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Spartanburg County, SC Probate Information
Quick facts
| item | details |
|---|---|
| Court | Spartanburg County Probate Court, Estate Division |
| Courthouse address | Spartanburg County Courthouse, 180 Magnolia Street, 4th Floor, Suite 4113, Spartanburg, SC 29306 |
| Mailing address | Probate Court, 180 Magnolia St., Spartanburg, SC 29306 |
| Phone | (864) 596-2556 |
| Fax | (864) 596-2011 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Walk-in preliminary consultations for starting probate are taken from 9:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. The court asks visitors with appointments to arrive early for parking and security. |
| Estate filing fee under S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770 | The estate filing fee under S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770 is a statewide value-based schedule, with current text from 1995 Act No. 15, effective April 4, 1995 and applied retroactively to August 15, 1994. Spartanburg's questionnaire prints the same schedule and also prints a local notice-to-creditors advertisement charge. |
| Local forms | Yes. Spartanburg publishes a local Probate Court Questionnaire for the walk-in consultation and an April 2020 Instructions for Personal Representatives sheet. The numbered probate forms come from the South Carolina Judicial Branch form set. |
| Electronic filing | No statewide probate electronic filing system applies. Spartanburg County's probate page does not publish an electronic filing portal, attorney portal, email filing channel or drop box for estate filings. |
| Case lookup | Spartanburg County's probate court page does not publish an online estate search. Call (864) 596-2556 before trying to review a file, especially for estates indexed between January 1, 2014 and April 27, 2023. |
| Remote participation | Local practice is not published. Under the statewide order on Remote Communication Technology, as amended February 19, 2025, the probate judge decides whether a non-criminal proceeding may or must use remote communication technology. |
| Website | https://www.spartanburgcounty.gov/153/Probate-Court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you go to 180 Magnolia Street, gather the asset and debt information the Spartanburg County Probate Court asks families to bring: bank accounts, unclaimed property, retirement or investment accounts payable to the estate, life insurance payable to the estate, deeds, vehicle and mobile-home titles, mortgages and notes, stocks and bonds, the original will if there is one, and funeral documentation.
That local document list is the practical starting point for estate settlement. Sunset can search across 2,300 institutions to help identify accounts and assets before the walk-in consultation, so you are not relying only on mail, memory or a single bank statement.
Which court handles jurisdiction
File Spartanburg County estate matters at the Spartanburg County Probate Court, 180 Magnolia Street, 4th Floor, Suite 4113, in Spartanburg. South Carolina's venue rule is S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-201, so the right county depends on the decedent's domicile and the location of property when South Carolina administration is needed.
The court serves the incorporated municipalities listed by Spartanburg County, including Campobello, Chesnee, Cowpens, Duncan, Greer, Inman, Landrum, Lyman, Pacolet, Reidville, Spartanburg, Wellford and Woodruff, plus the unincorporated parts of the county. Greer also extends beyond Spartanburg County, so use the decedent's domicile and property location rather than the city name alone.
The jurisdiction process
- Start with the Spartanburg County Probate Court Questionnaire and the statewide numbered probate forms. Form 300ES is the statewide application or petition used for informal probate or appointment and for formal probate or appointment, depending on the boxes checked and the pleadings attached.
- Bring the questionnaire and supporting documents to the Probate Court at 180 Magnolia Street, 4th Floor, Suite 4113. Walk-in preliminary consultations are taken from 9:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. inside the court's regular Monday through Friday counter hours.
- Ask the court what is due when you are there. The estate filing fee under S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770 follows the statewide value-based schedule, with current text from 1995 Act No. 15, effective April 4, 1995 and applied retroactively to August 15, 1994. If there is a will, the court's preliminary-consultation page asks you to bring $25.00 cash, as printed on that page reviewed August 2026, without labeling what that amount pays for.
- After appointment, handle notices the way the court directs. Spartanburg's April 2020 instruction sheet emphasizes that notice is given by the personal representative, not by the court, and says court staff will assist with the notice-to-creditors publication if desired.
- If a hearing is needed, the court schedules it. The court's instruction sheet says a formal appointment or formal determination of testacy requires service of the summons and petition on interested parties and notice of the hearing before the court can act.
- Ask the court about remote participation if travel is difficult. South Carolina's order on Remote Communication Technology, as amended February 19, 2025, puts that decision with the probate judge and does not create a countywide default on Spartanburg's page.
- Once the court appoints and qualifies a personal representative, South Carolina law calls the authority document letters, including letters testamentary or letters of administration under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-1-201. The document a bank or transfer agent usually asks to see is the Certificate of Appointment, Form 141PC, with the court's raised seal.
