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Charleston County exact answer

Can a minor apply for a marriage license in Charleston County?

This answer belongs to the issuing office and task named above. It does not substitute a statewide summary or infer a rule the office does not publish.

Direct answer

In Charleston County, south Carolina law bars a license where either applicant is under 16, and requires a sworn consent affidavit signed by a parent, other relative or guardian where an applicant is aged 16 or 17. The Charleston County Probate Court's current marriage page states only that applicants must be at least 18 and publishes no under-18 procedure, so an applicant under 18 should contact the Marriage License Division on (843) 958-5183 before applying. The Court's Spanish-language instruction sheet still describes the 16-and-over consent route, with the parent or guardian appearing at the same time as the minor to show identification and sign the consent. The English page does not. This divergence is recorded rather than resolved.

Published rule and conditions

Minor applicant rule
South Carolina law bars a license where either applicant is under 16, and requires a sworn consent affidavit signed by a parent, other relative or guardian where an applicant is aged 16 or 17. The Charleston County Probate Court's current marriage page states only that applicants must be at least 18 and publishes no under-18 procedure, so an applicant under 18 should contact the Marriage License Division on (843) 958-5183 before applying.

The Court's Spanish-language instruction sheet still describes the 16-and-over consent route, with the parent or guardian appearing at the same time as the minor to show identification and sign the consent. The English page does not. This divergence is recorded rather than resolved.

Applies in some cases

A marriage license must not be issued when either applicant is under the age of sixteen. When either applicant is between the ages of sixteen to eighteen and that applicant resides with father, mother, other relative, or guardian, the probate judge or other officer authorized to issue marriage licenses shall not issue a license for the marriage until furnished with a sworn affidavit signed by the father, mother, other relative, or guardian giving consent to the marriage.

Issuing office

Charleston County Probate Court, Marriage License Division

Open the issuing office

Official sources for this answer

  • Marriage License Division: Probate CourtCharleston County Probate Court, Marriage License Division - checked July 30, 2026

    To fulfill the Application for License and Certificate of Marriage process the couple must complete the Live Online Virtual E-Application (LOVE) which contains general information such as name, age, address and email address and make a non-refundable payment of $70.00 by credit card. The cost is seventy dollars ($70) by credit card plus a transaction fee and is non-refundable. As mandated by South Carolina law, there is a twenty-four hour waiting period after the application is filed before the Marriage License is released. For this reason, both Applicant A and Applicant B must be present when completing the Application for License and Certificate of Marriage. Within TWO business days following the fulfilled Application for License and Certificate of Marriage, your Marriage License will be emailed to the email address listed on your Application for License and Certificate of Marriage. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age. No residency requirements. A South Carolina marriage license is valid only for marriages performed in person in South Carolina. All applicants must upload a valid photo ID. United States Citizens must upload proof of their social security number. An Ordained minister, Jewish Rabbis, officers authorized to administer oaths in South Carolina or a South Carolina Notary can perform wedding ceremonies in South Carolina. After your wedding ceremony, you will be responsible for returning the signed copies labeled PROBATE JUDGE and PROBATE JUDGE/DPH COPY to the Probate Court via mail or the drop box is available at our office door from 8:30AM to 5:00PM. The cost is $5.00 per copy paid by credit card plus a transaction fee. A certified copy does not expire.

  • South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 20, Chapter 1 - MarriageSouth Carolina Legislature, South Carolina Code of Laws - checked July 30, 2026

    Linked by the Charleston County Probate Court as "South Carolina Laws on Marriage". SECTION 20-1-230(A): The judge of probate or clerk of court with whom a marriage license application was filed shall issue a license upon: (1) the filing of the application required under the provisions of Section 20-1-220; (2) the lapse of at least twenty-four hours thereafter; (3) the payment of the fee provided by law; and (4) the filing of a statement, under oath or affirmation, to the effect that the persons seeking the contract of matrimony are legally entitled to marry, together with the full names of the persons, their ages, and places of residence. SECTION 20-1-250: A marriage license must not be issued when either applicant is under the age of sixteen. When either applicant is between the ages of sixteen to eighteen and that applicant resides with father, mother, other relative, or guardian, the probate judge or other officer authorized to issue marriage licenses shall not issue a license for the marriage until furnished with a sworn affidavit signed by the father, mother, other relative, or guardian giving consent to the marriage. SECTION 20-1-220: No marriage license may be issued unless a written application has been filed with the probate judge, or in Darlington and Georgetown counties the clerk of court who issues the license, at least twenty-four hours before the issuance of the license. SECTION 20-1-100: Any person under the age of sixteen is not capable of entering into a valid marriage. SECTION 20-1-330: The officer issuing marriage license certificates shall issue them in triplicate, all of which shall be delivered to either of the contracting parties and the parties to whom they are delivered shall in turn deliver them to the minister or officer who performs the wedding ceremony. Article 3 of this chapter (SECTIONS 20-1-210 through 20-1-380) is the whole statutory scheme for issuing a South Carolina marriage license and was read section by section on 30 July 2026: no section sets an expiration date or a period of validity for an issued license.

Answer boundary

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