Richland County SC Marriage License: The Online Guide for Columbia Couples

$45.24. That is the price of a Richland County SC marriage license, and you will pay it by debit or credit card, because the Richland County Probate Court does every marriage license transaction online. You apply on the county's website, wait the 24 hours state law requires, and the court mails the license to the address you give. No trip downtown required.

Richland County SC marriage license at a glance

• Fee: $45.24, by debit or credit card

• How to apply: online. The county says all transactions are online only

• Wait: 24 hours by state law, then the license is mailed to you

• Use it within: six months of the day it is issued

• Marriage license phone: 803-576-1963

• Probate Court office: 1701 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Suite 207, Columbia, SC 29201, open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fees and hours here were checked in October 2026 and courts do change them, so call before you drive over. In Richland's case, call before you assume you need to drive over at all.

How does the online application work?

Step 1: Gather two documents each

Each of you uploads an official picture ID and an official document showing your full Social Security number. For the ID, the county accepts a valid state driver's license, a state identification card, a military ID showing your name and date of birth, or a passport. For the number, it accepts a Social Security card, page 1 of a tax return, or a W-2 or tax form showing your name and number. Applicants who are not U.S. citizens need a valid passport and a current visa.

Step 2: Apply and pay on the county's site

The application link is on the Richland County Probate Court marriage page. Type your names carefully, because you will sign the license exactly as they appear on it.

Step 3: Watch your email, then your mailbox

If something is missing, the court emails the applicant listed as party A. If everything is in order, the license goes in the mail once the 24 hours are up.

Took a premarital preparation course? The county notes a one time $50 tax credit, and asks you to email the signed completion form right after you submit the application.

How early should Columbia couples apply?

Earlier than you think. The county does not say how many days delivery takes, and the post office does not take requests. Since a Richland County SC marriage license stays good for six months, there is no reason to cut it close. We suggest applying three or four weeks before the wedding. If the envelope has not shown up and the date is getting close, call the marriage license line.

Under 18? The rules are different. Minors must be at least 16 to apply, and a parent or legal guardian has to appear in person with both of you. Call first.

Who can officiate a wedding in Columbia, SC?

The county's page spells this out. Under S.C. Code Section 20-1-20, South Carolina limits who may perform a marriage to ministers, rabbis, officers authorized to administer oaths in the state, and the chief or spiritual leader of a recognized Native American Indian entity. A friend or relative generally cannot officiate unless they are one of those.

Augusta Officiant is licensed to officiate in Georgia and South Carolina, and Columbia is one of the cities we travel to. We have married more than 1,200 couples. We also hold a business license and $2 million in liability insurance. A friend who does qualify under the statute would still have a hard time getting either, and more venues now ask to see both. They have seen what a no show or a wrongly dated license does to a couple.

Does it matter which county you apply in?

No. Richland County says you can apply in any county in South Carolina and use the license anywhere in the state, and residency is not required. That gives couples near the county line, in Irmo for example, a choice. A Richland County SC marriage license is all online. Next door, the Lexington County Probate Court takes applications in person or by mail and lists its fee at $30, payable by cash, check, or money order. Some couples like a counter and a human being. Either license works anywhere in South Carolina, and neither works outside it.

What happens after the ceremony?

The license has three copies, and both of you sign each one exactly as your names appear. The officiant completes the officiant lines and the date. At the ceremony we fill in and sign our part and hand the license to you. You keep the original. The other two copies need to be back at the Probate Court within 15 days, and returning them is your job, in person or by mail, which gets your recorded license back faster. The court's mailing address is P.O. Box 288, Columbia, SC 29201. If you send it by UPS, the county says to use the Main Street address instead.

Certified copies are ordered online too. Richland County charges $8 per copy and mails them, and it asks you to allow two business days for processing. You will need certified copies for a name change. Military couples, including those at Fort Jackson, need one for DEERS enrollment.

What does an officiant cost in Columbia?

We keep the same prices all year. The Elopement Ceremony is $200 and covers a short ceremony with a set script, standard vows, and a ring exchange for up to 20 guests. There is no rehearsal. The Custom Ceremony is $400. That one is written from scratch for you, with one planning meeting by Zoom or FaceTime, and we come to the rehearsal. Every package has payment plans, and the Custom Ceremony over 6 months is about $67 a month. For travel to Columbia, ask us for a quote for your location. Our post on finding a wedding officiant in Columbia, SC goes deeper, and the packages page lists what is included.

We are a veteran owned, family run business with a bilingual team, and our fees support the Augusta Birth Center, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Richland County SC marriage license FAQ

How much is a marriage license in Richland County, SC?

A Richland County SC marriage license is $45.24, paid online by debit or credit card. Check the county's page before you apply in case the fee has changed.

Can we apply in person at the Richland County Probate Court?

The county says all marriage license transactions are online only. If you would like to talk to a person first, the marriage license line is 803-576-1963.

Can we get married the same day we apply in Columbia?

No. State law requires a 24 hour wait, and Richland County then mails the license, so allow time for delivery.

How long is a Richland County license good for?

The county gives you six months from the date the license is issued to have the ceremony. After that you need to apply again.

Can a friend officiate our Columbia wedding?

Only if your friend is a minister, a rabbi, or an officer authorized to administer oaths in South Carolina, as S.C. Code Section 20-1-20 requires. Confirm with the Probate Court before you rely on it.

Let us handle the part that is not online

Your Richland County SC marriage license can be done from the couch. The ceremony needs a person. Send us your date and your Columbia location and we will reply with availability and a quote, plus payment plans if they help. Curious what we are like to work with? Our Google reviews are a good place to look.