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Lee County, SC Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Lee County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Lee County Probate Court |
| Courthouse visit | Call before visiting because the probate page publishes a mailing address, not a probate street address. |
| Mailing | P.O. Box 24, Bishopville, SC 29010 |
| Phone | (803) 484-5341, extension 3155 |
| Fax | (803) 484-6881 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; appointments are required for probate estate matters. |
| Cost to open | Lee County lists an initial $25 payment, as posted in August 2026. The remainder is assessed from the inventory and appraisement under S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770, whose current estate scale dates to 1995 Act No. 15, effective April 4, 1995 and retroactive to August 15, 1994. |
| Payment | Cash, personal checks, and money orders. No credit or debit cards. |
| Local forms | Lee County's probate page does not publish a local form set of its own. Use the statewide Probate Court forms at sccourts.org/court-forms/?courtType=PC. |
| Electronic filing | Lee County does not publish an electronic probate filing channel. South Carolina has no statewide probate electronic filing; the statewide system described in Rules 1 and 2 is for Court of Common Pleas civil cases and attorney users. |
| Estate lookup | Lee County's probate court page does not publish an online estate search. Call (803) 484-5341, extension 3155, to ask how to look up a case. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the Lee County Probate Court how it applies the statewide Remote Communication Technology order, as amended February 19, 2025. |
| Website | https://www.leecountysc.org/directory/departments___elected_officials/probate_court_judge.php |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you ask for an appointment in Lee County, gather the asset and family information the court says it needs to open an estate: the original death certificate, paid funeral bill, original will if one exists, names and addresses for heirs and devisees, and a list of property such as real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, life insurance, and retirement accounts.
Estate settlement goes faster when you know what exists before the first filing. Sunset can help identify accounts and assets across 2,300 institutions, then organize the information into a probate packet for the Lee County Probate Court.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Lee County Probate Court serves estates tied to Bishopville and the rest of Lee County. South Carolina law establishes a probate court in each county at the county seat, and Bishopville is the county seat for Lee County under the local court information provided for this page.
Venue for a South Carolina estate is governed by S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-201. If the decedent was domiciled in Lee County at death, the Lee County Probate Court is the local court to contact for the estate filing.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather Lee County's opening documents before calling for an appointment: original death certificate, paid funeral bill, original will if there is one, heir and devisee names and addresses, year of birth information, and documents showing real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, insurance, and retirement assets.
- Choose the correct statewide form packet. Form 300ES is used for informal probate or appointment, and also has the formal petition option when a formal proceeding is needed.
- Call the Lee County Probate Court at (803) 484-5341, extension 3155, before going in. The court says appointments are required for probate estate matters.
- Bring or mail the filing materials as the court directs. Use P.O. Box 24, Bishopville, SC 29010 for probate mail unless the court gives different delivery instructions for the appointment.
- Pay the Lee County initial filing fee under S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770. Lee County lists an initial $25 payment as posted in August 2026; the remaining value-based amount is assessed from the inventory and appraisement under the state fee statute, whose current estate scale dates to 1995 Act No. 15, effective April 4, 1995 and retroactive to August 15, 1994.
- Arrange the creditor notice when the court instructs you to do so. Lee County lists a $125 payment to the Lee County Observer for running the notice to creditors for three consecutive weeks, as posted in August 2026.
- Attend any hearing or appointment the Probate Judge requires. For remote participation, ask the Lee County Probate Court how it applies the statewide Remote Communication Technology order, as amended February 19, 2025.
- After appointment, the personal representative qualifies and receives authority. South Carolina's probate code calls that authority "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 court-issued document banks commonly ask to see is the Certificate of Appointment, Form 141PC, with the court's raised seal.
- Administer the estate, file the required inventory and accounting forms, handle claims and distributions, and close the estate through the Lee County Probate Court.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Lee County
South Carolina uses a statewide numbered Probate Court form set. Lee County's probate court page does not publish a local form set of its own, so families should use the current statewide form page at https://www.sccourts.org/court-forms/?courtType=PC.
| Form | Use in Lee County |
|---|---|
| Form 300ES | Application for informal probate or appointment, or petition for formal testacy or appointment. |
| Form 350ES | Inventory and appraisement, filed after appointment when the estate is being administered. |
| Form 361ES | Accounting, used when the estate is ready for settlement. |
| Form 371ES | Statement of creditor's claim. |
| Form 420ES | Affidavit for collection of personal property under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1201 and § 62-3-1202. |
| Form 141PC | Certificate of Appointment. This is issued by the court, not filed by the family, and should carry the raised seal. |
Fees
Lee County publishes local charges and payment rules in addition to the statewide value-based estate fee under S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770. Confirm the current amount with the court before your appointment.
| Charge | Amount and timing |
|---|---|
| Initial estate opening payment | $25, as posted by Lee County in August 2026. The remainder is assessed from the inventory and appraisement value under S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770, whose current estate scale dates to 1995 Act No. 15, effective April 4, 1995 and retroactive to August 15, 1994. |
| Notice to creditors publication | $125 payable to the Lee County Observer for running notice to creditors in the newspaper for three consecutive weeks, as posted by Lee County in August 2026. |
| Conservatorship annual charge | $10 annually, as posted by Lee County in August 2026. This is for conservatorship matters, not the ordinary decedent estate settlement charge. |
| Accepted payment methods | Cash, personal checks, and money orders. Lee County says it does not accept credit or debit cards. |
Local nuance
Lee County-specific considerations
- Appointments are required for probate estate matters in Lee County. Call the probate office before bringing papers to Bishopville.
