How to Find South Carolina Marriage Records

How To Find U.S. Marriage Records How To Find South Carolina Marriage Records

Finding South Carolina Marriage Records

Marriages were not recorded by the counties or the state of South Carolina until July 1, 1911 when the county probate judge's office was required to issue marriage licenses. In July 1950, the county was required to send a copy to the state of South Carolina.

Next Step: When did the marriage occur?		Marriage Records Choose a time period: Before 1911 1911 to 1949 1950 to Present Marriage year unknown

Learn more about U.S. Marriage Records

Marriages Before 1911

Marriages were not recorded by the counties or the state of South Carolina until July 1, 1911 when the county probate judge's office was required to issue marriage licenses.

Try these databases. In order of most records indexed and included. Marriage information is taken from substitute records such as church records.
Database Name	Link or links to access database		# of records
Ancestry, South Carolina Marriages, 1641-1965	free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers	$, Use your own Ancestry subscription	69,131
Ancestry, South Carolina Marriages, 1688-1799	free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers	$, Use your own Ancestry subscription	355
FamilySearch, South Carolina, Marriages, 1709-1913	free, incomplete		4,154
Ancestry, South Carolina Marriages, 1800-1820	free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers	$, Use your own Ancestry subscription	178

Can't access Ancestry?	Visit your local Family History Center or your local public library.
No marriage record for your ancestor?	Search for Gretna Greens-- locations away from the home county where marriage laws were less restrictive. Search other records with marriage information.

If you did not find your ancestor in the above indexes, try searching for marriage information in other records.

1. Look first in	2. Then search
Church Records Newspapers Military Records Obituaries	Census Records Cemetery Records Death Records Bible Records

Return to the Top: Choose another marriage year

Marriages from 1911 to 1949

County probate judge's offices began registering marriage licenses starting July 1, 1911.

STEP ONE: Find Marriage Information

Below are several small marriage databases containing a very small portion of the marriages that took place. Marriage information is taken from substitute records such as church records.
Database Name	Link or links to access database
South Carolina, Marriages, 1709-1913	free, incomplete
South Carolina Marriages, 1641-1965	free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers	$, Use your own Ancestry subscription

Can't access Ancestry?	Visit your local Family History Center or your local public library.
No marriage record for your ancestor?	Search for Gretna Greens-- locations away from the home county where marriage laws were less restrictive. Search other records with marriage information.

STEP TWO: Obtain the Record

PART A: You know the exact date and place of marriage from your records or the above indexes

• Order the marriage record from the county probate judge's offices in the county the marriage took place.

PART B: You don't know the exact date or place of marriage

• Still can't find your ancestor in the above indexes? Try searching other records.

Return to the Top: Choose another marriage year

Marriages from 1950 to Present

The Vital Records office of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control has copies of marriages from July 1950 to 2010. The county probate judge also keeps a copy of the marriage.

STEP ONE: Find Marriage Information

Below is one small marriage database containing a very small portion of the marriages that took place. Marriage information is taken from substitute records such as church records.
Database Name	Link or links to access database
South Carolina Marriages, 1641-1965	free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers	$, Use your own Ancestry subscription

Can't access Ancestry?	Visit your local Family History Center or your local public library.
No marriage record for your ancestor?	Search for Gretna Greens-- locations away from the home county where marriage laws were less restrictive. Search other records with marriage information.

STEP TWO: Obtain the Record

PART A: You know the exact date and place of marriage from your records or the above indexes

• Order the marriage record from the county probate judge's offices in the county the marriage took place.

OR

• Order the marriage record from the Vital Records office of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

To Order Marriage Certificates
County probate judge's offices		Vital Records office of the SC Dept of Health and Environmental Control
Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons
May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state	County websites can be more difficult to use	Has an expedited service on VitalChek	May be more expensive than ordering from the county

PART B: You don't know the exact date or place of marriage

• If you know the county of marriage, you can request a search for the marriage date for a fee from the Register of Deeds at the County Courthouse.
• If you don't know the date or county of marriage, you can try searching for marriage information in other records.

Return to the Top: Choose another marriage year

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