Marriage License Cost in SC: County Fees, Payment, and Wait

A marriage license in SC costs between $30 and $120. The exact price depends on which county’s probate court issues the license and, in some counties, whether you live in that county, elsewhere in South Carolina, or out of state. Most county residents pay somewhere in the $45 to $70 range.

Marriage License Fees by County

South Carolina does not set a single statewide fee. Each county probate court sets its own price, and several counties charge tiered rates based on residency. Verified fees from a sample of counties:

Since any county probate court can issue a license and there’s no residency requirement to apply in South Carolina, couples sometimes compare prices across nearby counties. The ceremony itself still has to take place inside the state.7Charleston County Probate Court. Marriage License Instructions

Why Out-of-State Couples Often Pay More

The counties with the biggest coastal and tourist wedding markets use tiered pricing. In Horry County, which includes Myrtle Beach, an out-of-state couple pays $120 for the same license a local resident gets for $55. In Greenville County, out-of-state applicants pay $115 against the $50 resident rate.

This catches a lot of destination-wedding couples off guard. If you’re flying in from another state, assume the top-tier price unless the county’s probate court tells you otherwise. If you’re a South Carolina resident getting married in a county you don’t live in, you’ll usually pay the middle tier rather than the resident rate.

How to Pay

Accepted payment methods vary by probate court. Some take only cash or money orders. Others accept credit cards, often with a transaction fee added on top of the base price, as Charleston County does. Call the probate court in the county where you plan to apply and confirm both the fee and how they want you to pay before you make the trip.

What the Fee Does Not Cover

The license fee pays for the license itself. In most counties it does not include a certified copy of your marriage certificate, which you’ll need afterward for name changes and other updates. Horry County bundles one certified copy into its fee; most others do not.

Certified copies ordered later through the South Carolina Department of Public Health Vital Records division cost $12 for the search, or $17 for expedited processing, with each additional copy at $3. Online orders through VitalChek carry an added $12.85 service charge. DPH holds records for marriages from July 1950 through December 2023; for anything outside that window, order directly from the probate court that issued the license.8South Carolina Department of Public Health. Marriage Certificates

Order at least two certified copies. Some agencies require you to mail in an original, and having a spare keeps the process moving.

What You Need to Bring

Both applicants must appear together at the probate court and bring valid, government-issued photo identification. A driver’s license, state ID, passport, or military ID works. Both of you also need to provide your Social Security numbers on the application; the statute requires SSNs, or alien identification numbers for resident aliens who don’t have one.9South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code of Laws Title 20 Chapter 1 – Section 20-1-220 Most probate courts accept other documents that show your SSN, such as a tax return or W-2, if you don’t have the physical card. Requirements vary slightly by county.

If either of you was married before, bring proof the previous marriage ended: a certified copy of the divorce decree or the former spouse’s death certificate. The probate court has to confirm you’re legally free to marry before it can issue the license.

Eligibility

Both applicants must be legally free to marry and mentally competent, and the statute bars marriages between close relatives.10South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code 20-1-10 – Persons Who May Contract Matrimony You must be at least 18 to apply on your own. Applicants aged 16 or 17 need a sworn affidavit of consent from a parent, other relative, or guardian. No one under 16 can legally marry in South Carolina under any circumstances.11South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code of Laws Title 20 Chapter 1 – Section 20-1-250

Common-law marriage is no longer an option. The state Supreme Court ended it in July 2019. Couples who began living together after July 24, 2019 cannot form a new common-law marriage and need a license like everyone else. Common-law marriages established before that date are still recognized.

The 24-Hour Wait

Paying the fee and filing the application does not get you a license the same day. State law requires a 24-hour waiting period between filing the sworn application and issuance of the license. The license must show the date and time of both the application and the issuance.9South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code of Laws Title 20 Chapter 1 – Section 20-1-220 You pay the fee when you file. Once the 24 hours have passed, either applicant can return with photo ID to pick up the license.

Some counties, including Charleston, offer online application options so you can submit documents and payment digitally in advance. If you’re using an online process, ask the probate court whether you still need to appear in person and whether the 24-hour clock runs from the online submission or from an in-person step.

South Carolina marriage licenses do not expire once issued, so there’s no cost penalty for picking up the license well before the wedding date.