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62 probate firms in South Carolina. Browse practice areas, county coverage, and contact details.
Probate in South Carolina typically costs 2%–4% of the estate value in attorney feesS.C. Code § 62-1-111 (reasonable attorney's fees in formal proceedings); § 62-3-720 (litigation expense reimbursement)Verified Apr 4, 2026, plus court filing fees, executor compensation, publication costs, and any required surety bond. Attorney fees in South Carolina are negotiated, so the actual cost depends on the firm and complexity. Total all-in costs typically run 3-8% of estate value. The South Carolina probate calculator gives a detailed estimate based on estate value.
South Carolina allows "independent administration" (sometimes called unsupervised or informal probate), which lets the executor handle most estate decisions without ongoing court approval. The executor still files the will, inventories assets, and reports to the court, but doesn't need a hearing for routine actions like paying bills or selling assets. Independent administration typically saves both time and attorney fees compared to supervised probate.
Estate planning attorneys in South Carolina average $371 per hourClio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Jan 1, 2025 for wills and estates work. Flat-fee packages run roughly $1,113–$2,226 for a simple individual will and $4,090–$6,135 for a basic revocable trust. Online and DIY services cost $30–$300 for the same documents — see the will cost calculator for a side-by-side comparison.
South Carolina allows estates under $45,000 to use a simplified Small Estate Affidavit procedure, which is a form rather than a court case and typically doesn't require an attorney. For larger estates, formal probate is involved enough that retaining counsel is usually practical — the procedural work is what they're there for. Use the South Carolina probate calculator to estimate the costs.
In South Carolina, the situations where retaining counsel is typically worth the cost are: blended families with children from prior relationships; ownership of a business, rental property, or significant investment assets; special-needs dependents who need a special-needs trust to preserve benefits; substantial property held in multiple states. If none of these describe your situation, the simpler online and DIY tools are often enough.