Officiating a wedding in South Carolina
Registration, the license, and who returns it — the essentials for officiants.
Informational only. Informational only, not legal advice. Confirm the current rule with the county clerk or issuing office that handles the license.
Reviewed August 2026 · Issuing office: horrycountysc.gov
Can you officiate, and is registration required?
South Carolina sets no officiant registration. Ministers of the Gospel, Jewish rabbis, officers authorized to administer oaths in the state, and the chief or spiritual leader of a recognized Native American Indian entity may administer a marriage ceremony. The oath-administering clause is what lets a South Carolina notary public officiate, which a probate court states directly. No official source reviewed addresses online ordination, so ask the county probate court. The couple gets the license from a county Probate Court, or from the clerk of court in Darlington and Georgetown counties, at least twenty-four hours after the written application is filed. Probate courts say witnesses are not required to sign.
Who returns the license, and by when
The person who performed the ceremony gives one certificate copy to the parties and delivers the other two within fifteen days to the officer who issued the license. County guidance conflicts here: one probate court publishes fifteen days and another publishes thirty. The statute says fifteen, so work to that and confirm with the issuing probate court.
Suggested return window: about 15 days after the ceremony. Confirm the current deadline with the issuing clerk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a notary officiate in South Carolina?
Yes. A probate court states that a South Carolina notary public is authorized to administer oaths in the state and is therefore authorized to administer a marriage ceremony.
Do you have to register to officiate in South Carolina?
No. There is no state or county officiant registration. For the notary route the Secretary of State commission is itself the credential, and there is no marriage registry.
When is a South Carolina marriage license due back?
The statute says within fifteen days, to the officer who issued the license. One county probate court publishes thirty days instead, so confirm with the issuing court and work to the shorter number.
Never miss a return deadline
RiteBinder's license tracker keeps every state's note in front of you (free, no card). On Solo it also turns the signed license into a task and reminds you before the deadline.
Confirm the current rule with the issuing office:horrycountysc.gov.