How Do I Claim a Deceased Person's Unclaimed Property in South Carolina?
In South Carolina, a deceased owner's unclaimed property is claimed from the South Carolina Office of the State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property ProgramS.C. Code Title 27, Chapter 18 (Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1981)); 27-18-250Verified Aug 24, 2026View source. The Program's FAQ states that the personal representative for the estate can make a claim on a deceased owner's propertyClaim FAQ (South Carolina Unclaimed Property Program)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
File the claim with the South Carolina Office of the State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property ProgramS.C. Code Title 27, Chapter 18 (Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1981)); 27-18-250Verified Aug 24, 2026View source. The search and the claim start at the office's site. The personal representative provides a copy of the death certificate, a currently dated Probate Order, and proof of the deceased's ownership of the propertyClaim FAQ (South Carolina Unclaimed Property Program)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
If no estate was opened, or the estate has been closed, the Program directs the claimant to call the Unclaimed Property Program to discuss the optionsClaim FAQ (South Carolina Unclaimed Property Program)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
The Program's FAQ states that the personal representative for the estate can make a claim on a deceased owner's propertyClaim FAQ (South Carolina Unclaimed Property Program)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source. With letters from a probate court, the claim is made by the personal representative of the estatesouthcarolina.findyourunclaimedproperty.com claim pages (the site's shipped application, carrying the claim FAQ)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source.
Every state where the person had an address can hold some of the property: the holding company reports it to the state of the owner's last-known address, and to its own home state where it has no address on record. MissingMoney.com searches most states at once. Insurance, savings bonds, pensions, refunds and failed-bank deposits sit in federal and national databases: the Treasury (TreasuryDirect), PBGC, the IRS, the FDIC, the NCUA, the NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator and the VA.
An agreement to pay a finder to recover property is unenforceable if made within 24 months after the property reaches the State Treasurer, and a finder may not charge more than 15 percent of the value returned. A violation is a misdemeanorS.C. Code § 27-18-360Verified Oct 26, 2026View source. The same property can be claimed directly through the state's own program, which charges no fee.
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Learn moreForms for Settling an Estate in South Carolina
Free forms for settling an estate in South Carolina: the probate petition, small estate affidavit, notice to creditors, inventory, and closing forms.
Notice to Creditors
In South Carolina, the notice to creditors is published for 3SC Code §§ 62-3-801, 62-3-803, 62-3-805, 62-3-806Verified Oct 19, 2026View source weeks in a local newspaper, and creditors have 8 monthsS.C. Code § 62-3-803Verified Sep 8, 2026View source from first publication to present claims.
Small Estate Affidavit
In South Carolina, the Small Estate AffidavitS.C. Code § 62-3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source covers estates valued at $45,000S.C. Code § 62-3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less, 30 daysS.C. Code § 62-3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death, filed with the court.
Estate Inventory
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.
Estate Closing
In South Carolina, the personal representative is discharged by court orderS.C. Code §§ 62-3-1001(c), 62-3-1005; 62-3-1204(b)Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and a final accounting is required unless it is waived.
IRS Form 1310
Claim a refund due a deceased taxpayer on the official form, on the box the form routes you to, with what the form says to attach.
Letter of Instruction
Prepare the letter a bank or insurer requests during estate settlement, addressed to its claims department.
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 inheritance taxes.
How Much Can an Executor Charge?
South Carolina pays executors reasonable compensationS.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, typically 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 the estate.
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.
How Do I Get Letters Testamentary?
In South Carolina, the Probate Court issues a Certificate of Appointment of Personal Representative once the County Probate Court appoints the personal representative; an informal (registrar) track is availableS.C. Code § 62-3-301Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?
In South Carolina, creditors have 8 monthsS.C. Code § 62-3-803Verified Sep 8, 2026View source from first publication of the creditor notice to present claims; late claims are barred.
What Happens When an Estate Is Insolvent?
When an estate owes more than it holds, South Carolina pays the claims in 5S.C. Code § 62-3-805Verified Sep 23, 2026View source classes in statutory order, beginning with administration costs, attorney fees, and reasonable funeral expenses.
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South Carolina Estate Settlement Resources
In-depth guides covering South Carolina probate, estate administration, and settling an estate.