Legal guide · South Carolina
How to Legally Elope in South Carolina
Marriage license cost, waiting period, witness rules, and the complete process for eloping in South Carolina — written by the team that has handled 8,000+ ceremonies in South Carolina and across the United States.
The short answer
To legally elope in South Carolina: both partners apply together through Charleston County Probate Court's online application with photo ID and Social Security numbers and pay $70 plus a card transaction fee; the application must be on file 24 hours before the license is issued, and the county emails the license two business days after the application is complete. No visit to the court, no witnesses and no blood test — the officiant signs the license after the ceremony.
- License cost
- $70 by credit card plus a transaction fee
- Waiting period
- 24 hours between filing the application and the license being issued (S.C. Code § 20-1-220)
- Witnesses
- No
- Blood test
- Not required.
South Carolina has the only mandatory waiting period among our service-area states — the application must be on file 24 hours before the license is issued — but Charleston County's application process is also the most convenient: it's online. The license costs $70 by credit card plus a transaction fee, both partners complete the application together and upload a photo ID (no visit to the court), and the county emails the license two business days after the application is complete. South Carolina does not require witnesses; the officiant signs the license after the ceremony. The state's flagship elopement venues — Cypress Gardens with its cypress-shadowed black-water swamp, and Hampton Park with its Spanish-moss-draped oaks — sit just outside the historic district and are bookable through our packages.
South Carolina marriage license at a glance
- License cost
- $70 by credit card plus a transaction fee, non-refundable, paid to the Charleston County Probate Court when you apply online — not to Elopements Inc. Elopements Inc. cannot obtain the license on your behalf.
- Waiting period
- 24 hours between filing the application and the license being issued (S.C. Code § 20-1-220). Charleston County emails the license two business days after a completed application, so apply several days before the ceremony.
- License validity
- No formal expiration in South Carolina law, but the license is intended to be used promptly.
- Witnesses required
- No. South Carolina does not require witnesses. The officiant signs the marriage license after the ceremony.
- Blood test
- Not required.
- Minimum age
- 18 for Charleston County's online application, which requires both applicants to be at least 18. State law (S.C. Code § 20-1-250) allows 16- and 17-year-olds to marry with the sworn consent of a parent, relative or guardian they live with; no one under 16 may marry.
- Proxy allowed
- Not applicable — Charleston County's marriage license process is online. Both partners must be present together when completing the online application; neither visits the court.
- Online application
- Yes — Charleston County Probate Court's application is online. Both partners, together, complete it, upload a valid photo ID and a document showing each Social Security number, and sign a sworn statement; the license arrives by email two business days later to print.
- Where to apply
- Charleston County Probate Court's online marriage license portal. The license is valid statewide.
Comparing states? Our marriage license guide for Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina and Arizona puts all four side by side, and the complete elopement planning guide covers everything that happens after the license.
Important
The marriage license fee is paid directly to the county at the time of application — not to Elopements Inc. The application has to be completed by the couple; we cannot obtain the license on your behalf. In Tennessee, Georgia, and Arizona both partners apply in person at the county clerk's office. In Charleston County, South Carolina, the entire application is online. We walk every couple through the process step by step (where to apply, what to bring, when to go), but the application itself has to be completed by the two of you.
The South Carolina elopement process, step by step
Every legal South Carolina marriage follows the same six steps. Elopements Inc. handles steps 5 and 6 directly and guides you through the rest. Because South Carolina runs the Charleston marriage license process entirely online, neither partner has to appear in person — you complete steps 1 through 3 from anywhere.
- 01
Apply for the license online
Charleston County Probate Court's online marriage license portal. The license is valid statewide.
- 02
Provide the required documents
Both partners complete the online application together, uploading a valid government-issued photo ID and a document showing each Social Security number. If either of you was married before, have the divorce decree or death certificate ready.
- 03
Pay the license fee
$70 by credit card plus a transaction fee, non-refundable, paid to the Charleston County Probate Court when you apply online — not to Elopements Inc. Elopements Inc. cannot obtain the license on your behalf. This fee goes directly to the issuing office at the time of application — Elopements Inc. does not collect or pay the license fee on your behalf.