- Administer the estate through the assigned estate specialist or clerk, keep that person's name for later calls, and close the estate using the statewide closing forms required for the type of administration.
Executor duties
Spartanburg's local additions are practical, not a separate set of statewide duties. The court's April 2020 Instructions for Personal Representatives says staff will assist with the notice-to-creditors advertisement if you want that help, and if you publish the advertisement yourself, you must furnish an affidavit of publication from the newspaper.
The same instruction sheet tells the personal representative to ask the assigned estate specialist for clarification and states that notice of appointment is the personal representative's responsibility. Because that sheet is dated April 2020 and is not linked from the current landing page, ask the court whether it is still the current handout before relying on it for a filing.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Spartanburg County
Spartanburg uses the South Carolina Judicial Branch's statewide numbered Probate Court form set at https://www.sccourts.org/court-forms/?courtType=PC. The local court also publishes its own Probate Court Questionnaire for the preliminary consultation. That questionnaire asks about residence, wills, real estate, accounts, stocks and bonds, life insurance, retirement accounts, titled property, liens, funeral expenses and family-tree information.
| form or document | how Spartanburg uses it |
|---|---|
| Probate Court Questionnaire | Local intake document to complete before the walk-in preliminary consultation. |
| Statewide probate forms | Numbered forms from the South Carolina Judicial Branch, including Form 300ES for informal or formal probate or appointment. |
| Instructions for Personal Representatives | County handout dated April 2020. It is useful for local notice practices, but confirm current use with the court. |
Spartanburg County's probate court page does not publish a numbered local probate form set, a local cover sheet or a separate fee schedule of its own. It points families to the statewide form set and to the local questionnaire.
Fees
| charge | local detail |
|---|---|
| Estate filing fee under S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770 | The estate filing fee under S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770 is the statewide value-based schedule. The current text comes from 1995 Act No. 15, effective April 4, 1995 and applied retroactively to August 15, 1994. Spartanburg's questionnaire prints that same statutory schedule. |
| Notice-to-creditors advertisement | The Spartanburg questionnaire prints "Spartan Weekly" at $10.00, as printed on the court's December 2022 questionnaire reviewed August 2026, and notes that the advertisement is not required if more than one year has passed from death. |
| Cash to bring when there is a will | The preliminary-consultation page says, "If there is a Will, please bring $25.00 cash," as printed on the court page reviewed August 2026. The court page does not label what that amount pays for, so ask at the consultation. |
Local nuance
Spartanburg County-specific considerations
| local point | why it matters |
|---|---|
| Ransomware index gap | The court posts that an April 27, 2023 ransomware attack corrupted its computer database. Its memorandum says estate, guardianship, conservatorship, marriage and mental-health entries keyed from January 1, 2014 through April 27, 2023 were no longer in the index, while physical files were maintained. |
| Physical file review | The research room is open to the public, but a physical file review must be scheduled. The court asks for the requester's name and phone number, decedent name, case number, clerk assigned, and whether the file is active or closed. Use the email address printed on the court's own page rather than relying on an old address. |
| Walk-in intake window | Preliminary consultations for starting probate are walk-in from 9:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. The court asks families to keep appointments once scheduled because staff availability is limited. |
| Questionnaire before consultation | The local questionnaire is the best preparation tool for Spartanburg because it tracks assets, debts, funeral expenses, real estate, titled property and family relationships. |
| Estate Division | The court's estate work is handled by its Estate Division. Use that term for Spartanburg estate settlement. |
| Associate probate judge | The court publishes an associate probate judge position in addition to the elected Probate Judge, a county-funded bench structure authorized by S.C. Code Ann. § 14-23-1030. |
Recent updates
| date | update |
|---|---|
| April 27, 2023 | Spartanburg County posts that a ransomware attack corrupted the Probate Court computer database. The court's memorandum says entries keyed from January 1, 2014 through April 27, 2023 were affected in the index, while physical files were maintained, and closed files may be in off-site storage. |
Scenarios
| situation | local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start with the walk-in preliminary consultation at 180 Magnolia Street and bring the deed, mortgage information, original will if any, death certificate and funeral documentation. If Greer is involved, confirm whether the decedent's domicile or property is in Spartanburg County before filing under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-201. | Sunset helps organize the asset list, deed information and account search before the first estate settlement visit. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Call the court before traveling. A small-estate affidavit under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1201 uses the statewide Form 420ES and, after 2025 Act No. 26 (H. 3472), the threshold is $45,000 effective May 8, 2025. Spartanburg's page still points families to the courthouse process, and the court's ransomware notice makes advance contact especially important for older files. | Sunset helps find accounts, prepare a probate packet and coordinate attorney help if a trip to Spartanburg is not practical. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Bring the deed, mortgage and note information, title documents and account information to the walk-in consultation. A sale of real estate usually needs careful probate paperwork, and Spartanburg's court suggests attorney help for formal petitions and copy-of-will issues. | Sunset helps build the asset picture and can connect the family with a vetted South Carolina probate attorney for the real-estate and court steps. |
