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Abbeville County, SC Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Abbeville County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Abbeville County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | Abbeville County Administrative Complex, 903 W. Greenwood Street, Suite 2300, Abbeville, SC 29620 |
| Mailing address | Same as the courthouse address |
| Phone | (864) 366-5312, extension 62 |
| Fax | (864) 366-4023 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Estate openings are by appointment, so call before traveling to the counter. |
| Estate fee | Statewide estate fee under S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770, current text effective April 4, 1995 and retroactive to August 15, 1994. Abbeville County also lists estate-copy charges on its own page. |
| County documents | Abbeville County publishes a Probate Worksheet and asks families to complete it before calling for an estate-opening appointment. |
| Electronic filing | Abbeville County's probate court page publishes no electronic filing system, attorney portal, email-filing channel or drop-box filing channel. South Carolina has no statewide probate electronic filing system; the statewide electronic filing rules are for the Court of Common Pleas and attorney filers. |
| Lookup | Abbeville County's probate court page does not publish an online estate search. Call (864) 366-5312, extension 62, to ask how to look up a case. |
| Remote practice | Local practice is not published. Under the Supreme Court's order on the Use of Remote Communication Technology by the Trial Courts, as amended February 19, 2025, the decision rests with the probate judge for a non-criminal proceeding. |
| Website | https://abbevillecountysc.com/probate-court/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you book an estate-opening appointment in Abbeville County, gather the will if there is one, the death certificate, a working list of heirs or devisees, known debts, and a first pass at the accounts, vehicles, real estate and personal property that may belong to the estate. The Abbeville County Probate Court asks families to complete its Probate Worksheet first and then call (864) 366-5312, extension 62, for the appointment.
Estate settlement moves faster when you know what exists before you file. Sunset searches across 2,300 institutions to help families find accounts and assets, organize what belongs in the probate packet, and avoid opening an estate with an incomplete asset picture.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Estates from Abbeville, Calhoun Falls, Donalds, Due West, Lowndesville and the unincorporated parts of Abbeville County are filed with the Abbeville County Probate Court at 903 W. Greenwood Street, Suite 2300, in Abbeville. The court publishes one probate office for Abbeville County.
South Carolina venue for probate is governed by S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-201. For a person domiciled in South Carolina, the county of domicile is the starting point; for a nonresident, the county where South Carolina property is located may matter.
The jurisdiction process
- Start with the Abbeville Probate Worksheet. The court says the worksheet is the best place to start and asks you to complete it before contacting the office for an estate-opening appointment.
- Choose the statewide forms that match the estate. Form 300ES is used for an informal application or a formal petition, and formal filings require the formal side of that form. If a small estate affidavit may be the right route, ask the court about Form 420ES under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1201 before relying on it.
- Call the Abbeville County Probate Court at (864) 366-5312, extension 62, to book the estate-opening appointment. Bring or mail papers only as the court instructs, because the court's page says estates are opened by appointment only.
- Pay the estate fee required by S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770, current text effective April 4, 1995 and retroactive to August 15, 1994, and ask the court what total is due for your filing and any copies.
- Handle notice to interested persons and creditors as the court instructs for the estate. If a hearing is needed, ask the court how it schedules the date, because Abbeville County does not publish hearing days or a filing-to-hearing window.
- Ask about remote participation before any hearing. Under the statewide Remote Communication Technology order as amended February 19, 2025, the probate judge may permit or require remote communication technology in a non-criminal proceeding unless it would likely cause substantial prejudice or affect fairness.
- After appointment and qualification, get the authority document the court issues. South Carolina's probate code calls the personal representative's authority document letters, including letters testamentary and letters of administration under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-1-201, and estate administration begins when letters issue. The document banks and transfer agents usually ask to see is the Certificate of Appointment, Form 141PC, with the court's raised seal.
- Administer and close the estate through the Abbeville County Probate Court. Keep copies of filings, receipts, creditor information, accountings and proposed distributions so the closing packet can be completed without re-creating the estate settlement file.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Abbeville County
Use the South Carolina Judicial Branch's numbered Probate Court form set for Abbeville County estate filings: https://www.sccourts.org/court-forms/?courtType=PC. The court's own page points readers to an older forms address, so use the current Judicial Branch form page instead.
Abbeville County also publishes one local document of its own, a Probate Worksheet. The court asks families to complete that worksheet before calling for an estate-opening appointment, but the worksheet link on the court's page did not open during review, so ask the Probate Court for the worksheet when you call (864) 366-5312, extension 62. Abbeville County's probate court page does not publish a numbered local form set or a local cover sheet.
Fees
The estate fee is set by South Carolina statute, not by Abbeville County. S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770, current text effective April 4, 1995 and retroactive to August 15, 1994, bases the estate fee on the gross value shown on the inventory and appraisement, and the court can tell you what is due for your filing.
For estate record copies, the Abbeville County Probate Court lists these charges on its own page, with no effective date printed beside them: $0.50 per page or side, a $1.50 handling fee per pack plus postage, and a $5.00 research fee for all requests. The court also says that if you want a copy of a particular estate file, send a written request naming the decedent and the approximate date of death, and enclose a letter-sized self-addressed envelope so the court can reply with a cost estimate.
Abbeville County's probate court page does not publish payment methods for probate filings. Ask what forms of payment are accepted when you book the appointment.
