Marriage License FAQ's

ID Requirement

You will need to show your drivers license (or voter registration card, birth certificate or passport) and social security card. 

Residency Requirement
You do not have to be a resident of South Carolina.

Previous Marriages
Proof of divorce is not needed.

Covenant Marriage Option
No

Waiting Period in South Carolina
In some South Carolina counties there is a twenty-four (24) hour waiting period. Because of the 24-hour waiting period, if you want to get married on a weekend in these counties, make sure you apply for your license by Thursday.

Fees in South Carolina
The fees charged to get married in South Carolina vary from county to county.

Other Tests
No blood test required.

Proxy Marriages
No

Cousin Marriages
Yes 

Same Sex Marriages
No.

Under 18
If you are under 18, you will need a certified copy of your birth certificate and a notarized statement of parental consent. The parent or legal guardian has to also appear at the same time as the minor to show their identification and to sign the parental consent form. The minimum age for a female is 14 and it is 16 for a male.

Expiration
A South Carolina Marriage license does not expire.

Applying for a Marriage License

In Horry County, Conway is the county seat, and that's where you'll need to apply for and then receive your marriage license. Marriage licenses are issued by the Probate Court Office (843) 915-5370.  It's in the County Courthouse at 1301 Second Avenue, Conway. Marriage licenses are issued between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, but the office is open until 5:00 p.m. For your convenience you may download a Marriage License application from the probate court's website and submit via mail.  While both parties do have to be present to pick up the license, by mailing in advance it speeds up the process and there is no waiting period once the license is picked up.

To receive a marriage license from the Probate Court, you'll need to: 1) file a marriage application;
2) file a statement, under oath or affirmation, that the persons seeking the contract of matrimony are legally entitled to marry, together with the full names of the persons, their ages and their places of residence;
3) pay the appropriate fee; and 4) observe the 24-hour waiting period.

Marriage licenses are public records and are open to the public during regular business hours. Here are the fees:

Marriage License Fees for Horry County (includes Criminal Domestic Fund):

County residents $50.00

State residents $75.00

Out of state and all others $100.00

Other Fees:

Certified Copy (1994 - present) $5.00

Pre-1994 research fee $10.00

Marriage Record Correction $6.75

Click to visit the Horry County Probate Court Website for more details and to obtain an application.