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Greenville County, SC Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Greenville County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Greenville County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | Greenville County Square, 301 University Ridge, Suite N-T100, Greenville, SC 29601 |
| Mailing address | Same address: 301 University Ridge, Suite N-T100, Greenville, SC 29601 |
| Phone | Main line: (864) 467-7170. Estate Division: (864) 467-7497. Records Division: (864) 467-7684. Outside South Carolina: 1.877.55.COURT. |
| Fax | (864) 467-7198 for records requests and information. Faxed documents are not accepted as formal filings. |
| [email protected] for records and copy requests. [email protected] appears as the court's general probate mailbox. | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed on Greenville County holidays. |
| Filing cost under S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770 | Estate filing fees follow the statewide gross-value scale in S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770. Greenville also publishes local charges, including the Greenville $46.00 creditor advertisement charge and copy and certification charges. |
| Local forms | Yes. Greenville republishes statewide probate forms under F-### numbers and publishes local lettered forms, a Personal Representative Handbook and estate brochures. |
| Electronic filing | The court publishes no probate e-filing channel for estate filings. Paper originals are filed at the court or by mail. Greenville's Attorney Case Management System is an attorney records portal, not an estate filing system. |
| Case search | Greenville County Probate Case Search: www.greenvillecounty.org/appsas400/Probate/. The online index gives basic case information; file contents are viewed at the courthouse. |
| Remote appearance | Decided by the probate judge under the statewide Remote Communication Technology order as amended February 19, 2025. Ask the court at (864) 467-7170 how that order applies to a scheduled estate matter. |
| Website | www.greenvillecounty.org/probate/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose forms or call the Greenville County Probate Court, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, real estate, vehicle titles, beneficiary designations, unpaid bills and possible creditor claims. Greenville's process depends heavily on the inventory, because the court assesses estate costs after the inventory is filed and sends an invoice afterward.
Sunset's estate settlement platform helps families look for accounts and assets across 2,300 institutions before they prepare the probate packet. That is especially useful in Greenville County because the court asks the personal representative to identify probate assets, non-probate assets, unclaimed property and real property early in the administration.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Greenville County Probate Court serves all Greenville County communities from one office in the city of Greenville, including Fountain Inn, Greenville, Greer, Mauldin, Simpsonville, Travelers Rest and the unincorporated parts of the county.
File in Greenville County when South Carolina venue belongs there. Greenville's own estate FAQ says to use Greenville County if the decedent was a permanent resident of Greenville County, was a nonresident who owned property in Greenville County, or had a right through the estate to begin legal proceedings in Greenville County. That is the local application of South Carolina's probate venue rule, S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-201.
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm Greenville County is the right venue under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-201. The personal representative's home address does not control. The key questions are where the decedent lived, where the decedent owned property and whether a claim belongs in Greenville County.
- Gather the opening documents the court asks for. The court's estate FAQ and Personal Representative Handbook point families to a certified death certificate, the original will and codicils if any, a copy of the obituary if one exists, and the Initial Probate Worksheet. If there is a will, the court lists a $10.00 will filing charge and, when property must be probated, the Greenville $46.00 notice-to-creditors advertisement charge. Estate filing fees are governed by S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770.
- Prepare the opening form. Greenville uses the statewide Form 300ES as its entry form for informal probate or appointment and for a formal petition. Greenville serves its copy as F-300. A formal proceeding adds a summons and the $150.00 formal filing charge under S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770.
- File paper originals with the Greenville County Probate Court at Suite N-T100 or by mail to 301 University Ridge, Suite N-T100, Greenville, SC 29601. Use current forms, white paper, black or dark blue ink and original signatures. The court states that faxed documents are for information only and are not accepted as formal filings.
- Work through the assigned judicial assistant after the estate is opened. Greenville assigns each estate to a judicial assistant who provides forms and instructions, screens paperwork for completeness and communicates deadlines. Court staff cannot give legal, tax or appraisal advice.
