Create Your South Carolina Estate Plan Today
The Palmetto State
Discover comprehensive estate planning resources for South Carolina residents. Download FREE forms including Last Will and Testament, Financial Power of Attorney, and Healthcare Proxy documents.
What Makes South Carolina Different
Estate planning in South Carolina involves navigating a specific set of state laws that differ in important ways from neighboring states. Understanding these distinctions helps ensure your documents will be valid and your wishes carried out as intended.
Like all states, South Carolina recognizes formally executed wills and living trusts as valid estate planning tools. A standard will here requires 2 adult witnesses, and adding a notarized self-proving affidavit can streamline the probate process later.
Financial powers of attorney here require both two witnesses and a notary, making South Carolina one of the stricter states for these documents. Plan to execute yours at a bank or attorney's office where you can satisfy all requirements at once. The state adopted the Uniform Power of Attorney Act in 2017, modernizing its rules around financial powers of attorney. If you have older documents, it may be worth reviewing them to ensure they take advantage of the current law's protections.
If you die without a will in South Carolina, your heirs must survive you by at least 5 days to inherit anything. This "survival period" exists to prevent property from passing through multiple estates in quick succession when family members die close together in time, such as in an accident.
South Carolina Estate Planning Resources
Free estate planning forms, calculators, and checklists for South Carolina. No account required.
South Carolina Last Will and Testament
Create a free, state-specific will with South Carolina's witness and notarization requirements included.
South Carolina Pour-Over Will
Transfer assets to your existing trust. South Carolina's execution requirements included.
South Carolina Healthcare Power of Attorney
Designate someone to make medical decisions on your behalf. South Carolina's requirements included.
South Carolina Financial Power of Attorney
Designate someone to manage your financial affairs. South Carolina's requirements included.
How Much Does Probate Cost in South Carolina?
Estimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and timeline for probating an estate in your state. See if the estate qualifies for simplified probate procedures.
How Much Can an Executor Charge in South Carolina?
Calculate how much an executor (personal representative) can charge for administering an estate. See if your state has statutory fees or uses reasonable compensation.
What's Fair Trustee Compensation in South Carolina?
Find out what's fair compensation for serving as trustee. Compare family, professional, and corporate trustee rates based on your situation.
Who Inherits in South Carolina?
Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need in South Carolina?
Calculate how many certified death certificates you need based on the assets and accounts you need to close. See state-specific ordering information.
How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes in South Carolina?
Calculate federal estate tax, state estate tax (12 states + DC), and inheritance tax (5 states) for an estate or trust.
Do I Need Probate in South Carolina?
Answer a few questions to find out if an estate needs full probate, qualifies for simplified probate, or can avoid probate entirely with a small estate affidavit.
How Do I Settle an Estate in South Carolina?
Get a personalized checklist for settling an estate after someone passes away. Covers trust administration, probate, and intestate estates.
What Are My Duties as Trustee in South Carolina?
Step-by-step guide for successor trustees administering a trust. Understand your duties, notification deadlines, and asset management responsibilities.
What Are My Duties as Executor in South Carolina?
Complete guide for executors and personal representatives navigating probate. Court filings, creditor claims, and distribution timelines.
What Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost in South Carolina?
Compare the cost of creating a revocable living trust. See how SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys compare over 5 years including life events.
What Does a Will Cost in South Carolina?
Compare the cost of creating a will. See document costs plus probate fees your heirs will pay. Compare SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys.
How Much Life Insurance Do I Need in South Carolina?
Calculate how much life insurance coverage you need. Accounts for income replacement, debt payoff, college funding, and state-specific factors like cost of living and estate taxes.
What Should I Expect When Inheriting in South Carolina?
Find out what to expect when inheriting money, property, or other assets. See timeline estimates, inheritance tax implications, and understand what the executor or trustee is handling behind the scenes.
Does South Carolina have an inheritance tax or estate tax?
South Carolina does not impose a state inheritance tax or estate tax on residents. However, federal estate tax laws still apply to larger estates exceeding the federal exemption threshold. This can make South Carolina an attractive state for estate planning purposes compared to states with additional tax burdens.
