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Anderson County, SC Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Anderson County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Anderson County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | Anderson County Courthouse, 100 South Main Street, Anderson, SC 29624 |
| Mailing address | Post Office Box 8002, Anderson, SC 29622 |
| Phone | (864) 260-4049 |
| Fax | (864) 260-4811. The court also says original documents are required and copied or faxed documents cannot be accepted for filing. |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. County offices close on the county holidays Anderson County publishes. |
| Fee to start | The estate fee is governed by S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770, current text effective April 4, 1995 and applied retroactively to August 15, 1994. The Anderson County Probate Court also states that the fee to start probate is $50.00, with no effective date printed on the court page. |
| Forms | The court links to the South Carolina Judicial Branch statewide Probate Court form set. Anderson County's probate page does not publish a local probate form set, cover sheet, worksheet or checklist. |
| Electronic filing | No statewide South Carolina probate electronic filing system applies to self-represented families. Anderson County publishes an ACMS attorney portal that limits authorized use to licensed attorneys and current staff of licensed attorneys. Ask the court how it wants your original papers delivered. |
| Case lookup | The court links to the Anderson County Public Access System, called ACPASS, which requires accepting a disclaimer and signing in with a registered account. The court page does not publish an estate-specific online search. |
| Remote participation | Local practice is not published. Under the statewide order on the Use of Remote Communication Technology by the Trial Courts, as amended February 19, 2025, the probate judge decides whether remote communication technology may be used in a non-criminal proceeding. |
| Website | https://www.andersoncountysc.org/departments-a-z/probate-court/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you start estate settlement in Anderson County, make a working list of the decedent's probate assets, nonprobate transfers, debts, funeral expenses, tax mail, vehicles, real estate and account holders. The Anderson County Probate Court asks families to bring the original will and death certificate, and if there is no will, it asks the closest relative to come in person with the death certificate to open the estate.
Sunset's asset discovery checks more than 2,300 institutions so you can identify accounts before you choose a filing path, request forms, or ask the court what amount is due. That up-front inventory makes the local originals-only rule easier to follow and helps keep estate settlement from stalling after the first visit.
Which court handles jurisdiction
File in Anderson County when the Anderson County Probate Court is the proper venue under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-201. The court's own guidance says Anderson is the right probate court if the decedent was a permanent resident of Anderson County, was a nonresident holding property in Anderson County, or had a right to take legal action in the county.
The published probate office is at the Anderson County Courthouse in Anderson, the county seat. The page serves communities including Anderson, Belton, Honea Path, Iva, Pendleton, Starr, Williamston and the unincorporated parts of Anderson County. The county describes Anderson County as part of Upstate South Carolina along I-85, bordered by the Savannah River and Lake Hartwell on the west, Pickens and Oconee Counties on the north, the Saluda River on the east and Abbeville County on the south.
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm that Anderson County is the right venue under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-201. Use the court's own test: Anderson County resident, nonresident with property in Anderson County, or a right to take legal action in the county.
- Gather the original will, the death certificate, contact information for heirs and devisees, and a first asset and debt list. Anderson County says original documents must be filed and copied or faxed documents cannot be accepted for filing.
- Choose the correct statewide forms. A typical opening starts with Form 300ES for informal or formal probate or appointment. If the matter is formal, the court's own page says an attorney is required, and the statewide form set also uses a summons for formal proceedings.
- Contact or visit the Anderson County Probate Court at 100 South Main Street in Anderson. If there is no will, the court asks the closest relative to come in person with the death certificate. Use Post Office Box 8002 for mail, but ask the court first how it wants original estate papers delivered.
- Ask what amount is due when you file. The estate filing fee is governed by S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770, current text effective April 4, 1995 and applied retroactively to August 15, 1994. Anderson County's own page also says the fee to start probate is $50.00, with no effective date printed on the page.
- Complete required notices and creditor steps after the court opens the estate. Use the statewide forms and the court's instructions for publication, mailed notice and any hearing notice that applies to your filing.
