Getting Married In South Carolina

Here is everything a bride and groom needs to know about the South Carolina marriage laws before filling out the South Carolina marriage license form. To get married, a bride and groom have to receive a marriage license. A South Carolina marriage license allows a bride and groom to officially marry.

Applying For A South Caroina Marriage License

A bride and groom need to apply for their marriage license at least one month before the wedding ceremony. A bride and groom also need to have a witness when they sign the application, so they should plan on bringing the maid of honor or best man with them. The bride will need to decide what her married name will be before signing the marriage certificate.Just because the bride and groom have a marriage license does not mean they are officially married. The bride and groom need to have a justice of the peace, notery, or clergyman sign the marriage license.The bride and groom will give their wedding officiant the marriage license and the officiant will sign it and send it to the proper government agency for validation.

Requirements For Getting Married In South Carolina

• ID Requirement: Drivers License and Social Security Card
• Application Requirement: Both the bride and groom should appear in person at the office of a South Carolina County Probate Judge and file a written application. The marriage application asks for the full name, social security number, age, and place of residence of both the bride and the groom. This wedding application is a sworn statement that must be signed by both the bride and the groom and notarized in the office of the Probate Judge.
• Fees: $15- Cash Only.
• Waiting Period: There is a 24-hour waiting period. If the bride and groom want to get married on a weekend, they need to make sure to apply for a marriage license by Thursday so they can pick up the license by Friday.
• Blood Tests: No blood test or physical exam is required.

• Under 18: If under the age of 18, parental consent can be granted for males who are at least 16 years old and for females who are at least 14 years old. All minor applicants must file an original birth certificate The parent or legal guardian must sign a form consenting to the marriage.
• All South Carolina brides and grooms must provide proof of age by presenting one of the following:


• Valid driver's license
• Original birth certificate
• South Carolina Identification Card
• Current Military Identification Card
• Current Passport.


• First cousins are allowed to get married in South Carolina.
• Same sex marriages and civil unions are not recognized by the state of South Carolina.
• There is no expiration date for a South Carolina marriage license.