Back to South Carolina
Clarendon County, SC Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Clarendon County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Clarendon County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | 411 Sunset Drive, Suite 1304, Manning, SC 29102 |
| Mailing address | 411 Sunset Drive, Suite 1304, Manning, SC 29102 |
| Phone | (803) 435-8774 |
| Fax | (803) 435-8698 |
| Hours | The court's probate page does not publish court-specific hours. Call before visiting. |
| Estate filing cost | Set by state statute under S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770, current text effective April 4, 1995 and applied retroactively to August 15, 1994. Clarendon County's probate court page does not publish an estate cost schedule of its own. |
| Forms | Clarendon County links to the statewide numbered Probate Court forms. Its probate page does not publish a local form set. |
| Online filing | South Carolina's statewide electronic filing system is for the Court of Common Pleas and attorneys, not probate filings. Clarendon County does not publish a local probate electronic filing, email filing, or drop box channel. |
| Case lookup | Clarendon County's probate court page does not publish an online estate search. Call (803) 435-8774 to ask how to look up a case. |
| Remote hearing requests | South Carolina has one statewide Remote Communication Technology order, as amended February 19, 2025. The probate judge decides how that order applies in a particular case. |
| Website | https://www.clarendoncountysc.gov/our-government/probate/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you ask the Clarendon County Probate Court to open an estate, make a practical inventory of what exists: bank accounts, real estate, vehicles, retirement accounts, insurance, debts, funeral expenses, and any property that may already have a beneficiary or co-owner. That asset picture drives which forms you use, what court cost applies under S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770, and whether the person handling the estate needs court-issued authority.
Sunset helps families start estate settlement by searching for accounts and assets across 2,300 institutions, organizing what was found, and turning that information into the probate packet you can review before filing in Manning.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Clarendon County Probate Court serves estate matters for Clarendon County from its office in the county seat, Manning. File Clarendon County estate papers at 411 Sunset Drive, Suite 1304, Manning, SC 29102, in person or by mail unless the court gives you other instructions.
South Carolina's venue rule for estate proceedings is S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-201. If the decedent lived outside Clarendon County or property is connected to another county, call the probate court before filing to confirm the proper county.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the will, death certificate, asset information, debt information, and contact information for heirs and devisees before starting the Clarendon County estate settlement.
- Choose the correct statewide form packet. Form 300ES is used for informal or formal probate of a will or appointment, depending on the boxes and pleadings used. If the matter may fit the small estate affidavit route, Form 420ES is tied to S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1201 and the $45,000 limit effective May 8, 2025.
- File the signed papers with the Clarendon County Probate Court at 411 Sunset Drive, Suite 1304, Manning, SC 29102. The court's page does not publish electronic filing, email filing, or drop box filing for estate matters.
- Pay the state-set estate filing fee under S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770, current text effective April 4, 1995 and applied retroactively to August 15, 1994. Clarendon County's probate page does not publish an additional estate fee schedule of its own.
- Follow the court's instructions for notice. In a regular administration, notice to creditors is handled under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-801, and creditor deadlines can affect when the estate settlement can close.
- Ask the court how hearings are scheduled if a hearing is needed. Clarendon County's probate page does not publish hearing days or filing-to-hearing timing.
- If a remote hearing issue comes up, ask the Clarendon County Probate Court how the probate judge applies South Carolina's Remote Communication Technology order, as amended February 19, 2025, to that proceeding.
- After appointment, the personal representative receives authority through letters. South Carolina law includes letters testamentary and letters of administration in S.C. Code Ann. § 62-1-201, and the court-issued proof banks ask for is the Certificate of Appointment, Form 141PC, with the court's raised seal.
- Administer the estate, file required inventory and accounting papers when they apply, distribute assets only when allowed, and close the estate through the statewide closing forms or court order.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Clarendon County
Clarendon County's probate court page links directly to the South Carolina Judicial Branch form library rather than publishing a local packet. Use the statewide numbered Probate Court forms at https://www.sccourts.org/court-forms/?courtType=PC, then file the completed papers with the Clarendon County Probate Court in Manning.
| Form topic | What to use in Clarendon County |
|---|---|
| Opening an estate | Form 300ES for informal application or formal petition, depending on the filing. |
| Inventory | The statewide Inventory and Appraisement forms are marked mandatory by the Judicial Branch. |
| Accounting | The statewide Accounting form is marked mandatory by the Judicial Branch. |
| Creditor claim | The statewide Statement of Creditor's Claim form is marked mandatory by the Judicial Branch. |
| Small estate affidavit | Form 420ES under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1201, with the $45,000 limit effective May 8, 2025. |
| Authority proof | The Certificate of Appointment, Form 141PC, is issued by the court after appointment. It is not a party-filed starting form. |
Local nuance
Clarendon County-specific considerations
Clarendon County's staff directory lists a Deputy Probate Judge position and a Probate Clerk position in addition to the elected Probate Judge. The same directory lists a separate Probate Clerk phone line, (803) 433-3263, but it does not say that line is dedicated to estate questions, so start with the main probate number, (803) 435-8774, if you are unsure.
