S.C. Code § 8-21-770(B) · checked 2026-10-21
Probate court fees in South Carolina
South Carolina sets the fee to open an estate by its value: for a $100,000 estate it is $95, from S.C. Code § 8-21-770(B).
- 1$100,000 estate $95
- 2Fee basis Value brackets
- 3Small-estate fee $67.50
- 4Schedule S.C. Code § 8-21-770
Fee to open an estate, by value
| Estate value | Fee | How it is worked out |
|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | $67.50 | estates under $60,000 |
| $50,000 | $67.50 | estates under $60,000 |
| $100,000 | $95 | $95 + 0.15% over $100,000 |
| $250,000 | $320 | $95 + 0.15% over $100,000 |
| $500,000 | $695 | $95 + 0.15% over $100,000 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,845 | $845 + 0.25% over $600,000 |
Across these six example values the fee runs from $67.50 to $1,845. At $100,000, 4 of the 18 fee schedules on this site charge less and 13 charge more.
Other charges in the schedule
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Issuing a certified copy | $5 |
| Issuing an exemplified or authenticated copy | $20 |
| Filing a demand for notice | $5 |
| Reopening a closed estate | $22.50 |
| Appointing a special or temporary fiduciary | $22.50 |
| Filing and indexing a will under § 62-2-901 | $10 |
The fee is charged on the gross value of the probate estate shown on the inventory: $95 plus 0.15 percent of the value between $100,000 and $600,000, plus one-fourth of one percent of the value above $600,000. The $845 base used above $600,000 is the full charge for the $100,000-to-$600,000 band ($95 + 0.15% of $500,000). The cost of publishing the notice to creditors is charged on top (subsection (D)). An affidavit under § 62-3-1201 pays the subsection (B) fee for its stated value, or half that amount below $100.
Source: S.C. Code § 8-21-770 (probate court fees), last checked 2026-10-21. Courts can add copy, certification and publication costs that are not in this schedule.
The small-estate route and its cost
South Carolina's simplified procedure is the small estate affidavit approved by the probate judge (S.C. Code § 62-3-1201), for estates within $45,000. The schedule charges $67.50 for the affidavit for collection of personal property (§ 62-3-1201), charged on the same value scale, against $95 to open full administration of a $100,000 estate. Check the South Carolina limit or see how long probate takes there.
What the court fee does not cover
The schedule above is only the court's own charge, and because it moves with the estate's value, the value stated in the petition decides which bracket applies. Publishing notice to creditors in a newspaper, certified copies of letters, a fiduciary bond where the court requires one, appraisals and recording fees for real estate are billed separately by whoever provides them. Those notices also start South Carolina's creditor claim period of 8 months (S.C. Code § 62-3-801(a)), which usually decides how soon the estate can close. Most courts can waive or defer fees for a petitioner who cannot pay; the clerk's office has the request form.
Related: probate court fees compared · what probate is · all fee schedules.
Court fees only, read from the official schedule on 2026-10-21. Not legal advice; Probate Clock does not refer anyone to lawyers. Fee waivers are usually available to people who cannot pay — ask the court clerk.