- If a hearing is needed, follow the date and instructions issued by the Anderson County Probate Court. For remote participation, South Carolina's order on the Use of Remote Communication Technology by the Trial Courts, as amended February 19, 2025, leaves the decision with the probate judge in non-criminal matters.
- After appointment and qualification, the personal representative receives authority from the court. South Carolina's probate code calls that authority letters, including letters testamentary or letters of administration under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-1-201, and the court-issued document banks usually ask for is the Certificate of Appointment, Form 141PC, with the court's raised seal.
- Administer the estate, keep receipts, prepare the inventory and accounting required by statewide procedure, request any needed court approvals, distribute property, and close the estate through the Anderson County Probate Court.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Anderson County
Anderson County uses the South Carolina Judicial Branch's numbered statewide Probate Court form set. The Anderson County Probate Court links its probate forms button to the statewide form page at sccourts.org/court-forms/?courtType=PC.
Form 300ES is the statewide opening form for informal proceedings and for formal probate or appointment, depending on the boxes and pleadings used. Form 420ES is the small estate affidavit form under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1201, as amended May 8, 2025. Anderson County's probate page does not publish a local probate form set, a local cover sheet, a probate worksheet or a local checklist.
The county page also contains an older link to a retired Judicial Branch forms address. Use the current sccourts.org Probate Court form page instead.
Fees
The estate fee is set by South Carolina statute and is the same statutory schedule in every county, under S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770, current text effective April 4, 1995 and applied retroactively to August 15, 1994. It is based on the gross value shown on the inventory and appraisement, with any adjustment handled before or at final settlement.
Separately, the Anderson County Probate Court's own frequently asked questions state that the fee to start probate is $50.00. The court prints no effective date beside that figure and does not publish a probate fee schedule of its own, so ask the Probate Court what total is due and what payment methods it accepts before you come in.
Local nuance
Anderson County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for Anderson families |
|---|---|
| Originals only | The court says to bring the will and death certificate, and it says original documents must be filed. Copies and faxed documents cannot be accepted for filing. |
| No-will opening | If there is no will, the court asks the closest relative to come in person with the death certificate to open the estate. |
| Fax is not a filing channel | The court publishes fax number (864) 260-4811, but the same page says faxed documents cannot be accepted for filing. |
| Attorney portal is limited | The court publishes an ACMS attorney portal. The portal notice limits authorized use to licensed attorneys and current staff of licensed attorneys, and it says the information inside is not an official or certified court record. |
| Public lookup is not estate-specific | The Probate Court page links ACPASS, which requires a registered account. The page does not publish an estate-specific online search, so call (864) 260-4049 to ask how to look up an estate file. |
| Same building, different office | The Probate Court and the Clerk of Court publish the same street address and mailing address, but they are different offices. For estates, use the Anderson County Probate Court phone number, (864) 260-4049. |
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Anderson County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by identifying which assets actually need probate in Anderson County and whether the home passes outside the estate. If probate is needed, gather the original will, death certificate and ownership papers before contacting the Anderson County Probate Court. | Sunset helps organize accounts, debts, real estate information and beneficiary clues so the spouse can focus on the assets that affect estate settlement. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Call the Anderson County Probate Court before travelling. The small estate affidavit route is governed by S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1201, as amended May 8, 2025, and Anderson County requires original documents, not copies or faxes. | Sunset helps locate accounts and prepare a probate packet so the adult child can ask the court targeted questions about originals, mail, payment and whether an in-person visit is needed. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires careful authority from the court before transfer. Contact the Anderson County Probate Court about opening the estate, appointment, and any real-property paperwork needed before closing. | Sunset helps assemble the asset list, generate the starting packet, and connect the parent with a South Carolina probate attorney when a sale or dispute makes the case more complex. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Anderson County Probate Court | The court gives initial paperwork and an explanation to self-represented people, publishes what to bring to open an estate, and says only original documents are accepted for filing. | 100 South Main Street, Anderson, SC 29624. Mailing: Post Office Box 8002, Anderson, SC 29622. Phone: (864) 260-4049. Email: [email protected]. |
