Charleston County Marriage License Records
Marriage licenses in Charleston County are issued by Charleston County Probate Court Marriage License Division, not by the Circuit Court Clerk. The division works from the Charleston County Judicial Center, 100 Broad Street, Suite 469, Charleston, South Carolina 29401. The marriage license phone line is (843) 958-5183, the fax line is (843) 958-5191, and the general information line is (843) 958-5182. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The county uses an online marriage application workflow that redirects to South Carolina Probate Applications. Applicants provide contact details, upload identity proof, sign a sworn statement, and pay the county license fee by credit card. South Carolina does not require Charleston County residency, but the license is valid only for an in-person ceremony performed in South Carolina. The county identifies Portia Geathers as Marriage License Clerk and lists Probate Clerk of Court and Commitment Division contact Regina D. LeBlanc for related Probate Court matters.
The Probate Court marriage-license page shows the county rules, accepted ID list, waiting period, and copy process.
That county source is the controlling local channel for Charleston County marriage license applications and certified marriage license copies.
Apply for Charleston County Marriage Records
A marriage license application should be submitted once, with a working email address for each party. Each applicant must be at least 18. Accepted photo ID includes a valid driver's license, original or certified birth certificate, state ID, current military ID, or current passport. Proof of Social Security number may be a Social Security card, the first page of a tax return showing name and number, or a W-2 or tax form with financial data redacted. Non-U.S. citizens may use a valid passport or current visa with Alien Registration Number.
- Open the Charleston County online marriage license application and complete one application for both parties.
- Upload valid photo ID and proof of Social Security number or alien identification number for each applicant.
- Sign the sworn statement that the information is true and that the applicants may marry under South Carolina law.
- Pay the license fee by credit card and wait for the required South Carolina waiting period.
- Print the license after it is emailed, complete the in-person ceremony, and return the signed Probate Judge copies by mail or office-door drop box.
After a completed application is filed, the county says the marriage license is emailed two business days later for printing and use with an instruction sheet. The ceremony may be performed by an ordained minister, Jewish rabbi, officer authorized to administer oaths in South Carolina, or South Carolina notary. Signed copies labeled Probate Judge and Probate Judge/DPH Copy must be returned so the marriage record can be filed.
Charleston County Marriage Search Fields
The county marriage application requires identity and eligibility data, while the public marriage search uses name-based fields. The Probate search portal may also show a result grid with labels shared by probate matters, so a marriage search result should be read by the names, case number, type, filing date, county, and status shown rather than by assuming every estate-related column applies to a license.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Email address | Yes | Each party must provide an email address for the online application workflow. |
| Photo identification | Yes | Driver's license, certified birth certificate, state ID, military ID, or passport may be used. |
| SSN or alien ID proof | Yes | Use an accepted Social Security proof or valid passport or visa with alien registration number. |
| Sworn statement | Yes | Applicants attest that the application is true and that they may marry under South Carolina law. |
| Premarital course certificate | Optional | The county says this certificate may be provided if a course was completed. |
The Charleston Probate marriage search portal provides the county marriage-record search fields.
The search screen is useful when a date, party name, or case label is known but a certified copy has not yet been ordered.
| Search Field | Type | Required | Options / Format Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Select County | Dropdown | Yes | Choose Charleston; the portal marks this field as required. |
| Include Surrounding Counties? | Checkbox | No | Broadens the search outside Charleston County. |
| Last or Business Name | Text | No | Can be combined with first or middle name; % wildcard may be used. |
| First | Text | No | Narrows a party-name search. |
| Middle | Text | No | Narrows a party-name search. |
| All Parties / Case Name | Radio or tab | No | Controls whether the query searches party names or case name. |
Charleston County Marriage Fees
Marriage records have a narrow county fee schedule in the research file. The Probate Court license fee is non-refundable and paid by credit card through the online application system. Certified marriage license copies are ordered online, processed the next business day, and mailed to the parties after the ceremony has been performed and the license has been filed with Probate Court. Divorce filing and decree-copy fees were not captured in the research file, so those should be confirmed with Family Court before payment.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage license | $70.00 plus transaction fee |
| Certified marriage license copy | $5.00 per copy plus transaction fee |
| Older marriage record before 1999 | Contact SC DPH Vital Records for current fees |
| Certified divorce decree copy | Confirm with Charleston County Family Court |
Note: A certified marriage copy does not expire, but it cannot be issued until the signed license has been returned and filed.
Charleston County Divorce Records
Divorce is a Family Court case type in South Carolina. Charleston County divorce records are handled by the Clerk of Court's Family Court office at 100 Broad Street, Suite 143, Charleston, South Carolina 29401. The Family Court phone number is (843) 958-4400, and the fax number is (843) 958-4434. Family Court Case Search is linked from the Clerk online services page and the county court-info directory through CourtPlus and South Carolina judicial tools.
A divorce file may include pleadings, affidavits, financial declarations, child custody papers, support material, orders, and the final decree. Many details can be restricted or redacted because Family Court records often involve minors, finances, domestic issues, sealed filings, or confidential juvenile material. For the decree itself, use the Clerk of Court Family Court channel rather than the Probate Court marriage-search portal. Broader case status or hearing records may also route through the county court services directory.
South Carolina family confidentiality rules affect Charleston County divorce records when children or related family matters are involved. The state juvenile confidentiality statute is available through the South Carolina Juvenile Justice Code.
That statute helps explain why some Family Court material is not open in the same way as ordinary civil court records.
Certified Marriage and Divorce Copies
Certified marriage copies are ordered through the Probate Court process. The request requires both full names and the date of marriage. Orders are processed the next business day and mailed to the parties. For Charleston County licenses issued before 1999, the Probate Court directs requesters to South Carolina Department of Public Health Vital Records at dph.sc.gov or by phone at (803) 898-3630.
Certified divorce decrees are different. The decree is a Family Court order, so the certified-copy request should go to Charleston County Clerk of Court Family Court. The state vital records office may provide a divorce report or certificate for some purposes, but it does not replace the Family Court decree when a court-certified order is required. If a divorce file includes sealed or protected material, the Clerk may release only the public portion or require a court order.
Termination-of-parental-rights and some related Family Court records are sealed under South Carolina law. The South Carolina children's code confidentiality provision is one reason Family Court copy requests may need more review than a marriage-license copy request.
The confidentiality rule is most relevant when a divorce record overlaps with child-related orders or sealed family proceedings.