- 04
Observe any waiting period
24 hours between filing the application and the license being issued (S.C. Code § 20-1-220). Charleston County emails the license two business days after a completed application, so apply several days before the ceremony.
- 05
Hold the ceremony with a licensed officiant
Witnesses required: No. South Carolina does not require witnesses. The officiant signs the marriage license after the ceremony. Elopements Inc. provides witnesses at no extra cost for couples eloping just the two of them.
- 06
Officiant returns signed license
The officiant returns the signed license copies to the Probate Court within 15 days (S.C. Code § 20-1-330). Certified copies are ordered online from Charleston County, at $5 a copy by card plus a transaction fee.
South Carolina elopement questions, answered
How long is the waiting period to elope in South Carolina?
South Carolina law requires the application to be on file at least 24 hours before the license is issued (S.C. Code § 20-1-220). Charleston County emails the license two business days after a completed application, so couples apply online from home several days before they travel and arrive with the license printed.
Where do you apply for a marriage license in Charleston?
Charleston County Probate Court's online marriage license application. Both partners complete it together, upload a valid photo ID and a document showing each Social Security number, and sign a sworn statement; no visit to the court is required, and the license arrives by email two business days later. The ceremony can take place anywhere in South Carolina. Elopements Inc. coordinators walk couples through the application timing.
How much does a South Carolina marriage license cost?
A Charleston County marriage license costs $70 by credit card plus a transaction fee, non-refundable, paid online to the Charleston County Probate Court when you apply. The fee goes to the county — not to Elopements Inc. Both partners complete the online application together; neither visits the court, and Elopements Inc. cannot submit the application on your behalf.
Do you need witnesses to elope in South Carolina?
No. South Carolina does not require witnesses to sign the marriage license — the officiant signs it after the ceremony. You can elope with just the two of you and your officiant, and guests are welcome if you want them.
Can you elope at Cypress Gardens?
Yes. Cypress Gardens, a 170-acre cypress swamp preserve in Moncks Corner about 25 minutes from downtown Charleston, hosts elopements year-round. All ceremonies there take place in the Heirloom Garden. Elopements Inc.'s Charleston packages include Cypress Gardens access.
Can you elope in Hampton Park?
Yes. Hampton Park, a 60-acre public park in downtown Charleston's Wagener Terrace neighborhood, is one of Elopements Inc.'s two Charleston venues, and its Spanish-moss-draped live oaks are the backdrop. Elopements Inc. doesn't obtain a permit for Hampton Park; ceremonies are kept to 20 guests, all standing.
Can the 24-hour waiting period be waived?
Plan as if it can't. South Carolina's law sets the 24 hours between filing the application and issuing the license and provides no waiver, and Charleston County emails the license two business days after a completed application — so apply several days before your ceremony.
Who can officiate a marriage in South Carolina?
South Carolina allows ministers of the gospel, accepted Jewish rabbis and officers authorized to administer oaths to officiate (S.C. Code § 20-1-20). That includes South Carolina notaries public, who need no ordination. Elopements Inc. uses traditionally ordained officiants whose authority is unambiguous.
What documents do you need to elope in South Carolina?
Both partners need: a valid government-issued photo ID, a document showing their Social Security number, and the $70 fee plus a card transaction fee. If either partner has been previously married, the divorce decree or death certificate is required. The application asks for parents' full names and birth states — bring that information.
Is South Carolina marriage legal in other states?
Yes. A marriage performed legally in South Carolina is recognized in all 50 U.S. states and most countries. The officiant returns the signed license copies to the Probate Court within 15 days (S.C. Code § 20-1-330). Certified copies are a separate request to Charleston County, at $5 per copy by card plus a transaction fee.
Where to elope in South Carolina
Elopements Inc. operates in one South Carolina city. Every package below includes the venue, professional photography, a licensed South Carolina officiant, ceremony coordination, and complete marriage license guidance.
Iconic South Carolina elopement venues
The most photographed elopement spots in South Carolina, covered by our packages:
- Cypress Gardens (Moncks Corner)
- Hampton Park (downtown Charleston)
Ready to elope in South Carolina?
Our coordinators handle the marriage license process, the venue, the officiant, the photography, and everything in between. Pick your South Carolina city to see venues and pricing.