Charleston County Marriage License: How the Online Application Works

Charleston County takes marriage license applications online, so there is no counter to stand at and no number to pull. A Charleston County marriage license costs $70 by credit card plus a transaction fee, and once your application is complete the Probate Court emails the license for you to print. For couples planning a Charleston wedding from somewhere else, that is good news.

It also means the timing depends on the court's inbox, so read the part about applying early. Fees and hours here were checked in October 2026 and courts do change them, so call before you drive over. The Marriage License Division answers at (843) 958-5183.

How do you apply for a Charleston County marriage license?

The county calls its system the Live Online Virtual E-Application, or LOVE. Someone at the courthouse had fun with that. You start from the Charleston County Probate Court marriage license page, fill in the application, upload your documents, and pay. Each of you signs a sworn statement that the information is true and that you are legally entitled to marry under South Carolina law. For that reason the court wants both of you present when the application is completed.

A few house rules from the county. Include an email address for each of you. Apply once. Make sure you can print, sign, and upload documents before you start. Applicants must be at least 18.

What documents do you upload?

Each of you uploads one form of identification from the county's list:

• A valid driver's license

• A valid state identification card

• A current military identification card

• A current passport

• An original birth certificate or a certified copy

You also upload one document showing your Social Security number. The county accepts a Social Security card, page 1 of a tax return, or a W-2 or tax form that shows your name and number. It suggests blacking out the financial figures first. Applicants who are not U.S. citizens send a copy of a valid passport or current visa with their Alien Registration Number. If you completed a premarital preparation course, provide the certificate when you apply.

How far ahead should you apply?

Two clocks are running. State law requires 24 hours between the application and the license. On top of that, the court says your Charleston County marriage license will be emailed within two business days after the application is complete, along with an instruction sheet. Read both the moment they land. If anything on the license is wrong, the county asks you to email your clerk immediately.

So please do not apply on a Thursday for a Saturday wedding. We suggest applying a couple of weeks before the ceremony, printing the license at home, and packing it with the rings. Hotel printers have a way of failing at the worst moment.

Who can perform a wedding in Charleston?

South Carolina does not let just anyone do it. Under S.C. Code Section 20-1-20, the people authorized to perform a marriage are ministers of the Gospel, Jewish rabbis, officers authorized to administer oaths in the state, and the chief or spiritual leader of a recognized Native American Indian entity. Charleston County's page words it as ordained ministers, rabbis, officers authorized to administer oaths, and South Carolina notaries. In plain terms, a friend or relative generally cannot officiate unless they are one of those. The county adds that the license is valid for marriages performed in person in South Carolina and nowhere else.

Augusta Officiant is licensed to officiate in Georgia and South Carolina, and Charleston is one of the cities we travel to. We carry a business license and $2 million in liability insurance, which more venues now ask officiants to show. We also run a backup officiant system, so a ceremony is never left without an officiant. If you are picturing Folly Beach or a spot downtown, check with the city or park office before you plan on it.

What do you do with the license after the ceremony?

A Charleston County marriage license, like every South Carolina license, comes in three copies. You both sign all three exactly as your names appear, and the officiant fills in the officiant lines and the date. We complete and sign the license at the ceremony and hand it to you. One copy is yours to keep. Charleston County says you are responsible for returning the two signed copies labeled PROBATE JUDGE and PROBATE JUDGE/DPH COPY. You can mail them, or use the drop box at the office door between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Marriage License Division is in the Judicial Center, 100 Broad Street, Suite 469, Charleston, SC 29401. State law gives you 15 days from the ceremony.

Certified copies come next. The county takes those orders online at $5 per copy by credit card, plus a transaction fee, and mails them after processing the order the next business day. You cannot order one until your license has been filed. Name changes call for a certified copy, and so does DEERS enrollment for military couples.

What does an officiant cost for a Charleston wedding?

Our package prices are the same in every season. The Elopement Ceremony is $200: a short ceremony with a set script, standard vows, and a ring exchange, for up to 20 guests, with no rehearsal. The Custom Ceremony is $400. We write it from scratch for you, meet once to plan it, and attend the rehearsal. Charleston is more than two hours from Augusta, so travel adds about $200 to $300. Payment plans are available on every package, and they cover travel too. Planning meetings for couples who are not local happen by Zoom or FaceTime. See the packages and services page for what each one includes.

We are veteran owned and family run, we have married more than 1,200 couples, and our fees support the Augusta Birth Center, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The license can be handled from your kitchen table. Finding the right person to stand up with you deserves a little longer, and our post on when to book a wedding officiant explains why earlier is easier.

Charleston County marriage license FAQ

How much is a marriage license in Charleston County?

A Charleston County marriage license costs $70, paid by credit card, plus a transaction fee. The payment is not refundable.

Can you apply for a Charleston County marriage license online?

Yes. The Probate Court takes applications through its online system, and the finished license is emailed to you to print.

How long does it take to get the license?

State law requires a 24 hour wait, and the court says the license is emailed within two business days after a completed application. Apply well before you need it.

Can a friend marry us in Charleston?

Only if your friend is a minister, a rabbi, an officer authorized to administer oaths in South Carolina, or another person covered by S.C. Code Section 20-1-20. The county's page also lists South Carolina notaries.

Where does the license go after the wedding?

Mail the two court copies to the Probate Court, or use the drop box at the office door at 100 Broad Street, Suite 469, Charleston. State law allows 15 days.

Planning a Charleston ceremony from out of town?

Start your Charleston County marriage license application early, then send us your date and location. We will confirm who is available, give you the travel cost up front, and set up payment plans if you want them. You can see what other couples have said about us on Google before you write.