Probate in Hampton County, South Carolina
When someone who lived in Hampton County dies, probate is handled by the county probate court. This page points you to that court and summarizes the South Carolina rules that apply — the small-estate threshold, the key deadlines, and the instruments South Carolina uses. For your own dates and numbers, use the free calculators linked below.
Where to file
Probate is filed in Hampton County, where the person who died last lived. Local forms, e-filing rules, and scheduling vary by county — confirm with the county probate court.
Find your court — SC Judicial Branch — Courthouse SearchDoes this estate need full probate?
South Carolina lets smaller estates skip full probate using the Collection by affidavit / summary administration (S.C. Code §62-3-1201) for estates up to $45,000.
Check your estate Source — S.C. Code §62-3-1201/§62-3-1203 ($45k; exempt property/funeral/admin excluded; Act 26 of 2025)Key probate deadlines in South Carolina
- Lodge the will with the court
- 30 days after the date of death
- File the estate inventory
- 90 days after appointment as personal representative
- Creditor-claim period closes
- 8 months after first publication of the notice to creditors (outer bar: 12 months from death)
Good to know in South Carolina
- The court empowers the personal representative with Certificate of Appointment.
- The estate closes with the Application for Settlement.
- South Carolina has no state estate or inheritance tax.
Talk it through, or find a local pro
Ask the guide a question about probate in Hampton County, or browse vetted probate attorneys and real-estate advisors who work in South Carolina.
Selling an inherited home? Estimate the tax with the capital-gains calculator. Just getting started? Print the South Carolina after-a-death checklist.