- Have the court's listed opening items ready before the appointment: original death certificate, paid funeral bill, original will if one exists, heir and devisee information, and documents for property such as deeds, titles, bank statements, insurance, and retirement accounts.
- Plan payment before you arrive. Lee County accepts cash, personal checks, and money orders, and says it does not accept credit or debit cards.
- The probate page publishes P.O. Box 24, Bishopville, SC 29010 as the probate mailing address. Call the court for the current walk-in location before visiting.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Call the Lee County Probate Court before visiting, gather the deed and asset information the court lists, and ask whether a probate estate must be opened for assets not passing directly to the surviving spouse. | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize deed and asset details, and prepare the estate settlement packet for the Lee County appointment. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Use the statewide Form 420ES process under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1201 and § 62-3-1202 if the estate qualifies. Because Lee County requires appointments, call (803) 484-5341, extension 3155, before traveling or mailing papers. | Sunset helps gather account information, death certificate details, and successor information so the packet is ready before the appointment. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Contact the Lee County Probate Court about opening an estate, bring the original death certificate, paid funeral bill, heir information, and property documents, and ask what authority the personal representative needs before a sale can close. | Sunset helps map estate assets and debts, prepare the probate packet, and connect the family with a local probate attorney when a sale or title issue makes counsel important. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Lee County Probate Court | Provides the local appointment requirement, the list of items needed to open an estate, payment methods, and local costs posted by the court. | P.O. Box 24, Bishopville, SC 29010; (803) 484-5341, extension 3155; fax (803) 484-6881 |
| South Carolina Judicial Branch probate forms | Provides the statewide Probate Court forms Lee County families use, including estate opening, inventory, accounting, creditor claim, and S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1201 affidavit forms. | https://www.sccourts.org/court-forms/?courtType=PC |
| South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service | Connects callers with a lawyer. The Bar states each participating lawyer agrees to charge no more than $50 for a 30-minute consultation as stated in August 2026, and that participating 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 available 24/7 at https://www.scbar.org/public/get-legal-help/ |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across financial institutions and helps families build a clearer asset picture before they contact the Lee County Probate Court. That makes estate settlement less dependent on old mail, memory, or guesswork.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information families need for the South Carolina forms, including the local Lee County items to gather before an appointment.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate involves real estate, disagreement, creditor issues, or a formal filing, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted probate attorney who handles South Carolina probate matters.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, find assets, and understand next steps without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Lee County?
File with the Lee County Probate Court in Bishopville. The court publishes P.O. Box 24, Bishopville, SC 29010 as the probate mailing address and asks families to call before coming in because appointments are required.
Does Lee County require appointments for estate matters?
Yes. Lee County says probate court appointments are required. Call (803) 484-5341, extension 3155, before bringing estate papers to the court.
What should I gather before opening an estate in Lee County?
Lee County lists the original death certificate, paid funeral bill, original will if one exists, names and addresses for heirs and devisees, year of birth information, a list of the decedent's property, and copies of deeds, titles, bank statements, insurance information, and retirement statements.
Can I file a Lee County probate case electronically?
Lee County does not publish an electronic probate filing channel. South Carolina does not have statewide probate electronic filing; the statewide electronic filing system described in Rules 1 and 2 is for Court of Common Pleas civil cases and attorney users.
How much does it cost to start probate in Lee County?
Lee County lists an initial $25 payment as posted in August 2026. The remaining value-based filing fee is assessed from the inventory and appraisement under S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770, whose current estate scale dates to 1995 Act No. 15, effective April 4, 1995 and retroactive to August 15, 1994.
What payment methods does Lee County Probate Court accept?
Lee County says it accepts cash, personal checks, and money orders. It does not accept credit or debit cards.
Can I look up a Lee County probate case online?
Lee County's probate court page does not publish an online estate search. Call the court at (803) 484-5341, extension 3155, to ask how to look up a case.
Can a Lee County probate hearing be handled by phone or video?
Ask the Lee County Probate Court how it applies the statewide Remote Communication Technology order, as amended February 19, 2025. Under that order, the probate judge may permit or require remote communication in a non-criminal matter on a party's motion or on the judge's own initiative unless it would likely cause substantial prejudice or affect fairness.
Where do I get Lee County small estate forms?
Lee County's probate page does not publish a separate local form set. Use the statewide Probate Court forms page and look for Form 420ES, the affidavit form under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1201 and § 62-3-1202.
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.