- Receive authority after appointment. 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 administration begins when letters issue under § 62-3-103. The document Greenville gives the personal representative is the Certificate of Appointment, Form 141PC, and it must carry the Probate Court's raised seal. Greenville initially provides five copies, and additional certificates cost $1.00 each plus a $5.00 certification charge per request.
- Let the court place the creditor advertisement. Greenville's court publishes the notice to creditors in the Greenville News and collects the Greenville $46.00 publication charge at appointment. The court states that the certificates of appointment are not released until that charge is paid.
- Send required notice to heirs and devisees. The personal representative sends Form 305ES and files proof of delivery with the court. Greenville's handbook emphasizes that people who would have inherited without a will may still need notice even when a will exists.
- File the inventory. South Carolina requires the inventory and appraisement within ninety days after appointment under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-706. Greenville prefers Form 350ES-SF, the short-form inventory, and allows continuation sheets when needed. After the inventory is filed, Greenville assesses court costs under § 8-21-770 and invoices them, with payment due within twenty days from the invoice date.
- Resolve claims, sell or transfer property and close. Creditors file claims with the court, and the personal representative responds with the allowance or disallowance form. If real property passes through the estate, the deed of distribution is recorded at the Greenville County Register of Deeds and then a recorded copy is filed back with the Probate Court. To close, file the accounting, proposal for distribution where needed, application for settlement and notice of right to demand hearing. The estate is not closed until the court sends the closing order.
Executor duties
- Pay the Greenville $46.00 creditor advertisement charge at appointment so the court can publish in the Greenville News and release the certificates of appointment.
- Use the assigned judicial assistant as the court contact for the estate and respond to court correspondence by the stated deadline.
- Use Form 350ES-SF for the inventory when possible, because Greenville states that it prefers the short form.
- Expect the estate cost invoice after the inventory is filed, with payment due within twenty days of the invoice date under S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770.
- File Greenville County Form G if your South Carolina address changes. If you move out of state, put an agent for service on file using Form 121ES.
- File original paper documents. Greenville states that faxed documents with original signatures cannot be accepted as formal filings.
- Record a deed of distribution at the Greenville County Register of Deeds when real property is distributed, then give a recorded copy to the Probate Court for the estate record.
- Watch for solicitation letters that appear to come from a probate source. Greenville's court warns personal representatives that real-estate and deed-copy solicitation letters may not be court correspondence.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Greenville County
Greenville County uses the statewide South Carolina Probate Court forms and also publishes its own Greenville form library. The statewide form page is sccourts.org/court-forms/?courtType=PC. Greenville's Estate Division page tells users to select Probate Court in the state form search so they do not receive forms for all court types.
| Form source | What Greenville provides |
|---|---|
| Statewide estate forms | Greenville links the statewide numbered set, including Form 300ES for informal application or formal petition, inventory forms, accounting forms, creditor-claim forms and Form 420ES for collection of personal property under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1201. The current statewide small estate figure is $45,000, effective May 8, 2025. |
| Greenville F-### forms | Greenville republishes many statewide estate forms at its own domain under F-### file names, such as F-300 and F-420. |
| Greenville lettered forms | Local forms include Form A, Affidavit of Residency, Form G, Change of Address Notice, Form O, Affidavit of Heirs for informal matters, Form P, Summary Administration Accounting under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1203, Form Z, Bonding Addendum to 300ES, and continuation sheets for heirs, devisees, successors and assets. |
| Handbook and brochures | Greenville publishes a Personal Representative Handbook and estate brochures on creditor claims, formal proceedings, original wills, sale of real estate, service by publication, subsequent administration and related topics. |
Greenville also publishes local paperwork rules. Forms should be current, original, on white paper, completed in black or dark blue ink, free of white-out and signed only where notarization or witnessing can be completed. The court states that staff can notarize informal estate forms at the reception desk free of charge, except for deeds of distribution.
