What to Do When Someone Dies in Greenville County, South Carolina
Probate in Greenville County runs through the Probate Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Greenville County, settling their estate runs through the Probate Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Probate Court Record
Probate Court
Greenville County
Address
301 University Ridge, Greenville County Square, Suite N-T100Greenville, SC 29601-3683
Marriage License Division864-467-7171 · probatemarriage@greenvillecounty.orgSuite N-T100. 24-hour waiting period between application and issuance. Online and in-person applications accepted.
Records/Research Division864-467-7684Suite N-T100. Public access computer terminals available.
All probate divisions located at Suite N-T100 except Involuntary Commitment (Suite N-T200). Attorney case management portal charges $15/month or $150/year (effective April 1, 2024). Out of state toll-free: 1-877-55-COURT.
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 Greenville County, probate runs through the Probate Court at 301 University Ridge, Greenville County Square, Suite N-T100, Greenville.
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. The 8 monthsS.C. Code § 62-3-803Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What Probate Costs in Greenville County
What probate costs in Greenville 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 301 University Ridge, Greenville County Square, Suite N-T100, Greenville.
Probate matters are handled through Estate Division, Marriage License Division, Involuntary Commitment Division, and Protective Proceedings (Conservatorship/Guardianship). Filing and payment go through these offices, not the main clerk window.
South Carolina charges $25 - $95 (graduated by the probate estate)S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770(B)Verified Sep 8, 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%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 estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is based on reasonable pay for time and effort — the states that do set a schedule pay 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
South Carolina requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%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 Greenville County are filed at the Probate Court. File in person during business hours or by mail.
Filings here are routed through Estate Division, Marriage License Division, Involuntary Commitment Division, and Protective Proceedings (Conservatorship/Guardianship). Confirm with the office which intake handles the petition type you're filing.
How to File Your Documents
Paper Filing Available
You can file your probate documents in person at the court or by mail.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Probate Court is realistic.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
Estate pamphlets and forms downloadable from county website
Attorney case management portal available (one registration per attorney, must match bar info)
Marriage license requires 24-hour waiting period between application and issuance
Records Access
Online public case search at probateinquiry.greenvillecounty.org
What to Bring
To file at the Probate Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
Transferring Property in Greenville 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 Greenville County are recorded with the Register of Deeds at 301 University Ridge, Suite S-2100, Greenville, SC 29601. Phone: 864-467-7240. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM.
The Register of Deeds charges $15 flat, regardless of page count.
Recording Office Record
Register of Deeds
Greenville County · Register of Deeds
Address
301 University Ridge, Suite S-2100Greenville, SC 29601
South Carolina allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Greenville 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 — 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's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Greenville 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.
Greenville firm serving Upstate South Carolina, including Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson counties. Handles post-mortem estate and trust administration and probate proceedings, along with estate planning, special needs and charitable planning, business succession, and mediation. Senior partner Dan A. Collins is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law and an ACTEC member.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateSpecial Needs Planningand 2 more
De Bruin Law Firm provides estate planning, probate, real estate, and business law services with over 50 combined years of attorney experience. Aaron De Bruin handles estate planning and probate matters for Greenville-area families.
Greenville firm serving Greenville County and Upstate counties including Anderson, Cherokee, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg, and Union. Estate-side work covers probate and estate administration, probate litigation including will contests and trust disputes, claims against estates, and guardianships and conservatorships, alongside trust and Medicaid planning. Practicing since 1941.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawTax Planningand 2 more
Law Offices of Brittany Gray maintains offices in Laurens and Mauldin and focuses on estate planning, wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, deeds, probate, and estate administration, serving Laurens, Clinton, and the surrounding Upstate.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateConservatorshipand 3 more
Greenville firm handling probate estates in the South Carolina Probate Court, from simple to complex administrations, along with conservatorship and guardianship actions. The firm prepares wills, trusts, family limited partnerships, and powers of attorney, and pairs its estate practice with IRS tax resolution work led by David B. Greene.
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 PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 6 more
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.
Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
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Probate fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value, or net property after debts. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Actual costs vary significantly by county, attorney, and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
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Greenville County Guides
Step-by-step tools for families in Greenville County, South Carolina.