The county probate page does not publish an office-level probate email address. Use the phone number, fax number, street address, and court website rather than relying on an email address.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Clarendon County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Gather the deed, mortgage information, account titles, and beneficiary paperwork before filing. If any asset needs probate authority, start with the Clarendon County Probate Court in Manning and the statewide forms. | Sunset identifies accounts and property clues, organizes documents, and helps decide what needs attorney review before filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Call the Clarendon County Probate Court before mailing papers. If the estate fits Form 420ES under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1201, the small estate affidavit route uses the $45,000 limit effective May 8, 2025, and the court must approve and countersign the affidavit before it is used. | Sunset helps collect account information remotely, prepare the packet, and connect you with local counsel if travel or South Carolina procedure becomes difficult. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires careful review of title, heirs, authority, and court papers. Start with the Clarendon County Probate Court and consider legal help before signing a sale contract or deed. | Sunset organizes assets and debts, flags the real estate issue for attorney review, and helps prepare the estate settlement file. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Clarendon County Probate Court | Provides the local filing office for Clarendon County estates, publishes the court address, phone and fax, and links to the statewide probate form set. | 411 Sunset Drive, Suite 1304, Manning, SC 29102; (803) 435-8774; fax (803) 435-8698; https://www.clarendoncountysc.gov/our-government/probate/ |
| South Carolina Judicial Branch probate forms | Provides the statewide numbered Probate Court forms used in Clarendon County. | https://www.sccourts.org/court-forms/?courtType=PC |
| South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service | Connects callers with a lawyer. The Bar states, as listed August 2026, that participating lawyers charge no more than $50 for a 30-minute consultation and do not take pro bono cases through the referral service. | (803) 799-7100, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; online referral available 24/7; https://www.scbar.org/public/get-legal-help/ |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a probate attorney if the will may be contested, heirs disagree, real estate must be sold, a creditor problem is likely, the decedent lived outside South Carolina, or you are unsure whether Clarendon County is the correct venue under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-201. Sunset connects you to a vetted probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches for financial accounts, insurance, real estate clues, and other assets so the estate settlement starts with a clearer inventory.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into organized forms and document checklists for review before filing with the Clarendon County Probate Court.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Clarendon County estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted probate attorney who understands South Carolina procedure.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, prepare next steps, and move through probate without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate papers in Clarendon County?
File with the Clarendon County Probate Court at 411 Sunset Drive, Suite 1304, Manning, SC 29102. The mailing address is the same as the street address.
Does Clarendon County probate publish an online filing option?
No local probate electronic filing, email filing, or drop box channel is published on the Clarendon County probate page. South Carolina's statewide electronic filing system is for the Court of Common Pleas and attorneys, not probate filings.
What is the Clarendon County probate phone number?
The main probate number published by the county is (803) 435-8774. The fax number is (803) 435-8698.
Can I look up a Clarendon County estate online?
Clarendon County's probate court page does not publish an online estate search. Call the court at (803) 435-8774 to ask how to look up a case.
Does Clarendon County publish local probate forms?
Clarendon County's probate page links to the statewide South Carolina Judicial Branch form library. It does not publish a local form set of its own.
How much does it cost to open an estate in Clarendon County?
The estate filing fee is set by S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770, current text effective April 4, 1995 and applied retroactively to August 15, 1994. Clarendon County's probate page does not publish a separate estate cost schedule.
How long will it take to get a hearing in Clarendon County Probate Court?
The court's probate page does not publish hearing days or wait times. Call the court before filing if timing affects your estate settlement plan.
How do remote hearings work in Clarendon County probate?
South Carolina's Remote Communication Technology order, as amended February 19, 2025, lets a probate judge permit or require remote participation in non-criminal matters unless the judge finds it would likely cause substantial prejudice or affect fairness. Ask the Clarendon County Probate Court how the judge applies that order in your case.
Do I have to travel to Manning for a Clarendon County estate?
Clarendon County publishes an in-person and mailing address for probate filings, and no separate P.O. box. If you live outside South Carolina, call the court at (803) 435-8774 before mailing papers or planning travel.
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.