Can you access marriage records yourself without hiring someone to do it for you? Perhaps you want to know more about a family member and who they were married to in the past. If this is the case, South Carolina marriage records can be found by searching online and through vital records departments. Countless amounts of agencies, including the state government and city offices make it possible for people to uncover marriage records and similar information.
Before beginning a search for someone's marriage records, you should know either the date or location of the marriage inside of South Carolina. Most importantly, you will need to know the person's full name including the maiden name if it is a female you are researching and also the name of their spouse. Sometimes, when searching for marriage records you can receive more than one record if they have been married several times. If you do not have that information handy when researching, it can be very difficult to locate and obtain marriage records.
Through the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control web page, certified copies of marriage licenses can only be obtained from July 1950 through November of 2009. Any dates of marriages prior and after have to be requested through the court office that once issued the license to begin with. Any fees that applied to certified copies from the South Carolina DHEC do not apply to anything requested from the court offices. The length of time it takes to process marriage certificate copies will be around 2 to 4 weeks when requested by mail. Expedited methods of getting a document will be 3 to 5 business days. The average time it takes to get the records in person or by walk-in to the South Carolina Department of Health will probably take no longer than 30 to 45 minutes.
Additional South Carolina marriage records can be found by checking a sort of marriage background check in churches, courthouses and counties where the marriage took place. Generally, court houses and county registries will have some record of any marriage that occurred in that area. When searching through suspected churches, there could be a log book or a name that could lead you to the right direction. Any records that can be found from offices can give you dates of marriage of family members and others you are looking up.
Keep in mind that not all offices will allow the public to search through their records. If this is the case, most places online will offer their services but with a fee attached to the document. If it is in your budget or in your means to pay for a marriage record, this would be a good way to go. To get South Carolina marriage records try a variety of different places. It is a good rule of thumb to continue your search if the first time doesn't result in what you want or expected to get. Keep trying until you get where you want.
To obtain a South Carolina marriage record, follow these instructions:
Step 1.
Download the Vital Records Marriage application.
Step 2.
Be sure to read all the instructions. Then complete the form to include the full name of bride and groom, date and county marriage license was issued, your name and address, and your relationship to the parties. Be sure to include a legible copy of your photo ID.
Step 3.
Send your finished application along with a check or money order for $12 to the address below, or visit the office below in person.
Mail the completed form to:
South Carolina DHEC
Vital Records
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Where to Find South Carolina Marriage Records
In South Carolina, you can usually obtain a certified copy of a marriage record through the Department of Health Vital Records office. Only marriage records from 1950 to the present are available. Prior to 1950 requests must go through the Probate Judge in the county the marriage was registered.
Who May Obtain a Certified South Carolina Marriage Record?
Marriage records are not available to everyone in South Carolina. To obtain a certified copy, you must be a person listed on the certificate, an adult child of the person(s) on the certificate, a present or former spouse, or a married party's legal representative. Proper ID is required to identify your application.
Are South Carolina Marriage Records Available Online?
Yes, South Carolina marriage records are accessible online, but not through the S.C. Vital Records. The Dept. of Health has partnered with VitalCheck.com to process online orders for an additional vendor fee.
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