Getting a Marriage License in Charleston County
The Charleston County Probate Court, Marriage License Division, issues all marriage licenses for the county. The office is at 100 Broad Street, Suite 469, Charleston, SC 29401. The direct phone is (843) 958-5183. The information line is (843) 958-5182. Portia Geathers is the Marriage License Clerk. Probate Judge Irvin G. Condon oversees the division. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Charleston County uses the LOVE virtual e-application. The process is fully online. You do not walk in to start a license application. Both applicants must supply an email address. You upload a valid photo ID, such as a driver's license or certified birth certificate, along with a separate document showing your Social Security number. Both parties sign a sworn statement that the information is true and that you are legally entitled to marry under South Carolina law. Payment of $70 by credit card, plus a transaction fee, is collected at the time of submission. The fee is non-refundable. The Probate Court marriage license page has the direct link to the application and the full list of accepted ID types.
South Carolina law requires a 24-hour waiting period after filing. The license is not released the same day. Within two business days of a completed submission, the Probate Court emails the license for printing. After the ceremony, you return the two signed copies -- labeled "Probate Judge" and "Probate Judge/DPH Copy" -- by mail or the drop box at the Suite 469 office door. The drop box is available from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is no residency requirement. The license is valid only for an in-person ceremony inside South Carolina.
Authorized officiants under S.C. Code Title 20, Chapter 1 include an ordained minister, an accepted Jewish rabbi, officers authorized to administer oaths in South Carolina, and South Carolina Notaries. If either party completed a premarital preparation course, include the certificate when you apply. It is optional but should be included if you have it.
The Probate Court forms library at charlestoncounty.gov/departments/probate/forms-instructions.php lists estate, guardianship, and court forms. The marriage license section links separately to the LOVE application.
A view of the Probate Court forms page shows the range of materials the office maintains for applicants.
From that page you can confirm which forms are current and reach the LOVE application link for new license requests.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
Gather your documents before you open the LOVE application. You need a valid photo ID and a document that shows your Social Security number. Both are separate uploads. Both applicants participate in the same submission. Do not file two separate applications.
- Open the LOVE e-application from the Probate Court marriage license page. Both applicants complete the form together in one session.
- Enter a working email address for each party. The completed license is sent to these addresses, so use ones you check regularly.
- Upload a valid photo ID. Accepted forms include a driver's license and an original or certified birth certificate. Check the application page for the full list.
- Upload a document that shows your Social Security number. This is a separate file from the photo ID.
- Review and sign the sworn statement. This confirms the information is accurate and that both parties can legally marry under South Carolina law.
- Pay the $70 fee by credit card. A transaction fee is added at checkout. This amount is not refundable.
- Wait 24 hours. South Carolina law does not allow the license to be released before one full day has passed from the filing time.
- Print the emailed license within two business days. Follow the printing instructions in the email.
- Have the ceremony with an authorized officiant. The officiant signs the license.
- Return the two signed copies to Suite 469 by mail or the drop box before 5 p.m. on a business day.
The South Carolina Judicial Branch attorney e-filing system at sccourts.org/e-filing-for-attorneys covers court submissions by SC Bar members. The LOVE marriage application is a Probate Court process and runs separately from that system.
A look at the SC courts e-filing page shows the broader digital filing infrastructure used for Circuit and Family Court matters statewide.
Attorney e-filing handles Circuit Court and Family Court submissions. The LOVE marriage application is a separate Probate Court process and is not filed through this portal.
Marriage License Application Fields
The LOVE e-application collects identity, contact, and document data for both parties. The table shows each field, whether it is required, and what the system expects. Having documents ready before you start will make the session faster and help you avoid a partial submission.
| Field / Item | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applicant A identity | Form fields | Yes | Both applicants must participate in the same application session. |
| Applicant B identity | Form fields | Yes | Each provides their own identity information in the same session. |
| Email address (each party) | Yes | Each party needs a working email. The completed license is sent here. | |
| Valid photo ID | File upload | Yes | Valid driver's license, original or certified birth certificate, or other accepted ID. See the LOVE application page for the complete list. |
| SSN document | File upload | Yes | A document showing the Social Security number. This is a separate upload from the photo ID. |
| Sworn statement / signature | Signature / attestation | Yes | Confirms truth of the application and legal entitlement to marry under South Carolina law. |
| Premarital preparation certificate | File upload | Optional | Include if either party completed a premarital preparation course. |
| Payment | Credit card | Yes | $70 plus a transaction fee. Non-refundable. Card is the only accepted method for the online application. |
Note: The application asks you to apply only once. Submitting duplicate applications causes delays and does not speed up the 24-hour waiting period.
