Free South Carolina forms for planning an estate or settling one: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed, and the probate forms an executor files.
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
In South Carolina, a will is signed before 2S.C. Code § 62-2-502Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyS.C. Code § 62-2-502Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
South Carolina requires 2S.C. Code Ann. § 62-5-504Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses for a healthcare power of attorney; notarization is not requiredS.C. Code Ann. § 62-5-504Verified Oct 15, 2026View source.
South Carolina treats a power of attorney as durable by defaultS.C. Code § 62-8-101 et seq.Verified Sep 20, 2026View source, and it is signed before 2S.C. Code § 62-8-101 et seq.Verified Sep 20, 2026View source witnesses and a notary.
In South Carolina, a pour-over will is signed before 2S.C. Code § 62-2-502Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.
Free calculators and checklists for planning or settling an estate in South Carolina: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay, and inheritance taxes.
In South Carolina, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of typically 2.1%S.C. Code § 62-3-721 (court review of the reasonableness of compensation of any person employed by the personal representative, including any attorney; refunds of excessive compensation); § 62-1-111 (award of costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, in a formal proceeding); § 62-3-720 (litigation expense reimbursement)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.3%S.C. Code § 62-3-721 (court review of the reasonableness of compensation of any person employed by the personal representative, including any attorney; refunds of excessive compensation); § 62-1-111 (award of costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, in a formal proceeding); § 62-3-720 (litigation expense reimbursement)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.
Probate in South Carolina takes 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of typically 2.1%S.C. Code § 62-3-721 (court review of the reasonableness of compensation of any person employed by the personal representative, including any attorney; refunds of excessive compensation); § 62-1-111 (award of costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, in a formal proceeding); § 62-3-720 (litigation expense reimbursement)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.3%S.C. Code § 62-3-721 (court review of the reasonableness of compensation of any person employed by the personal representative, including any attorney; refunds of excessive compensation); § 62-1-111 (award of costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, in a formal proceeding); § 62-3-720 (litigation expense reimbursement)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.
An attorney-prepared revocable trust in South Carolina runs $4,150Estimate: 10 hours at $415, Clio's South Carolina Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $6,225Estimate: 15 hours at $415, Clio's South Carolina Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source and a simple will $1,122Estimate: 3 hours at $374, Clio's South Carolina Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,244Estimate: 6 hours at $374, Clio's South Carolina Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
Probate on a $500,000 estate in South Carolina costs an estimated $27,462S.C. Code § 62-3-721 (court review of the reasonableness of compensation of any person employed by the personal representative, including any attorney; refunds of excessive compensation); § 62-1-111 (award of costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, in a formal proceeding); § 62-3-720 (litigation expense reimbursement)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees run 2.1%S.C. Code § 62-3-721 (court review of the reasonableness of compensation of any person employed by the personal representative, including any attorney; refunds of excessive compensation); § 62-1-111 (award of costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, in a formal proceeding); § 62-3-720 (litigation expense reimbursement)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.3%S.C. Code § 62-3-721 (court review of the reasonableness of compensation of any person employed by the personal representative, including any attorney; refunds of excessive compensation); § 62-1-111 (award of costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, in a formal proceeding); § 62-3-720 (litigation expense reimbursement)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.
South Carolina automatically revokes an ex-spouse as beneficiary at divorceS.C. Code Ann. § 62-2-507Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; employer plans under ERISA follow federal rules either way, so a 401(k) beneficiary changes only by a new designation.
Probate on a $500,000 estate in South Carolina costs an estimated $27,462S.C. Code § 62-3-721 (court review of the reasonableness of compensation of any person employed by the personal representative, including any attorney; refunds of excessive compensation); § 62-1-111 (award of costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, in a formal proceeding); § 62-3-720 (litigation expense reimbursement)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source and takes 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate, with attorney fees of typically 2.1%S.C. Code § 62-3-721 (court review of the reasonableness of compensation of any person employed by the personal representative, including any attorney; refunds of excessive compensation); § 62-1-111 (award of costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, in a formal proceeding); § 62-3-720 (litigation expense reimbursement)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.3%S.C. Code § 62-3-721 (court review of the reasonableness of compensation of any person employed by the personal representative, including any attorney; refunds of excessive compensation); § 62-1-111 (award of costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, in a formal proceeding); § 62-3-720 (litigation expense reimbursement)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate. Estates under $45,000S.C. Code § 62-3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source can use a small-estate procedure instead.
81 estate planning firms in South Carolina, by county and firm type.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to discuss your situation and verify their current practice areas and availability.