Fees
The estate filing fee is set by state statute and is the same in every South Carolina county under S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770, with the current statutory schedule dating from 1995 Act No. 15, § 1, effective April 4, 1995 and applied retroactively to August 15, 1994. Greenville County publishes the statewide scale on its own fee schedule and adds local charges for advertising, copies, certifications, motions and records access.
| Fee item | Greenville County amount |
|---|---|
| Estate cost scale | Based on the gross probate estate shown on the inventory under S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770. Greenville publishes the full scale through $95.00, $845 plus one-fourth of one percent above $600,000, and the other statutory brackets. |
| Notice to creditors advertisement | Greenville $46.00. The court publishes the notice in the Greenville News and states this charge must be paid to receive the certificates of appointment. |
| Will filing and will-for-record advertisement | $10.00 for filing and indexing a will, and $10.00 for the filing-of-will-for-record advertisement. |
| Formal action | $150.00 formal filing charge for a summons and petition. |
| Motion or order without a hearing | $15.00. |
| Research and copies | $7.00 research fee, $0.50 per page, $5.00 certified-copy charge plus copy and research charges, and $20.00 for exemplified or authenticated copies plus copy and research charges. |
| Additional Certificate of Appointment | $1.00 each, plus a $5.00 certification charge per request, for additional certificates beyond the initial five. |
| Attorney Case Management System | Greenville's Attorney Case Management System costs $15.00 monthly or $150.00 yearly per user beginning April 1, 2024. It is an attorney records portal. |
In Greenville County, the estate cost is assessed after the inventory is submitted and then billed. The court states that the bill is due within twenty days from the invoice date. Payment may be made by check or money order payable to the Greenville County Treasurer, or by debit or credit card through AllPaid with a service fee that the court says is a personal expense of the payor and not an estate expense.
Timeline
- Opening stage. The court reviews the opening paperwork from the court's estate FAQ and Personal Representative Handbook, including the death certificate, the original will if any, and related intake materials. If the matter is informal, most estates do not require a hearing.
- Appointment and advertisement. After appointment, Greenville's court places the notice to creditors in the Greenville News and collects the Greenville $46.00 advertisement charge before releasing the certificates of appointment.
- Inventory and cost invoice. File the inventory within ninety days after appointment under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-706. Greenville then assesses estate costs under S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770 and bills them, due within twenty days from the invoice date.
- General administration. Greenville's Personal Representative Handbook says probating an estate is a process that will take 8 to 12 months.
- Accounting window. Greenville's handbook says to file the accounting between eight months and twelve months after the first publication of the notice to creditors under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-801, or 90 days after receipt of an estate tax closing letter if the estate is taxable.
- Formal proceeding schedule. Greenville's formal-proceeding brochure says respondents have 30 days to answer, and after that period passes or answers are filed, the hearing is to be set 120 days from the initial filing date, with 20 days' notice of the hearing.
- Real estate sale hearing. Greenville's sale-of-real-estate brochure says to file a summons and petition with the $150.00 formal filing charge, serve interested persons, wait for answers, and then contact the Probate Court to set a hearing with 20 days' notice.
- Closing notice period. After the notice of right to demand hearing is sent, the personal representative waits 30 days unless all interested parties waive that period. Greenville's handbook says the estate is not closed until the court sends the closing order.
