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.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Georgetown County, South Carolina
How probate works in Georgetown County: the Probate Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Georgetown County Probate Court
Georgetown County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Office
401 Cleland Street, Room 140, Georgetown, SC 29440
Website
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe informal process is the routine route when there is no dispute, and the formal process starts with a summons and petition. Court staff provide information but not legal advice.
P.O. Box 421270
Georgetown, SC 29442-1270
Fax
1-843-545-3512
Departments
- Estate DivisionProbate of wills, will challenges, will interpretation, personal representative appointment, asset transfer oversight.
- Protective Court DivisionEstate/trust disputes, involuntary commitments, guardian/conservator appointment and supervision, minor and wrongful death settlement approvals.
- Therapeutic Court DivisionInvoluntary commitments for mental illness, intellectual disability, substance abuse, and tuberculosis.
- Marriage License DivisionApplication, issuance, and recording of marriage licenses.
About the court
- Four divisions: Estate, Protective Court, Therapeutic Court, and Marriage License. Closed on legal holidays.
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Georgetown County
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Georgetown County, probate runs through the Probate Court at 401 Cleland Street, Room 140, Georgetown.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under South Carolina intestacy law when there is no will.
Most South Carolina estates take 9 months to 18 months to move through this process. Creditors have 8 monthsSC Code §§ 62-3-801, 62-3-803, 62-3-805, 62-3-806Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present a claim, counted from the first publication of the notice to creditors.
What Probate Costs in Georgetown County
What probate costs in Georgetown County, South Carolina comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Probate Court at 401 Cleland Street, Room 140, Georgetown.
South Carolina charges $25 - $95 (graduated by the probate estate)S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770(B)Verified Oct 17, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in South Carolina are negotiated, typically 2.1%Modeled estimate under S.C. Code § 62-3-721 (compensation of any person the PR employs, including an attorney); § 62-1-111 (costs and attorney's fees in a formal proceeding); § 62-3-720 (litigation expenses): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.3%Modeled estimate under S.C. Code § 62-3-721 (compensation of any person the PR employs, including an attorney); § 62-1-111 (costs and attorney's fees in a formal proceeding); § 62-3-720 (litigation expenses): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
South Carolina allows executors 'reasonable compensation' — around 2.2%–3.8% of a $500,000 estate, judging by what the states with statutory schedules payS.C. Code § 62-3-719 (up to 5% of personal property + real property sale proceeds; min $50; court may authorize above 5% for extraordinary services)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
South Carolina requires publishing notice to creditors in a local newspaper, and the estate pays for it.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%Industry surety premium estimate; the bond itself under S.C. Code § 62-3-603Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in South Carolina typically runs 9 months to 18 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the Probate Court
Probate cases in Georgetown County are filed at the Probate Court. File in person during business hours or by mail.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Estate Division, Protective Court Division, Therapeutic Court Division, and Marriage License Division.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
South Carolina has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is availableS.C. Code § 62-3-301Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Georgetown County Self-Filing Assessment.
What to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the Probate Court: Death certificate — county Probate Court intake practice, not required by Title 62 or by Form 300ES; the counties differ on form (Berkeley and Horry ask for a certified copy, Charleston for the original and "no copies", Lexington and York for a copy), so confirm with the county where the estate is opened; Original will and any codicils (S.C. Code Ann. § 62-2-901, delivery of will to court); Qualification / Statement of Acceptance of the personal representative (S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-601); Fiduciary Bond (Form 341ES) when required (S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-603)S.C. Code Ann. §§ 62-3-301 to 62-3-311 (informal probate and appointment); §§ 62-3-401 to 62-3-414 (formal testacy and appointment); § 62-3-601 (qualification before letters); § 62-3-603 (bond)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Death Certificates and the Coroner in Georgetown County
In Georgetown County certified copies of the death certificate come from South Carolina Department of Public Health - Vital Records Section; the Local Health Department files the certificate and issues no copies to the public.
