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.
Loading firms...
81 firms
FirmGeorgetown, SC
O'Donnell & Stephens has served Georgetown County for over 75 years. Robert H. O'Donnell has practiced since 1974 and has served as Municipal Court Judge for Georgetown since 1976. The firm handles estate planning, probate, real estate, and civil litigation.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateWills
FirmSpartanburg, SC
Spartanburg and Gaffney firm whose wills and probate practice covers drafting wills, establishing trusts, designating powers of attorney, and preparing living wills, alongside personal injury, workers compensation, social security disability, criminal defense, and family law.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTrustsWills
FirmColumbia, SC
Parker Law handles estate planning, probate, estate and trust litigation, guardianship, and conservatorship matters from offices in Columbia and Chapin. Gregory E. Parker, Jr. is recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers in estate and trust litigation.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 2 more
FirmColumbia, SC
Payne & Black is a leading elder law and estate planning firm with offices in Columbia and Rock Hill. Mitchell C. Payne is a founding board member of the Carolinas Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and a frequent lecturer on elder law, Medicaid, and asset protection.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawGuardianshipand 4 more
FirmNewberry, SC
Pope Parker Jenkins, Attorneys, P.A. (formerly Pope & Hudgens) is a Newberry firm representing clients in estate planning, probate, and estate litigation, as well as business formations, real estate, and trial matters across South Carolina courts.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationConservatorshipand 3 more
FirmBeaufort, SC
Ruff & Ruff serves the Lowcountry from offices in Beaufort and Hilton Head Island. The firm handles estate planning, wills, trusts, advance care directives, powers of attorney, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, and fiduciary services.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTrustsWills
FirmCharleston, SC
Rutledge & Coxe is a Charleston estate planning firm where attorneys W. Thomas Rutledge, Jr. and Campbell D. Coxe, Jr. have spent their entire legal careers handling estate and trust matters with over 50 years of combined experience. The firm prepares wills, powers of attorney, trusts, and probate documents, and serves as personal representatives and independent trustees.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateGuardianshipWills
FirmCharleston, SC
Seibert Law Firm provides a full range of estate planning services from drafting simple wills to developing complex trusts and asset protection strategies. The firm has two Charleston locations and offers competitive pricing with financing options.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationAsset Protectionand 2 more
FirmSpartanburg, SC
Established in 1926, Smith & Haskell Law Firm is a trusted elder law and estate planning firm serving families in Spartanburg, Greenville, and the greater Upstate region. The firm handles elder law, special needs trusts, power of attorney, guardianship, conservatorships, Medicaid planning, probate, and estate administration.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawGuardianshipand 2 more
FirmLexington, SC
Stratton & Reynolds, LLC serves individuals and families with a special emphasis on the elderly and aging populations. The attorneys offer estate planning services for personal estates and businesses, as well as expertise in elder law, Medicaid and skilled nursing care planning, and probate avoidance.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 2 more
FirmColumbia, SC
Strom Law Firm offers Columbia, South Carolina probate and estate planning legal services. Founded in 1996 by former U.S. Attorney Pete Strom, the firm offers assistance with wills and trusts, planning for the future, probating estates of loved ones, and challenging inheritance portions.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTrustsWills
FirmGreenville, SC
Greenville and Spartanburg firm serving Upstate South Carolina families in estate, trust, and business matters. The firm guides personal representatives through settling estates and probate filings, assists with estate tax returns, and advises trustees on funding, distributions, and administration. It also handles estate and trust disputes and guardianships.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax PlanningBusiness Succession
Solo PracticeChester, SC
Timi Poulos Clack, Attorney at Law, LLC is a general practice firm in the historic district of Chester handling estate planning, wills, powers of attorney, living wills, and probate administration, plus family law, real estate, and business matters for Chester County and surrounding counties.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateReal EstateWills
FirmColumbia, SC
Todd and Johnson was founded in Columbia in 1980 with a focus on estate planning, trusts, probate, and tax law. Multiple attorneys hold the Certified Specialist designation in Estate Planning and Probate Law from the SC Supreme Court, and several are Fellows of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC).
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax Planningand 2 more
FirmColumbia, SC
Turner Padget's estate practice works from Columbia, Charleston, Florence, Greenville, and Myrtle Beach. The group represents fiduciaries and beneficiaries in will contests and estate and trust administration disputes, and fiduciaries in estate and gift tax audits. One attorney, a former probate judge, chairs a committee reviewing changes to the state's Probate Code.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 2 more
Solo PracticeGreenville, SC
Greenville firm serving Upstate South Carolina families in estate planning, probate, trusts, and special needs law. It represents personal representatives and trustees in uncontested and formal probate, estate inventories and accountings, creditor claims, ancillary administration, and small estate affidavits. It also handles special needs trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawConservatorshipand 5 more
FirmMullins, SC
Mullins firm serving Marion County and surrounding areas. Practice areas include wills, trusts, estate planning, probate, real estate, and business and corporate law. Also assists with matters in Horry, Dillon, and Florence counties.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateBusiness PlanningReal Estateand 2 more
FirmMount Pleasant, SC
Wiles Law is a full-service Estate, Tax and Business Planning law firm founded in 2007. The firm assists clients with wills, trusts, probate, wealth transfer, and tax and business planning, serving the tri-county area around Charleston.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax Planningand 2 more
FirmFlorence, SC
One of South Carolina's oldest law firms, Willcox, Buyck & Williams has served the Pee Dee and Grand Strand regions since 1895. The firm provides estate planning, probate, wills, trusts, and healthcare directive services from offices in Florence and Myrtle Beach.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTrustsWills
Solo PracticeAbbeville, SC
The Law Firm of Wm Thurmond Bishop is an Abbeville general practice firm offering estate planning, wills, probate, and asset protection documents, along with real estate, personal injury, criminal, and family law services for Abbeville, Greenwood, McCormick, and the Lakelands area.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateAsset ProtectionReal EstateWills