© 2026 SimplyTrust Software Inc.
South Carolina follows the "reasonable compensation" standard for trusteesS.C. Code Ann. § 62-7-708Verified May 27, 2026. Courts decide what's reasonable on a case-by-case basis, looking at trust size, complexity, and the trustee's actual work. Family-member trustees often waive the fee entirely. Professional trustees (banks, trust companies, attorneys) typically charge between 0.5% and 1.5% of trust assets per year, with corporate fiduciaries usually applying minimum annual fees. The South Carolina trustee compensation calculator breaks it down by trust situation.
Trust administration in South Carolina is typically faster than probate because trusts don't require court supervision. The main floor is the creditor claim period — 8 months in South Carolina — during which the trustee can't safely make final distributions. Simple trusts often wrap up in 6-9 months; trusts that hold business interests, real property in multiple states, or that need to file estate tax returns can take longer. See the South Carolina trustee checklist for the full process.
Estate planning attorneys in South Carolina average $374 per hourClio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Jan 1, 2025 for wills and estates work. Flat-fee packages run roughly $1,122–$2,244 for a simple individual will and $4,150–$6,225 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.
Search 3,941 estate law firms across 51 states.
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.
31 firms
Bespoke Estate Law focuses on estate planning, trusts, wills, probate and trust administration, and business law including LLC and corporation formation. The firm serves the Grand Strand area with personalized estate planning services.
Location
207 Chartwell CourtMyrtle Beach, SC 29588
Phone
(843) 999-0799
Columbia firm focused on tax law, estate planning, probate, trust administration, and business planning. Founding attorney Jeff Z. Brooker III has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America since 2012.
Location
508 Hampton Street, Suite 201Columbia, SC 29201
Phone
(803) 779-1065
Danny V. Butler has been practicing law in the Myrtle Beach area for over 15 years. Butler Law helps with every stage of the estate planning process including wills, trusts, asset protection, probate, estate administration, and Medicaid planning. Butler holds an LL.M. in taxation from the University of Alabama.
Location
4420 Oleander Drive, Suite 203Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Phone
(843) 808-9224
Established
2014
A Walterboro firm serving the Lowcountry of South Carolina. Estate work includes estate planning counsel, will preparation, living wills, durable powers of attorney, and administration of estates and trusts. The firm also handles civil litigation, personal injury, and family law.
Location
108 Carn StreetWalterboro, SC 29488
Phone
(843) 782-4359
Service Area
1 county
Collins & Collins specializes in estate planning, post-mortem estate and trust administration, and probate law. Dan A. Collins is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law and a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). The practice includes wealth and asset preservation, planning for disabled beneficiaries, family business succession planning, charitable planning, and mediation.
Location
17A Caledon CourtGreenville, SC 29615
Phone
(864) 370-2277
Established
1984
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.
Location
1065 London StreetMyrtle Beach, SC 29577
Phone
(843) 692-8000
Established
2010
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.
Location
115 Church StreetCharleston, SC 29401
Phone
(843) 577-2300
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.
Location
1500 Highway 17 North, The Courtyard Suite 214Surfside Beach, SC 29587
Phone
(843) 232-0654
Established
2015
Estate Planning of SC is a boutique law firm focused on estate planning for taxable and nontaxable estates, probate and trust administration, and prenuptial agreements. Owner Erin A. Cook is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the SC Supreme Court and holds an LL.M. in taxation.
Location
2231 Devine Street, Suite 102Columbia, SC 29205
Phone
(803) 312-3909
Established
2008
Service Area
2 counties
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.
Location
1720 Main Street, Suite 303Columbia, SC 29201
Phone
(803) 470-0118
Established
1970