How to get a certified copy of a marriage certificate in South Carolina
The $12 search charge is non-refundable. Additional copies ordered together are $3. CDC directs earlier records to the Probate Judge where the license was obtained, requires a copy of valid picture ID and lists money order or cashier's check payment to DPH - Vital Records. CDC source for South Carolina.
For the South Carolina marriage record service, CDC identifies Office of Vital Records DPH PO Box 2046 West Columbia, SC 29171. Its listed charge is $12.00 - The $12 search fee is non-refundable. The required search fee includes one (1) certification, if record is located. Additional copies purchased at the same time are $3.00 each. (search fee).
| Field | CDC Where to Write | Current official evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Office | Office of Vital Records DPH PO Box 2046 West Columbia, SC 29171 | Uncollected. Official office |
| Service charge | $12.00 - The $12 search fee is non-refundable. The required search fee includes one (1) certification, if record is located. Additional copies purchased at the same time are $3.00 each. (search fee) | Uncollected. Official office |
| Years held or service coverage | State office has records starting July 1950. Marriages prior to that date must be obtained from the Office of the Probate Judge in the county where the license was obtained. | Uncollected. Official office |
| Ordering route | CDC entry | Uncollected. Official office |
Getting a marriage license in South Carolina
South Carolina lists the following for issuing office. Probate judge or other officer authorized by the statute. Official source (checked 2026-11-11).
South Carolina lists the following for waiting period. At least 24 hours after application. Official source (checked 2026-11-11).
The fee and license validity remain unverified here, so contact the South Carolina official office for current requirements.
Searching South Carolina marriage records
For marriage-record searches, consult the South Carolina official records office. Public-search availability was unverified at the 2026-11-11 check.
Common-law marriage and community property
| Source scope | State entry |
|---|---|
| SSA common-law digest | Recognized before 07/24/2019 Beginning 07/24/2019, no common-law marriages may be entered into in South Carolina. However, common-law marriages entered into in South Carolina before 07/24/2019, are recognized and continue to be valid. A common-law marriage must be proven by clear and convincing evidence. Thus, even after 7/24/2019, a couple can still prove a common-law marriage if they prove by clear and convincing evidence that their marriage began before 7/24/2019. SSA GN 00305.075. Digest effective 2023-05-30, checked 2026-11-11 |
| IRS community-property list | Outside the listed community-property states IRS 555, checked 2026-11-11 |
South Carolina has this entry in SSA's state-law digest, effective 2023-05-30. Recognized before 07/24/2019 Beginning 07/24/2019, no common-law marriages may be entered into in South Carolina. However, common-law marriages entered into in South Carolina before 07/24/2019, are recognized and continue to be valid. A common-law marriage must be proven by clear and convincing evidence. Thus, even after 7/24/2019, a couple can still prove a common-law marriage if they prove by clear and convincing evidence that their marriage began before 7/24/2019. Those conditions belong to the benefit-program guidance. The South Carolina community-property classification follows the domicile-based federal-tax discussion in IRS Publication 555.
The numbers
| Measure | State | US or reporting-area benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage rate | 6.2 | 6.3 |
| Divorce rate | 2.2 | 2.3 |
| ACS median first-marriage age, men | 29.5 | 30.8 |
| ACS median first-marriage age, women | 28.0 | 28.8 |
South Carolina recorded 6.2 marriages per 1,000 residents in 2024. Its rate is below the nationwide 6.3 and uses marriages performed in South Carolina, including those of visiting couples.
The South Carolina divorce entry is 2.2 per 1,000 residents for 2024, below the reporting-jurisdiction rate of 2.3.
South Carolina's median first-marriage age is 29.5 for men and 28.0 for women in ACS 2024. Its margins of error are 0.5 years for men and 0.6 for women, while the South Carolina male-female median gap is 1.5 years.
Ordering state and DC first-marriage medians oldest first puts South Carolina 34th for men and 27th for women. The South Carolina male estimate is below the national 30.8, and its female estimate is below the US 28.8.
South Carolina and Las Vegas
South Carolina supplied 323 Las Vegas licenses by mailing address in 2025, the 30th state or DC total. The corresponding Las Vegas page has the available annual history. The county method page gives the reporting limits.
South Carolina accounted for 0.48% of Las Vegas licenses in the 2021 to 2025 files, with 1,787 licenses by mailing address. The South Carolina annual peak is 408 in 2021. The South Carolina checkpoints are 2019 with 264, 2024 with 348, and 2025 with 323.
For South Carolina, the latest Las Vegas figure fell 7.18% from 2024. Compared with 2019, South Carolina is 22.35% above, and its latest total sits 20.83% below its annual peak.
Licenses carrying South Carolina mailing addresses totaled 334 licenses in 2007, 249 licenses in 2008, 258 licenses in 2009, 286 licenses in 2010, 266 licenses in 2011, 248 licenses in 2012, 221 licenses in 2013, 216 licenses in 2014. County sources and coverage.
Licenses carrying South Carolina mailing addresses totaled 253 licenses in 2015, 253 licenses in 2016, 240 licenses in 2017, 266 licenses in 2018, 264 licenses in 2019, 210 licenses in 2020, 408 licenses in 2021, 368 licenses in 2022 (through 22 December). County sources and coverage.
Licenses carrying South Carolina mailing addresses totaled 340 licenses in 2023, 348 licenses in 2024, 323 licenses in 2025. County sources and coverage.
After a Clark County ceremony, South Carolina couples can use the Nevada proof-of-marriage guide, which links online, mail and counter orders. The officiant must file within 10 calendar days, after which the certified certificate costs $20.