How much does probate cost in South Carolina?

There is no single South Carolina probate cost that fits every estate. Start with the Title 8 statutory fee table, then add county schedule items, publication, certified copies, bond, appraisal, real estate, tax, and professional help if the estate needs them.

Are South Carolina probate fees statewide or county-specific?

Both matter. Title 8 Chapter 21 sets Probate Court fee categories, including estate-value fees and listed copy or filing charges. County Probate Courts may publish fee schedules and local payment instructions that affect the amount due for a filing packet.

What is the lowest-cost South Carolina probate path?

The lower-cost path depends on the property. Collection by affidavit may fit qualifying personal property after the 30-day wait and the $45,000 threshold check. If the estate needs letters, the county Probate Court appointment path is usually the starting point.

Does South Carolina have statutory attorney fees for ordinary probate?

The sources reviewed for this page do not provide a California-style statutory attorney-fee schedule for ordinary probate representation. Review written fee terms, court work, tax work, and title issues with counsel before relying on a budget.

Does a small estate avoid all court costs?

Not necessarily. Section 8-21-770 includes a fee rule for affidavits for collection of personal property under Section 62-3-1201. County copy, certification, notice, or document costs may still apply.

Which South Carolina probate costs are easy to miss?

Notice to creditors, certified copies, document copies, bond, death certificates, appraisals, real estate title work, recording, tax preparation, and attorney review can all sit outside the first filing amount.

South Carolina Probate Cost: Fees and County Checks

South Carolina probate cost planning starts with the statutory Probate Court fee table, then checks the county fee schedule and case costs before anyone quotes a filing total.

South Carolina probate cost planning works best when it separates court filing fees from publication, certified copies, bond, appraisal, title, tax, and professional help. Title 8 Chapter 21 sets Probate Court fee categories, but counties can publish local schedules and payment instructions that affect the amount due at filing.

Use this page as a source checklist, not a bill. A small estate, an informal appointment, a formal petition, and a will filed for record can create different fee and document needs. Confirm the current county Probate Court schedule before mailing a packet, budgeting notices, or reimbursing an estate expense.

Quick Summary

Fee Schedule: CountyConfirm local Probate Court costs
Small Estate: $45KSection 62-3-1201 threshold
Affidavit Wait: 30 daysBefore collection by affidavit
Creditor Signal: 8 monthsOuter period with notice caveats

South Carolina uses statutory Probate Court fee rules, and county schedules can add local filing, notice, copy, certification, appointment, and payment details. Confirm the current amount with the Probate Court in the filing county.

Typical Total Cost Ranges

Estimate your county’s exact fees

Collection by affidavit

Statutory value-based fee plus county copy and document costs

Informal appointment

Estate-value fee plus will, notice, copy, bond, and professional costs if needed

Formal proceeding

Formal petition, hearing, notice, counsel, bond, and document costs may apply

Estate with real property

Add recorder, title, tax, insurance, maintenance, sale, and counsel costs as applicable

Disputed or professionally assisted estate

Attorney, appraisal, accounting, bond, and court-review costs can exceed filing fees

Probate Cost by Procedure

Swipe sideways to see the full table.

Procedure	Estate Size	Court Fee	Timeline	Attorney?	Best For
Collection by Affidavit	$45,000 or less in the entire probate estate after liens and encumbrances	Value-based statutory fee; county schedule and copy costs need review	More than 30 days after death, then county Probate Court or asset-holder review	No statewide blanket requirement found	Qualifying personal property when no appointment is pending or granted
Informal Probate or Appointment	No simple dollar cap	Statutory estate-value fee plus county filing, will, copy, and notice items	Begins when the county Probate Court accepts the application	No statewide blanket requirement found	Uncontested estates that need a personal representative with letters
Formal Probate or Appointment	No simple dollar cap	Formal petition and hearing-related county charges may apply	Court-calendar and notice dependent	Often useful	Disputes, testacy questions, appointment contests, or court order needs
Summary Administration	$45,000 small-estate threshold after inventory review (Section 62-3-1203)	Verify inventory, notice, copy, and closing-statement costs locally	After appointment, inventory, creditor review, distribution, and closing steps	Fact dependent	Qualifying small estates after the Probate Court confirms the statutory path
Will Filed for Record Only	When the will record matters but no estate authority is opened	Statutory will filing fee plus county copy or certification items	County filing and record-review timing	No statewide blanket requirement found	Cases where the will has to be delivered or recorded but no letters are requested

Additional Costs to Expect

Estate-Value Court Fee

Under S.C. Code Section 8-21-770(B), the filing fee is value-tiered, assessed on the gross value of the probate estate shown on the inventory and appraisement: $25.00 for $0 to $4,999; $45.00 for $5,000 to $19,999; $67.50 for $20,000 to $59,999; $95.00 for $60,000 to $99,999; $95.00 plus 0.15% of the value over $100,000 for $100,000 to $599,999; and $845.00 plus 0.25% of the value over $600,000 for estates of $600,000 and above. Section 8-21-770 also lists separate charges for certified copies, demands for notice, will filing, special fiduciary appointment, and other Probate Court items.

$25.00 (under $5,000) up to $845.00 plus 0.25% of value over $600,000

Personal Representative Compensation (Statutory)

Under S.C. Code Section 62-3-719, personal representative compensation is limited to 5% of the appraised value of the probate personal property, plus the proceeds from any court-authorized sale of probate real property, with a $50 minimum. The court may also approve a separate income commission of up to 5% of estate income, but it can deny that income commission if the representative acted unreasonably or caused unreasonable delay. When co-representatives serve, the total for all personal representatives cannot exceed what one representative would receive under Section 62-3-719.

5% of appraised probate personal property, $50 minimum

Notice to Creditors and Publication

Legal-advertisement costs are separate from prescribed court costs. Under Section 62-3-801, the notice runs once a week for three successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county; the newspaper sets the price. The filing county and publication channel control the current charge.

County and newspaper rates vary

Certified Copies and Document Copies

Families often need certified copies of letters, orders, wills, or estate documents for banks, title work, insurers, and transfer agents. Certified copies from the Probate Court are commonly about $5 each, and plain copies run around $0.50 per page, though these vary by county office.

Commonly about $5 per certified copy; plain copies around $0.50 per page

Bond Premium

Bond cost depends on the will, applicant, heirs, estate value, Probate Court order, and surety pricing. Separate bond quotes from court filing fees.

Case-specific

Inventory, Appraisal, and Valuation Work

The inventory value can affect statutory fee calculations. Real estate, business interests, vehicles, collections, or disputed values may create appraisal or valuation costs.

Asset-specific

Title, Recording, Tax, and Professional Help

Real estate recording, title-company needs, vehicle title work, tax returns, accounting, and attorney help can cost more than the opening court fee in some estates.

Estate-specific

One more cost source to check: if the person who died received Medicaid long-term care benefits, the state may file a recovery claim against the estate. The South Carolina Medicaid estate recovery guide explains when that applies.