Local nuance
Greenville County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Assigned judicial assistant | Greenville assigns each estate to a judicial assistant who helps route forms, deadlines and scheduling. The court states that staff aim to return voicemail or email within 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays. |
| Court-run creditor advertisement | Greenville's court places the notice to creditors in the Greenville News. The Greenville $46.00 charge is collected at appointment, and the court states that certificates of appointment are not released until it is paid. |
| Costs billed after inventory | The estate cost under S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770 is invoiced after the inventory is filed, and Greenville gives twenty days from the invoice date to pay. |
| Free notary for informal forms | The court states that most informal estate forms, except the deed of distribution, can be notarized at the reception desk free of charge. Do not sign before appearing in front of the notary. |
| Local forms and preferred inventory | Greenville publishes local lettered forms and states that it prefers the short-form inventory, Form 350ES-SF. |
| Paperwork rules | Greenville requires original filings on white paper in black or dark blue ink, without white-out or correction tape. Faxed documents are informational only. |
| Probate solicitation warnings | The court warns personal representatives about solicitation letters concerning real estate and deed copies that may look official but do not come from the court. |
Recent updates
| Date | Local update |
|---|---|
| April 1, 2024 | Greenville County Probate Court began charging for access to Greenville's Attorney Case Management System: $15.00 per user per month or $150.00 per user per year. |
| April 2024 | The court published the current Personal Representative Handbook, footer-dated 04/2024. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Greenville County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | If the home was held with survivorship rights or passed outside probate, it may not be listed on the probate inventory. If the home passes through the estate, use Greenville's preferred short-form inventory and record the deed of distribution at the Register of Deeds in Suite 1300 of County Square, then file a recorded copy with the Probate Court. South Carolina exempt property is governed by S.C. Code Ann. § 62-2-401. | Sunset helps identify title, mortgage, account and beneficiary information so the spouse can separate probate assets from non-probate assets during estate settlement. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Greenville venue under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-201 depends on where the decedent lived or owned property, not where the child lives. Greenville publishes 1.877.55.COURT for callers outside South Carolina. The small estate route uses Form 420ES under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1201, with the statewide $45,000 limit effective May 8, 2025, and Greenville serves its copy as F-420. | Sunset helps locate accounts, prepare an estate settlement checklist and organize the asset list before the child calls the Greenville Estate Division or mails paper originals. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Greenville's sale-of-real-estate brochure says that, unless the will authorizes sale, the personal representative files a summons and petition in a formal proceeding, pays the $150.00 formal filing charge, serves interested persons, files a Lis Pendens, and requests a hearing with 20 days' notice. The inventory must be on file before the sale is considered, and sale proceeds are accounted for on Form 361ES. | Sunset helps organize debts, property information, heirs and court documents, then connects the family with a Greenville probate attorney when a formal real-estate sale is needed. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it offers | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Greenville County Probate Court, Estate Division | Forms, instructions, assigned judicial assistant, free notarization of most informal estate forms, and public terminals for viewing estate files. | (864) 467-7170 main, (864) 467-7497 Estate Division, Suite N-T100, 301 University Ridge. |
| Personal Representative Handbook | Greenville's 16-page guide to opening, administering and closing a Greenville County estate. | Published in the court's local form library. |
| Greenville County probate brochures | Brochures on creditor claims, formal proceedings, original wills, probating estates, sale of real estate, service by publication and subsequent administration. | Available through the court's Estate Pamphlets page. |
| Greenville County Probate Case Search | Free public index search by name or case number. File contents are viewed at the Probate Court. | www.greenvillecounty.org/appsas400/Probate/ |
| South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service | Lawyer referral. The statewide SC Bar service states that participating lawyers charge no more than $50.00 for a 30-minute consultation and do not take pro bono cases through that referral program. | The court's Greenville brochure lists 1-800-868-2284. The statewide SC Bar page also lists (803) 799-7100. |
| South Carolina Bar Pro Bono Program | The Greenville court's legal-assistance brochure lists a pro bono program for people who cannot afford to pay. | 1-888-395-3425, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| South Carolina Legal Services eligibility intake | The Greenville court publishes this as a route to ask whether you qualify for free or reduced-rate legal help. The court does not state which estate matters the service accepts. | Greenville office: 701 South Main Street, Greenville, SC 29601, (864) 679-3232. Telephone intake listed by the court: 1-888-346-5592, Monday through Friday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. |
When to hire an attorney
Greenville's own estate FAQ says an attorney is not necessary for an informal probate or informal appointment where no hearing is required, but it recommends an attorney for formal probate or formal appointment because that path requires a summons, petition, service on interested parties, a $150.00 formal filing charge and a hearing. Counsel also makes sense when heirs disagree, a home must be sold through a formal proceeding, creditor claims are disputed, a deed must be prepared, or the personal representative lives outside South Carolina. Sunset connects families with a vetted probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families build a clearer picture of bank accounts, investments, insurance, vehicles, real estate and debts before calling the Greenville County Probate Court. Better asset information makes estate settlement easier because Greenville assesses costs after the inventory is filed.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the death certificate, will information, heirs, asset list, debts and Greenville County filing checklist so you can prepare the right packet for the Estate Division.
