states what the file shows. Ask for a certified copy if you need proof. A search with no date takes longer and may carry a fee.
What Are the Requirements for a Charleston County SC Marriage License?
Both applicants appear in person with photo identification and must be 18 or older, or have a parent consent. Each must be free of a prior marriage, and a divorce decree or a death certificate proves it. The application asks for both parents’ full names and addresses. The fee is due at the counter. A short waiting period follows, and the license then covers one wedding within its term.
How Much Does a Marriage License Cost?
The fee is set by state law and collected by the county when the application is filed. The amount is modest, and the clerk can state it before you pay. A certified copy of the record costs a separate fee later. Ask whether a card carries a service charge. The office does not refund a fee after the license is issued, even when a wedding date is postponed.
How Long Is a Marriage License Valid?
The license is valid for a set term, usually one year from the issue date. A wedding must take place inside that window. A couple who pass the date must apply again and pay again. The waiting period comes before the ceremony, and the term comes after. Read both dates on the form, and tell the officiant in advance if the wedding may move. A new license needs a new fee.
How Do I Get a Marriage Certificate?
Wait for the officiant to return the signed license, then ask Probate Court for a certified copy. A counter request needs photo identification and the names on the license. A mail request needs a written note, a payment, and a return envelope. The certificate carries a seal and names the couple, the date, the place, and the officiant. Order an extra copy for a name change at the bank.
How Can I Correct a Marriage License Error?
Ask the Marriage License Division to compare the license with the application on file. Point to the exact field and state the correct value in writing. Bring proof, such as a birth certificate, a passport, or a court order. A clerical mistake may be fixed at no charge. A change of fact may need a supervisor’s review, and the office will say which path applies to your case.