Local nuance
Abbeville County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Estate openings are appointment-only | The court says estates must be opened by appointment because of the number of estates opened each year. Complete the Probate Worksheet first, then call (864) 366-5312, extension 62. |
| The Probate Court is not in the historic courthouse on Court Square | The Abbeville County Probate Court is at 903 W. Greenwood Street, Suite 2300. The Clerk of Court is at 102 Court Square, Room 103, and that office describes work for Circuit Court and Family Court matters, not estate openings. |
| Suite 2300 matters | Several county offices share the 903 W. Greenwood Street complex. The Probate Court is Suite 2300. |
| Old estate records | The court says estate records date back to the 1770s and marriage licenses date back to 1911. Call the Probate Court before requesting older estate file copies so the office can tell you how to request and pay for the records. |
| Staff can explain procedure, not legal strategy | The Abbeville County Probate Court says staff will assist with questions about office services and procedures, but state law prohibits staff from giving legal advice or writing wills. |
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Call the Abbeville County Probate Court before the appointment to ask which estate forms are needed and whether a deed-related step requires attorney help. The court's own page says an attorney is used to do a Deed of Distribution of real estate. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts and property records so the spouse can separate probate assets from property that may pass outside the estate settlement process. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Ask the Abbeville County Probate Court for the Probate Worksheet and whether Form 420ES under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1201 is the right route. The court must approve and countersign that affidavit before it is used to collect property. | Sunset helps the child locate accounts and prepare a cleaner asset list before calling (864) 366-5312, extension 62, for the appointment. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Use the appointment-only process at Suite 2300 and ask early whether a formal filing or attorney-drafted real estate document is needed. The court recommends attorney help when there is family disagreement, a possible contest, formal probate or a Deed of Distribution of real estate. | Sunset organizes asset discovery and connects the family with a vetted South Carolina probate attorney when the home sale makes the estate settlement more complex. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Abbeville County Probate Court | The court answers questions about office services and procedures, provides the local Probate Worksheet for estate-opening appointments, and responds to written estate-file copy requests with a cost estimate. Staff cannot give legal advice or write wills. | 903 W. Greenwood Street, Suite 2300, Abbeville, SC 29620; (864) 366-5312, extension 62; fax (864) 366-4023; https://abbevillecountysc.com/probate-court/ |
| South Carolina Judicial Branch probate form set | Provides the statewide numbered Probate Court forms used in Abbeville County estate filings, including forms with revision dates printed on their faces. | https://www.sccourts.org/court-forms/?courtType=PC |
| South Carolina Judicial Branch self-help resources | Explains what court staff can and cannot do. Court staff can provide approved forms and available instructions and can make sure papers are complete, but cannot tell you what to say or what legal choice to make. | https://www.sccourts.org/resources/general-public/self-help-resources/ |
| South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service | Participating lawyers charge no more than $50 for a 30-minute consultation, and the Bar states those lawyers do not take pro bono cases. | (803) 799-7100, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; online referral 24/7; https://www.scbar.org/public/get-legal-help/ |
When to hire an attorney
The Abbeville County Probate Court says attorney help is recommended for formal probate or appointment, is usually not necessary for a relatively simple informal estate, and is strongly advised if someone may contest the will or if family discord or disagreement exists. The court also says an attorney is used to do a Deed of Distribution of real estate. If those issues are present, Sunset connects you to a vetted South Carolina probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families search for accounts, insurance, benefits and other assets so the Abbeville County estate settlement starts with a clearer inventory.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you gather into an organized probate packet, including the details you need before asking the Abbeville County Probate Court for its worksheet and appointment process.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate involves real estate, a formal filing, family disagreement or a possible contest, Sunset can connect you with a vetted South Carolina probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset gives families a guided way to move through estate settlement without charging them to use the platform.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Abbeville County?
File with the Abbeville County Probate Court at the Abbeville County Administrative Complex, 903 W. Greenwood Street, Suite 2300, Abbeville, SC 29620. Do not go to the Clerk of Court at 102 Court Square to open an estate.
Do I need an appointment to open an estate in Abbeville County?
Yes. The Abbeville County Probate Court says estates are opened by appointment only. Complete the Probate Worksheet first, then call (864) 366-5312, extension 62, to schedule.
Can I file an Abbeville County probate case online?
Abbeville County's probate court page publishes no electronic filing system, attorney portal, email-filing channel or drop-box filing channel. South Carolina does not have a statewide probate electronic filing system, so ask the court how it wants your papers delivered when you book the appointment.
Can I look up an Abbeville County estate online?
Abbeville County's probate court page does not publish an online estate search. Call (864) 366-5312, extension 62, to ask how to look up an estate file.
What does probate cost in Abbeville County?
The estate fee is based on S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770, current text effective April 4, 1995 and retroactive to August 15, 1994, and depends on the gross probate value shown on the inventory and appraisement. For estate record copies, the Abbeville County Probate Court lists these charges on its own page, with no effective date printed beside them: $0.50 per page or side, a $1.50 handling fee per pack plus postage, and a $5.00 research fee for all requests.
What forms do I use for probate in Abbeville County?
Use the statewide South Carolina Probate Court forms at https://www.sccourts.org/court-forms/?courtType=PC. Form 300ES is the starting form for an informal application or a formal petition, and Abbeville County also asks families to complete its Probate Worksheet before calling for an appointment.
Can I appear remotely for an Abbeville County probate hearing?
Abbeville County does not publish a local remote-hearing practice for estate cases. Under the Supreme Court's order on the Use of Remote Communication Technology by the Trial Courts, as amended February 19, 2025, a probate judge may permit or require remote communication technology in a non-criminal proceeding unless it would likely cause substantial prejudice or affect fairness. Ask the Abbeville County Probate Court how it applies that order.
Do I have to travel to Abbeville to start probate?
Plan as if you need to coordinate directly with the Abbeville County Probate Court, because estates are opened by appointment only and the court does not publish a probate electronic filing channel. If you live out of state, call (864) 366-5312, extension 62, before traveling and ask what can be prepared or sent before the appointment.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.