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81 firms
FirmGreenville, SC
De Bruin Law Firm provides estate planning, probate, real estate, and business law services with over 50 combined years of attorney experience. Aaron De Bruin handles estate planning and probate matters for Greenville-area families.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTrustsWills
Solo PracticeSummerville, SC
DeMott Law Firm prepares wills, revocable trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives for families in Summerville, Goose Creek, Charleston, North Charleston, and Hanahan. Russell DeMott served as an Associate Probate Judge for the Dorchester County Probate Court from 2011 to 2017 and is a certified mediator for Probate Court cases.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTrustsWills
FirmSpartanburg, SC
Spartanburg firm whose estate practice covers probate administration and estate settlements, including probate forms, family settlement agreements, disclaimers, and federal estate tax returns. The firm also handles estate and trust litigation, and prepares wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, and wealth transfer plans.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax Planning
FirmGreenville, SC
Greenville firm serving Greenville County and Upstate counties including Anderson, Cherokee, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg, and Union. Estate-side work covers probate and estate administration, probate litigation including will contests and trust disputes, claims against estates, and guardianships and conservatorships, alongside trust and Medicaid planning. Practicing since 1941.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawTax Planningand 2 more
FirmHartsville, SC
Hartsville general-practice firm whose estate-side practice covers wills, powers of attorney, estate planning, and probate administration. Two attorneys staff the firm: Benson H. Driggers and Martin S. Driggers Jr.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateReal EstateWills
FirmMyrtle Beach, SC
Dunes Law Firm serves the Grand Strand from offices in Myrtle Beach and Conway. The firm handles estate planning, wills, trusts, probate, real estate, and business law.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateBusiness Planningand 2 more
FirmCharleston, SC
Evans, Carter, Kunes & Bennett is located in the heart of downtown Charleston. With over 100 years of collective experience in taxation and estate tax planning, the attorneys assist clients in income taxation, estate planning, probate, trust law and charitable organizations. Each attorney holds a Masters of Law in Taxation or Estate Planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax PlanningCharitable Planning
FirmSurfside Beach, SC
Deirdre W. Edmonds has over 30 years of combined experience as a licensed attorney and as the former Horry County Probate Judge. The firm has focused on estate planning and probate for more than 25 years.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 3 more
Solo PracticeColumbia, SC
Columbia estate planning and probate practice on Devine Street serving Richland and Lexington counties. Work includes probate administration, summary administration, and trust administration for successor trustees, alongside planning for taxable and nontaxable estates. Owner Erin A. Cook is certified by the SC Supreme Court as a Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax PlanningTrusts
FirmColumbia, SC
Finkel Law Firm LLC was founded in 1970 and provides legal counsel in estate planning, probate, and more. Their Columbia probate lawyers have 50+ years of experience in probate administration and litigation cases.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationWills
FirmFlorence, SC
Finklea, Hendrick & Blake has served the Pee Dee region since 2004 with offices in Florence, Marion, and Hemingway. The firm handles probate and estate planning alongside personal injury, real estate, family law, and criminal defense, with seven attorneys on staff.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawWills
FirmGreenville, SC
Greenville firm handling probate estates in the South Carolina Probate Court, from simple to complex administrations, along with conservatorship and guardianship actions. The firm prepares wills, trusts, family limited partnerships, and powers of attorney, and pairs its estate practice with IRS tax resolution work led by David B. Greene.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTax PlanningTrustsWills
FirmGeorgetown, SC
Harmon & Felts has served Georgetown County with probate, wills, real estate closings, and personal injury services. The firm maintains offices in Georgetown and Pawleys Island.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateWills
FirmBeaufort, SC
Harvey & Battey has served the Beaufort Lowcountry since 1922, providing estate planning, probate, and tax planning services. Colden R. Battey Jr. received the 2024 Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina's highest civilian honor.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTax PlanningTrustsWills
FirmGreenville, SC
Greenville estate planning firm located on Mills Avenue near downtown. The firm works with personal representatives through probate, from initial filings to final distributions, and advises successor trustees on trust administration, including beneficiary notices, asset valuation, tax filings, and distributions.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateBusiness Planning
Solo PracticeLexington, SC
Hardy Law Firm focuses on estate planning, probate, elder law, and business law in Lexington, South Carolina. Kevin Hardy prepares wills, living wills, trusts, health care powers of attorney, and durable powers of attorney for clients across the Midlands.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawTrustsWills
FirmHilton Head Island, SC
Michael J. Howell has over 40 years of estate planning, probate and trust law experience and is certified by the South Carolina Supreme Court as a specialist in estate planning and probate law. The firm serves Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, Beaufort County, and the Lowcountry.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigation
Solo PracticeGeorgetown, SC
Scott W. Hutto is certified by the South Carolina Supreme Court as a specialist in estate planning and probate law since 2005. A Wofford College and USC School of Law graduate, Hutto served in the U.S. Army before opening his practice in Georgetown, serving Georgetown and Horry counties.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateBusiness Planning
FirmOrangeburg, SC
Horger, Barnwell & McCurry has served Orangeburg and the surrounding area since 1950, handling probate, estate planning, wills, and elder law. The firm brings over 88 combined years of legal experience with an AV Preeminent peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawWills
FirmMount Pleasant, SC
Mount Pleasant firm practicing in estate planning and probate law, serving clients throughout the Charleston and Lowcountry regions. Practice covers wills and trusts, probate and administration, and powers of attorney.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTrustsWills