S.C. Code § 20-1-20 • No State Pre-Filing Primary-Source Reviewed (2026-10-31)

How to officiate a wedding in South Carolina

Covers all 46 Local Marriage Recording Jurisdictions in South Carolina under S.C. Code Ann. §§ 20-1-20 & 20-1-340.

Jurisdiction Summary • S.C. Code Ann. §§ 20-1-20 & 20-1-340 No State-Level Officiant Registry

Officiating in All 46 Jurisdictions in South Carolina: Under S.C. Code Ann. §§ 20-1-20 & 20-1-340, South Carolina recognizes ordained ministers in active standing without maintaining a statewide officiant registration office. Ecclesiastical ordination with Agape Church International is free ($0). Typical couple marriage-license fees at the South Carolina County Probate Court are $50.00–$95.00 (waiting period: 24 hours; return window: 15 days—confirm exact local clerk procedures before ceremony day).

Check SC eligibility & apply free ($0) Build ceremony script

Primary-Source Reviewed (2026-10-31) • South Carolina Legislature — Title 20, Chapter 1 (S.C. Code Ann. § 20-1-20) ↗

Interactive Ceremony Deadline Calculator

Calculate your exact filing & ceremony dates

Wedding State or D.C.

Ceremony Date

Step 1 • Church Ordination ($0)
Complete Agape Ecclesiastical Ordination for South Carolina
Obtain your permanent Agape Registry Credential ID and printable digital Certificate of Ordination ($0, zero renewal fees).
Sun, Nov 15, 2026
30 Days Before Ceremony
Confirm Local Clerk Ink & Return Rules (South Carolina County Probate Court)
Under S.C. Code Ann. § 20-1-20, ministers of the Gospel, Jewish rabbis, officers authorized to administer oaths in South Carolina (including commissioned South Carolina Notaries Public), and chief/spiritual leaders of recognized Native American tribes are authorized to administer a marriage ceremony across South Carolina without pre-registering with the state or Probate Court. Note South Carolina’s mandatory 24-hour waiting period after the marriage license application is filed (once issued, South Carolina marriage licenses do not expire), and under § 20-1-340 the officiant must sign all 3 copies of the triplicate license, give one copy to the couple, and return the remaining two copies to the issuing County Probate Judge within 15 days. Confirm current Probate Court license fees locally.
Mon, Nov 30, 2026
21 Days Before Ceremony
Complete Couple Questionnaire & Finalize Ceremony Script
Send the 10-question Couple Interview Link, confirm personal vows vs. repeat-after-me vows, and print your script in large altar type.
Wed, Dec 9, 2026
Waiting Period Buffer (24 hours)
Couple Secures South Carolina Triplicate Marriage License
Ensure the couple obtains their South Carolina Triplicate Marriage License early enough to clear South Carolina’s waiting period (24 hours) without expiring before ceremony day.
Wed, Dec 23, 2026
Within 15 Days After Ceremony
Return Signed South Carolina Triplicate Marriage License to South Carolina County Probate Court
Witness Rule: South Carolina law does not require ceremony witness signatures on the triplicate marriage license; only both spouses and the authorized minister (or SC Notary Public) sign.. Deliver in person or via tracked mail before Thu, Jan 14, 2027.
Thu, Jan 14, 2027

Ceremony countdown: 60 days from today • Always confirm holiday/office closures with South Carolina County Probate Court.Open Couple Interview Questionnaire →

Three separate parts of a South Carolina wedding (S.C. Code Ann. §§ 20-1-20 & 20-1-340)

Under S.C. Code Ann. § 20-1-20, ministers of the Gospel, Jewish rabbis, officers authorized to administer oaths in South Carolina (including commissioned South Carolina Notaries Public), and chief/spiritual leaders of recognized Native American tribes are authorized to administer a marriage ceremony across South Carolina without pre-registering with the state or Probate Court. Note South Carolina’s mandatory 24-hour waiting period after the marriage license application is filed (once issued, South Carolina marriage licenses do not expire), and under § 20-1-340 the officiant must sign all 3 copies of the triplicate license, give one copy to the couple, and return the remaining two copies to the issuing County Probate Judge within 15 days. Confirm current Probate Court license fees locally.

Couple’s Civil Marriage Document

South Carolina Triplicate Marriage License

Recording / Issuing Office: South Carolina County Probate Court

Ceremony Witness Requirement

South Carolina law does not require ceremony witness signatures on the triplicate marriage license; only both spouses and the authorized minister (or SC Notary Public) sign.

Spoken Ceremony Wording Rule

South Carolina prescribes no mandatory ceremony script; both parties declare mutual consent to marry in the physical presence of the authorized minister or oath officer.

Ordination Cost vs. Physical Documents

Ordination: $0. Optional printed ordination certificate & ceremony binder—South Carolina Probate Courts do not require pre-filing ministerial credentials.

4 clear steps before ceremony day in South Carolina

Complete free ecclesiastical ordination ($0): Apply online in under a minute to receive your Agape Registry Credential ID and printable digital certificate—with no annual renewal fees.
Complete any required local clerk registration early: Confirm with the issuing South Carolina County Probate Court whether they request to inspect a printed credential or have county-specific signing instructions.
Prepare and rehearse the ceremony: Take our free 6-lesson first-time officiant course and customize a word-for-word script at /ceremony-scripts.
Execute & return the couple’s marriage license on time: Follow South Carolina’s witness rule (south carolina law does not require ceremony witness signatures on the triplicate marriage license; only both spouses and the authorized minister (or sc notary public) sign.) and return the signed license to the issuing South Carolina County Probate Court within the statutory deadline (typically 15 days—confirm exact deadline printed on the couple’s license packet).