Service of process in South Carolina
In South Carolina, service may be made by the sheriff, a deputy or other law-enforcement officer, or by any person designated by the court who is at least 18 and is not an attorney in or a party to the action. The rules also permit service by certified or registered mail (return receipt requested, restricted to the addressee) and, in limited situations, by publication under court order.
ProcessServerState provides procedural-information-only summaries of state process-server rules. This is not legal advice. Service of process is a critical step in litigation — if you fail to serve correctly, your case can be dismissed. For complex or contested matters, consult a licensed attorney or a court self-help center. Not affiliated with any court or sheriff's office.
Is a license required in South Carolina?
No statewide license or registration; a non-party, non-attorney 18+ designated by the court may serve.
Who may serve process in South Carolina?
- County sheriff
- Any non-party adult (18+)
- Certified / registered mail
- Publication (by court order)
Service deadline (South Carolina)
S.C. R. Civ. P. 4 sets no fixed day-count to complete service after filing.
UIDDA: South Carolina has adopted the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act for interstate service.
Sheriff / Marshal civil-process route
Civil-process fees are set by each county and listed on the local sheriff's civil-process page. Not all counties publish a fee schedule — confirm with the county where service will be made.
Statute / Rule citation
Verification notes for South Carolina: the following could not be fully primary-source-confirmed in our last pass and should be verified against the cited source before you rely on them:
- daysToServe (no fixed numeric deadline in S.C. R. Civ. P. 4)
Interstate service from South Carolina
South Carolina has adopted the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act (UIDDA), which provides a streamlined process for issuing an out-of-state subpoena based on one issued in the trial state. Service of an initial summons across state lines follows the receiving state's rules.
Sources for South Carolina
Other states with no license requirement
Check a different state
Verified against South Carolina primary sources on June 16, 2026. Read how we verify on our methodology page, or browse every citation in the source manifest.
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ProcessServerState provides procedural-information-only summaries of state process-server rules. This is not legal advice. Service of process is a critical step in litigation — if you fail to serve correctly, your case can be dismissed. For complex or contested matters, consult a licensed attorney or a court self-help center. Not affiliated with any court or sheriff's office.