Charleston County Marriage and Divorce Fee Schedule
Marriage license fees go to the Probate Court. Divorce filing fees go to the Clerk of Court. These are different offices with separate payment systems. The marriage license fee is paid online at the time of application. Divorce filing fees are paid at the Family Court counter when you file. Certified copy fees apply later when you need official copies for legal use.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage license (LOVE application) | $70 | Plus credit card transaction fee. Non-refundable. Paid online at time of application. |
| Domestic relations / divorce filing (Family Court) | $150 | Clerk of Court schedule lists this amount for domestic relations filings. Confirm current fee with the Clerk before filing. |
| Certified marriage certificate copy | Contact Probate Court | Request from Probate Court, Suite 469. Available only if the original license was issued in Charleston County. |
| Certified divorce decree copy | Contact Clerk of Court | Requested through the Clerk of Court Family Court division after the final decree is entered. |
The full Probate Court fee schedule is at charlestoncounty.gov/departments/probate/files/FEE-SCHEDULE.pdf. Clerk of Court filing fees for domestic relations are at charlestoncounty.gov/departments/clerk-of-court/filing-fees.php. Both schedules can change. Check the official pages before you pay.
The Charleston County FOIA portal at charlestoncounty.streamlinegov.us handles open-records requests for administrative county records. Court records -- marriage licenses and divorce decrees -- are requested directly from Probate Court or the Clerk, not through a FOIA submission.
A view of the county FOIA portal shows how public records requests are submitted for county administrative materials.
For certified marriage certificates and divorce decrees, contact the Probate Court or Clerk of Court directly. FOIA requests are for administrative county records, not court documents.
Certified Marriage Copies and State Vital Records
A certified copy of a Charleston County marriage certificate must be requested from the Probate Court, Marriage License Division, Suite 469. There is a key restriction: you can only get the copy here if the original license was applied for and issued in Charleston County. If the license came from another South Carolina county, contact that county's probate office.
To request a certified copy, call (843) 958-5183 or fax (843) 958-5191. Write to 100 Broad Street, Suite 469, Charleston, SC 29401. Have the full names of both parties and the approximate date of the marriage. The office may ask for proof of your identity and your connection to the record before releasing a copy.
South Carolina also holds marriage records at the state level through the Department of Health and Environmental Control. If you do not know which county issued the original license, the state office can help. State-level requests have their own fees and processing times. Contact that office directly for current requirements.
The South Carolina statute page at scstatehouse.gov/code/t20c001.php publishes the full text of marriage law in Title 20, Chapter 1.
A look at the South Carolina statute page shows where the state marriage laws sit in the official code.
Title 20, Chapter 1 governs the license process, officiant requirements, and legal entitlement to marry -- all of which the Charleston County LOVE application implements at the county level.
Charleston County Divorce Records in Family Court
Divorce is a Family Court matter in South Carolina. It is not handled by Probate Court. The Charleston County Clerk of Court, Julie J. Armstrong, maintains Family Court records. Family Court is at 100 Broad Street, Suite 143, Charleston, SC 29401-2265. The phone is (843) 958-4400, and the fax is (843) 958-4434. Family Court covers divorce, custody, child support, orders of protection, juvenile matters, and other domestic cases.
Some Family Court filings appear in the Public Index. Others do not. Cases involving children, financial disclosures, support orders, and domestic abuse may have restricted portions not visible online. If the Public Index does not show what you need, contact the Clerk's office directly for that specific case.
South Carolina divorce law requires residency and recognizes both fault and no-fault grounds. The Judicial Branch posts self-help resources at sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/family-court. Free guidance is also available through South Carolina Legal Services and the SC Bar public help page. To file, confirm residency and grounds, get Family Court forms from the Judicial Branch site or legal aid, file at Suite 143, pay the filing fee, and serve the other spouse. Request certified copies from the Clerk after the final decree is signed.
A February 2026 report noted that the Charleston County Sheriff's Office adjusted online inmate postings to reduce bail scams. The Live 5 News report from February 12, 2026 covered those detention-side changes. Divorce and Family Court records are separate from jail records.
PACER handles federal civil, criminal, and bankruptcy filings. State divorce matters in Charleston County are state-level records and are not in PACER.
State-level divorce filings go through Charleston County Family Court, not the federal system. PACER is only relevant if a federal matter overlaps with a domestic case.
Related Charleston County Records
Marriage and divorce records connect to other record types in the county. Estate matters may arise after a spouse passes away. Property disputes sometimes follow a divorce. Knowing where each type lives saves a trip to the wrong office.
- Probate Records: The Probate Court handles estates, guardianships, and conservatorships. A divorce decree or marriage certificate is often needed when an estate opens.
- Court Records: Circuit Court Common Pleas records may include post-divorce civil disputes such as property or contract claims.
- Clerk of Court: The Clerk maintains Family Court records, holds divorce case files, and issues certified copies of final decrees.
- Public Records: The county FOIA portal covers administrative records. For court documents, contact Probate Court or the Clerk directly.
The South Carolina Judicial Branch probate page at sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/probate-court describes what Probate Court handles across all SC counties. The local Probate Court page at charlestoncounty.gov/departments/probate has current contact details.
State records and federal records are separate systems. Marriage licenses and divorce decrees from Charleston County are state-level records accessed through Probate Court and the Clerk of Court.