Self-help resources
| resource | how it helps | contact |
|---|---|---|
| Spartanburg County Probate Court, Estate Division | Walk-in preliminary consultations from 9:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., local questionnaire, document list, assigned estate specialist, notice-to-creditors assistance and research-room appointments for physical files. | 180 Magnolia Street, 4th Floor, Suite 4113, Spartanburg, SC 29306. (864) 596-2556. https://www.spartanburgcounty.gov/153/Probate-Court |
| South Carolina Judicial Branch probate form set | Statewide numbered probate forms used in Spartanburg County, including estate forms that print their own revision dates and statute references. | https://www.sccourts.org/court-forms/?courtType=PC |
| South Carolina Judicial Branch self-help resources | Court staff can provide approved forms and available instructions and can make sure papers are complete, but cannot tell you what to write or give legal advice. | https://www.sccourts.org/resources/general-public/self-help-resources/ |
| South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service | Referral to a lawyer in your area. The Bar states that participating lawyers charge no more than $50 for a 30-minute consultation, as stated on the Bar page reviewed August 2026, and that the 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/for-the-public/quicklinks/get-legal-help/ |
When to hire an attorney
The Spartanburg County Probate Court's April 2020 instruction sheet says attorney services are strongly suggested if you seek to admit a copy of a will or file a formal petition for appointment, and it reminds filers that service of pleadings and hearing notice is the responsibility of the filer or attorney, not the court. Counsel also makes sense when real estate must be sold, family members disagree, a will copy is involved, or a formal proceeding is needed. 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, investments and other assets so the Spartanburg County Probate Court Questionnaire is not filled out from memory alone.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you collect into an organized estate settlement packet for the local questionnaire, statewide forms and the documents the court asks you to bring.
Find a local probate attorney. When Spartanburg's process becomes formal, involves a copy of a will, or requires a real-estate sale, Sunset can connect you with a vetted South Carolina probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, understand the next courthouse step and move through estate settlement without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Spartanburg County?
File with the Spartanburg County Probate Court at the Spartanburg County Courthouse, 180 Magnolia Street, 4th Floor, Suite 4113, Spartanburg, SC 29306. South Carolina venue is governed by S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-201.
Does Spartanburg County take walk-in probate consultations?
Yes. The court says preliminary consultations for starting probate are handled on a walk-in basis from 9:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Bring the local Probate Court Questionnaire and as many of the listed documents as you can.
Can I file a Spartanburg County probate case electronically?
Spartanburg County's probate page does not publish a probate electronic filing portal, attorney portal, email filing channel or drop box. South Carolina's statewide electronic filing rules apply to the Court of Common Pleas system, not to probate estate filings.
How do I look up a Spartanburg County estate file?
Spartanburg County's probate court page does not publish an online estate search. Call (864) 596-2556. For a physical file review, the court says to schedule an appointment and provide the requester's name and phone number, decedent name, case number, clerk assigned, and whether the file is active or closed.
Why might an older Spartanburg estate be hard to find by name?
The court posts that the April 27, 2023 ransomware attack affected its computer index for entries keyed from January 1, 2014 through April 27, 2023. The court states that physical files were maintained, but a closed file may need to be pulled from off-site storage before review.
Does Spartanburg County have local probate forms?
Yes. Spartanburg publishes a local Probate Court Questionnaire for the preliminary consultation. The numbered probate forms, including Form 300ES for informal or formal probate or appointment, come from the South Carolina Judicial Branch form set.
What is the Spartanburg County probate filing fee under S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770?
The estate filing fee under S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770 follows the statewide value-based schedule, with current text from 1995 Act No. 15, effective April 4, 1995 and applied retroactively to August 15, 1994. Spartanburg's questionnaire prints that schedule and also prints a local Spartan Weekly notice-to-creditors advertisement amount.
Can I attend a Spartanburg County probate hearing by phone or video?
The Spartanburg County Probate Court does not publish a local remote-hearing policy. Under the statewide order on Remote Communication Technology, 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. Ask the court how that rule applies to your matter.
Do I have to travel to Spartanburg for a small-estate affidavit?
Call the court before making travel plans. A small-estate affidavit under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1201 uses Form 420ES, and after 2025 Act No. 26 (H. 3472), the threshold is $45,000 effective May 8, 2025. Spartanburg's page directs families to the courthouse process and does not publish a remote or mail-only procedure for estate filings.
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.