Find a local probate attorney. When the matter becomes formal, contested, real-estate heavy or hard to administer from another state, Sunset helps connect the family with a local probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand next steps, organize estate settlement tasks and move forward without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Greenville County?
File at the Greenville County Probate Court, Greenville County Square, 301 University Ridge, Suite N-T100, Greenville, SC 29601. Greenville venue under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-201 is based on where the decedent lived, where the decedent owned property or whether the estate has a Greenville County legal claim.
What do I need to bring to open a Greenville County estate?
The court's estate FAQ and Personal Representative Handbook point families to a certified death certificate, the original will and codicils if any, a copy of the obituary if one exists, and the Initial Probate Worksheet. If there is a will, Greenville lists a $10.00 will filing charge, and if property must be probated the court lists the Greenville $46.00 creditor-advertisement charge. Estate filing fees are governed by S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770.
Can I file Greenville County probate papers online or by email?
No probate e-filing channel is published for Greenville County estate filings. South Carolina's statewide E-Filing system is scoped to the Court of Common Pleas and is open only to registered South Carolina attorneys, so it does not reach the probate court and a self-represented person cannot use it. Greenville requires paper originals at the counter or by mail; online payment is only a payment channel, faxed documents are informational only, and Greenville's Attorney Case Management System is an attorney records portal.
How much does it cost to open probate in Greenville County?
The estate filing fee is calculated under S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770 based on the gross probate estate shown on the inventory. Greenville adds local published charges, including the Greenville $46.00 notice-to-creditors advertisement, $10.00 will filing charge, $7.00 research fee, $0.50 per page copy charge, and $5.00 certified-copy charge. In Greenville, court costs are billed after the inventory is filed and due within twenty days of the invoice date.
Who places the newspaper notice to creditors in Greenville County?
The Greenville County Probate Court places the notice in the Greenville News. The Greenville $46.00 advertisement charge is collected at appointment, and the court states that certificates of appointment are not released until it is paid.
How long does probate take in Greenville County?
Greenville's Personal Representative Handbook says probating an estate is a process that will take 8 to 12 months. For a formal proceeding, the court's brochure says respondents have 30 days to answer and the hearing is to be set 120 days from the initial filing date, with 20 days' notice.
Can I appear by video or phone in the Greenville County Probate Court?
The statewide Remote Communication Technology order, as amended February 19, 2025, gives the probate judge discretion to permit or require remote participation in a non-criminal proceeding unless it would likely cause substantial prejudice or affect fairness. Greenville does not publish a separate estate-hearing default, so call (864) 467-7170 about any scheduled matter.
How do I look up a Greenville County estate case?
Use Greenville County's own Probate Case Search at www.greenvillecounty.org/appsas400/Probate/. The online index provides basic case information by name or case number. The court states that actual file contents are available at the Probate Court, and copy requests can be directed to the Records Division.
Are there Greenville County probate forms, or only state forms?
There are both. Greenville uses the statewide South Carolina Probate Court form set and republishes many forms under F-### file names. It also publishes Greenville lettered forms, including forms for residency, changed address, additional heirs or devisees, informal affidavit of heirs, summary administration accounting under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1203, and bond addendum.
Do I have to travel to Greenville to settle an estate?
Many estate settlement tasks can be handled by phone, mail and communication with the assigned judicial assistant, and Greenville publishes 1.877.55.COURT for callers outside South Carolina. Paper originals still must be filed with the court, and a personal representative who moves out of state must put an agent for service on file using Form 121ES.
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.