| South Carolina Judicial Branch probate form set | Provides the statewide numbered Probate Court forms used in Anderson County, including opening forms and estate administration forms. | 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 check whether 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 | Connects callers with a lawyer. The Bar says participating lawyers charge no more than $50 for a 30-minute consultation, as published on the Bar page reviewed August 2026, and also says 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 is available 24/7 at https://www.scbar.org/public/get-legal-help/. |
When to hire an attorney
The Anderson County Probate Court says you may use an attorney for informal probate or complete the paperwork yourself and meet with the Probate Judge acting as your own attorney. The same court page says that for formal probate or appointment, the services of an attorney are required, with a summons, petition, fee and service on interested parties before a hearing is set. Counsel also makes sense when family members disagree, real estate must be sold, creditors are active, or the personal representative lives outside South Carolina. Sunset connects families with a vetted South Carolina probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families locate financial accounts, insurance clues, real estate information and other assets so the Anderson County estate settlement starts with a clearer inventory.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you collect into an organized probate packet, including the details needed for the statewide South Carolina forms and Anderson County's originals-only filing practice.
Find a local probate attorney. When the case is formal, contested, involves a home sale, or needs court strategy, Sunset can connect you with a vetted probate attorney who handles South Carolina estates.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, prepare next steps and decide when attorney help is needed without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Anderson County?
File with the Anderson County Probate Court at the Anderson County Courthouse, 100 South Main Street, Anderson, SC 29624. The mailing address is Post Office Box 8002, Anderson, SC 29622.
How do I know whether Anderson County is the right probate court?
Use the Anderson court's own test together with venue under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-201: Anderson County is the local court if the decedent was a permanent resident of Anderson County, was a nonresident holding property in Anderson County, or had a right to take legal action in the county.
Can I fax probate papers to Anderson County?
No for filing. The court publishes a fax number, but it also says original documents must be filed and copied or faxed documents cannot be accepted for filing.
Does Anderson County have probate electronic filing?
The court publishes an ACMS attorney portal, and the portal limits authorized use to licensed attorneys and current staff of licensed attorneys. Anderson County does not publish a public probate electronic filing channel for self-represented families, and South Carolina's statewide electronic filing system is for the Court of Common Pleas and attorneys, not public probate filings.
Can I look up an Anderson County estate online?
The Probate Court page links to ACPASS, the Anderson County Public Access System, which requires you to accept a disclaimer and sign in with a registered account. The court page does not publish an estate-specific online search, so call the Probate Court at (864) 260-4049 to ask how to look up an estate file.
What forms does Anderson County use for probate?
Anderson County links to the statewide South Carolina Judicial Branch Probate Court form set. Form 300ES is the opening form for informal proceedings and for formal probate or appointment. Form 420ES is the small estate affidavit form under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1201, as amended May 8, 2025.
What does it cost to start probate in Anderson County?
The estate fee is governed by S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770, current text effective April 4, 1995 and applied retroactively to August 15, 1994. Anderson County's own page also says the fee to start probate is $50.00, with no effective date printed on the page. Ask the court what total is due and what payment methods it accepts.
Can I attend an Anderson County probate hearing remotely?
Anderson County does not publish a local remote-hearing practice. Under the statewide 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 the judge finds it would likely cause substantial prejudice or affect fairness. Ask the Anderson County Probate Court how it applies that order to your hearing.
Do I have to travel to Anderson if I live out of state?
Possibly. Anderson County says that if there is no will, the closest relative should come in person with the death certificate to open the estate, and it requires original documents. Call (864) 260-4049 before travelling to ask how the court wants your papers delivered and whether your situation requires an in-person visit.
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.