Vital Records Office Record
South Carolina Department of Public Health - Vital Records Section
Georgetown County · State vital records office
Phone
Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM; Wednesday 9:30 AM-5:00 PM
Office
2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Website
Certified copies
From South Carolina Department of Public Health - Vital Records Section; the Local Health Department files the certificate and issues no copies to the public
Vital Records Section
P.O. Box 2046
West Columbia, SC 29171
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $12 |
| Each additional copy ordered at the same time | $3 |
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Coroner
Georgetown County · Georgetown County Coroner
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Office
129 Screven Street, Room 303, Georgetown, SC 29440
Website
Mail and offices
P.O. Drawer 421270
Georgetown, SC 29442
Fax
1-843-545-3266
Verified November 3, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in Georgetown County
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the Register of Deeds.
Deeds and other real property documents for Georgetown County are recorded with the Register of Deeds at 129 Screven Street, Room 145, Georgetown, SC 29440. Phone: 1-843-545-3088. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 421270, Georgetown, SC 29442.
The Register of Deeds charges $15 flat, regardless of page count.
Georgetown County accepts electronic recording through CSC, ePN, Hopdox and Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
Register of Deeds
Georgetown County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Office
129 Screven Street, Room 145, Georgetown, SC 29440
Website
P.O. Box 421270
Georgetown, SC 29442
Recording fees
| Flat fee (any length) | $15 |
S.C. Code Ann. 8-21-310(A)(1); S.C. Code Ann. 12-24-10 et seq.
Verified October 17, 2026 · Source
Probate Attorneys Serving Georgetown County
South Carolina allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Georgetown County without hiring an attorney. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.
Probate attorney fees in South Carolina are based on reasonable compensation, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Georgetown County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Probate Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
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.
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.
Myrtle Beach estate law practice serving the Grand Strand, including North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, and Murrells Inlet. Guides families through probate administration in South Carolina county probate courts, along with trust administration, wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. Owner and lead attorney Matthew Hurst also handles business formation, including LLCs and corporations.
Myrtle Beach firm serving the Grand Strand, including Conway, North Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, and Pawleys Island. Represents executors and administrators through probate and estate administration, including court filings, inventories, creditor claims, and final accountings, and handles will contests. The firm also handles wills, trusts, asset protection, and Medicaid planning.
Myrtle Beach firm in practice since 1996. Handles probate administration to settle estates under South Carolina law, along with estate planning, elder law, and Medicaid planning for long-term care. Attorney Bret H. Davis is a certified public accountant licensed to practice law in South Carolina and North Carolina.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Legal Sources
(9)·
- S.C. Code § 62-3-301
- S.C. Code § 62-3-719 (up to 5% of personal property + real property sale proceeds; min $50; court may authorize above 5% for extraordinary services)
- S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770(B)
- S.C. Code Ann. §§ 62-3-301 to 62-3-311 (informal probate and appointment); §§ 62-3-401 to 62-3-414 (formal testacy and appointment); § 62-3-601 (qualification before letters); § 62-3-603 (bond)
- SC Code §§ 62-3-801, 62-3-803, 62-3-805, 62-3-806
- S.C. Code Ann. 8-21-310(A)(1); S.C. Code Ann. 12-24-10 et seq.
- Georgetown County Probate Court, official page
- Georgetown County Register of Deeds, official page
- Georgetown County vital records and death investigation offices, official page
Data sourced from South Carolina statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Tools for Settling an Estate in South Carolina
Free tools for settling an estate in South Carolina: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in South Carolina: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 90 daysS.C. Code §§ 62-3-706, 62-3-707, 62-3-708Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 8 monthsSC Code §§ 62-3-801, 62-3-803, 62-3-805, 62-3-806Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.
See the Steps
How Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in South Carolina happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust CodeS.C. Code Ann. § 62-7-101 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 90 daysS.C. Code §§ 62-7-813, 62-7-1005Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
See the Steps
Can I Self-File Probate?
South Carolina has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is availableS.C. Code § 62-3-301Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
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