Yes, marriage records are public in South Carolina, but “public” comes with a catch worth knowing before you pay a fee. Anyone can confirm that a marriage happened. Only a short list of people can obtain the full certified certificate. Which document you walk away with depends entirely on your relationship to the couple.
Certified Copy or Statement of Marriage
South Carolina limits full certified copies of a marriage certificate to the married parties themselves, an adult child of either spouse, a present or former spouse of either party, or a legal representative of one of those individuals.1South Carolina Department of Public Health. Marriage Certificates
Everyone else, including genealogists, journalists, employers, and curious neighbors, can request a statement of marriage. That document confirms the marriage occurred and gives the date and the county where the license was issued.1South Carolina Department of Public Health. Marriage Certificates It won’t include parents’ names, ages, or the other details on the actual certificate.
The difference matters when you need proof for something official. A certified copy carries the legal weight required for Social Security name changes, passport applications, and insurance claims. A statement of marriage generally won’t satisfy those agencies. Figure out which document you need before submitting a request, because the search fee is the same either way and it isn’t refundable if the record can’t be found.
Where to Request Based on Marriage Date
South Carolina divides custody of marriage records between the state and the counties, and the marriage date decides which office holds yours.
- Marriages from July 1950 through December 2023: request from the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) Vital Records Office, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201.1South Carolina Department of Public Health. Marriage Certificates
- Marriages before July 1950 or after December 2023: contact the probate court in the county where the marriage license was originally issued.1South Carolina Department of Public Health. Marriage Certificates
If you don’t know which county issued the license, DPH can search its statewide index for anything in the 1950–2023 window. Outside that window, you’ll need to contact county probate courts one at a time, and fees vary by county, so call ahead before mailing payment.
How to Order From DPH
DPH offers three channels:
- Online or by phone through VitalChek, available 24 hours a day at 1-877-284-1008 or on the VitalChek website. Average processing is 5 to 7 business days.1South Carolina Department of Public Health. Marriage Certificates
- By mail. Send your application, payment, and a photocopy of your ID to the Vital Records Office. Standard processing takes 2 to 4 weeks.2South Carolina Department of Public Health. Average Processing Times
- In person at the Columbia office or a regional DPH office. Expect 30 to 45 minutes.2South Carolina Department of Public Health. Average Processing Times
Every request requires a valid photo ID. DPH accepts government-issued, school-issued, or employer-issued photo identification, and requests without proper ID are returned unprocessed.3South Carolina Department of Public Health. ID Requirements for Vital Records
What It Costs
DPH charges a flat $12 search fee per record. If the record is found, that fee covers one certified copy. If it can’t be located, the $12 is nonrefundable.4South Carolina Department of Public Health. Fees – Vital Records (Birth, Death, etc) Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time are $3 each.
Online, phone, and in-person orders carry an added $5 expedite fee, making the first copy $17. That charge applies to any service with a turnaround of 10 business days or less. Expedited service isn’t available by mail.4South Carolina Department of Public Health. Fees – Vital Records (Birth, Death, etc) Mail-in payments typically require a money order or cashier’s check. In-person and online orders accept credit and debit cards.
County probate courts set their own fees for records outside the DPH date range, so confirm the amount with the specific court before sending anything.
Information to Have Ready
Whether you’re ordering from DPH or a probate court, gather these details first:
- Both spouses’ full legal names, including any maiden names.
- The full date of the marriage (month, day, year) if you have it.
- The county where the marriage license was issued.
An exact date and county speed up the search and improve the odds of a match.1South Carolina Department of Public Health. Marriage Certificates If you only have an approximate year, DPH can still search its index, but expect a longer wait and no guarantee of results.
What Appears on the Certificate
A certified South Carolina marriage certificate typically shows both spouses’ full names, the date and location of the ceremony, the county where the license was issued, each spouse’s parents’ names, both parties’ ages at the time of marriage, and their previous marital status.
Social Security numbers are not on the public copy. South Carolina law bars public bodies from making an individual’s Social Security number available to the general public and requires agencies to segregate the number so it can be redacted before release.5South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Section 30-2-310 – Collection of and Maintenance and Disposition of Records Containing Social Security Numbers by Public Agencies
Penalties for Misrepresenting Eligibility
The eligibility rules for certified copies have real consequences behind them. Providing false information on an application for a certified marriage record, or knowingly supplying false information intended for use in preparing or amending a certificate, is a felony in South Carolina. Conviction carries a fine of up to $10,000, up to five years in prison, or both.6South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Section 44-63-161 – Unlawful Acts If you don’t fit one of the eligible categories, ask for the statement of marriage instead.