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Union County, SC Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Union County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | Union County Court House, 210 West Main Street, Union, SC 29379 |
| Mailing address | Union County Probate Court, 210 West Main Street, Union, SC 29379 |
| Phone | (864) 429-1625 |
| Fax | (864) 427-1198 |
| The court's public contact page lists phone and fax, but does not publish an email address. | |
| Hours | Open by appointment only, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call before visiting. |
| Estate cost | Set by S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770(B), current text from 1995 Act No. 15, effective April 4, 1995 and retroactive to August 15, 1994. Union County's estate page publishes the full six-bracket statutory scale. |
| Local form packets | Yes. Union County publishes an Estate Packet with an Estate Worksheet and a Small Estate Packet for the S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1201 process. |
| Electronic filing | Union County's probate site does not publish a probate electronic filing portal. Its online appointment request form is for scheduling, not document filing. |
| Case lookup | Union County's probate site does not publish an online estate case search. Its records page directs searches to be done in person during business hours, or by a professional abstractor or attorney for the requester. |
| Remote practice | Union County's probate site does not state a local remote-hearing practice. Statewide remote practice is governed by the Supreme Court order on Remote Communication Technology, as amended February 19, 2025. |
| Website | https://www.unioncountyprobate.net/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a probate form, list what the person owned, what passed outside probate, known debts, and whether a Union County appointment is needed for the court process you are using. The court's site says informal proceedings and affidavit-based collection under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1201 require an appointment.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families find accounts, insurance, and other assets before they spend time at the courthouse. That makes estate settlement easier to plan because the form, fee under S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770, and next appointment depend on what is in the estate.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Union County Probate Court serves Union County from the county seat in Union. The published courthouse location is inside the Union County Court House at 210 West Main Street, with the probate office located on the left side when entering through the North Herndon Street entrance.
For local orientation, Union County includes the City of Union and the towns of Jonesville, Carlisle, and Lockhart. Venue for a South Carolina estate is governed by S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-201; use Union County when that statute points the filing to Union County.
The jurisdiction process
- Call the Union County Probate Court at (864) 429-1625 before starting. The court's site says it is open by appointment only and that informal proceedings and collection by affidavit under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1201 require an appointment.
- Download the statewide South Carolina Probate Court forms and check Union County's local Estate Packet. For a regular opening, Form 300ES is the statewide starting form for an informal application or formal petition.
- Complete the local Estate Worksheet and the statewide forms that match the estate. Bring or send the papers to the Union County Probate Court at 210 West Main Street, Union, SC 29379, using the court's appointment instructions.
- Pay the estate cost required by S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770. Union County publishes the full statutory six-bracket scale; that statute's current text comes from 1995 Act No. 15, effective April 4, 1995 and retroactive to August 15, 1994.
- Follow the court's instructions for notice, creditor issues, and any hearing. Union County does not publish a standard estate hearing day or waiting period, so ask the court about scheduling when you make the appointment.
- If a hearing or conference is set, ask the court how the statewide Remote Communication Technology order applies. Under the order as amended February 19, 2025, the probate judge decides whether remote communication technology may or must be used in a non-criminal proceeding.
- After appointment and qualification, the personal representative receives authority from the court. South Carolina law calls that authority letters, including letters testamentary or letters of administration under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-1-201, and the court-issued proof used with banks is the Certificate of Appointment, Form 141PC.
- Administer the estate, respond to creditor and beneficiary issues, file required follow-up papers, and close the estate using the statewide closing forms and the Union County Probate Court's instructions.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Union County
Union County uses the statewide numbered South Carolina Probate Court forms, including Form 300ES for an informal application or formal petition, Form 350ES for inventory and appraisement, Form 361ES for accounting, Form 371ES for creditor claims, and Form 420ES for the affidavit process under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1201. State forms are available from the South Carolina Judicial Branch Probate Court form set.
Union County also publishes local packets on its own probate site. Its estate page links an Estate Packet and says the packet includes an Estate Worksheet to complete before scheduling an appointment. Its affidavit page links a Small Estate Packet for the S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1201 process. Because the court's public site says appointments are required for these filings, use the packets as preparation for the appointment rather than treating them as a way to file without contacting the court.
Fees
The estate filing fee under S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770(B) is a statewide statutory scale, and Union County's estate page publishes the full six-bracket version of that scale. The current statutory text comes from 1995 Act No. 15, effective April 4, 1995 and retroactive to August 15, 1994.
| Estate value shown on the inventory | Cost under S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770(B) |
|---|---|
| Less than $5,000.00 | $25.00, current text from 1995 Act No. 15, effective April 4, 1995 and retroactive to August 15, 1994 |
| $5,000.00 to less than $20,000.00 | $45.00, current text from 1995 Act No. 15, effective April 4, 1995 and retroactive to August 15, 1994 |
| $20,000.00 to less than $60,000.00 | $67.50, current text from 1995 Act No. 15, effective April 4, 1995 and retroactive to August 15, 1994 |
| $60,000.00 to less than $100,000.00 | $95.00, current text from 1995 Act No. 15, effective April 4, 1995 and retroactive to August 15, 1994 |
| $100,000.00 to less than $600,000.00 | $95.00 plus .15 percent of the value between $100,000.00 and $600,000.00, current text from 1995 Act No. 15, effective April 4, 1995 and retroactive to August 15, 1994 |
| $600,000.00 or higher | $845.00 plus one-fourth of one percent of the value above $600,000.00, current text from 1995 Act No. 15, effective April 4, 1995 and retroactive to August 15, 1994 |
Union County's records page also lists copy charges as of the page reviewed on August 30, 2026: regular copies are $0.50 per page, archived documents in its Papervision imaging system are $1.00 per page, and mail requests carry a $5.00 processing charge. The court says it will process a mail copy request only when the requester can identify the case name and document type, then the court contacts the requester with the amount due before mailing.
Local nuance
Union County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Appointment-only office | The Union County Probate Court's site says the office is open by appointment only from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call before visiting. |
| Appointment scope for estate starts | The court's estate page says all informal proceedings and affidavit-based collection under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1201 require an appointment. |
| In-person records search | The court's records page directs public searches to be done in person during business hours, or by a professional abstractor or attorney for the requester. It says staff will not search records by phone, mail, or email because of staffing limits. |
| Courthouse wayfinding | The court's site says the probate office is on the left side when entering by the North Herndon Street entrance. |
Recent updates
| Update | What to do |
|---|---|
| Statewide affidavit law changed in 2025 | For the affidavit process under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1201, use current statewide law and current Form 420ES. The current statewide change was made by 2025 Act No. 26 (H. 3472), effective May 8, 2025. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Union County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by confirming how the home is titled and whether any probate assets also need a Union County estate. If an estate must be opened, call for an appointment and prepare Form 300ES and the Union County Estate Packet. | Sunset helps identify accounts, insurance, debts, and title issues so the spouse can decide what belongs in estate settlement before the court appointment. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Call the Union County Probate Court before traveling. The court's site says affidavit-based collection under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1201 requires an appointment, and Union County publishes a Small Estate Packet for that process. | Sunset helps gather account information and generate a probate packet so the child can make the Union appointment more productive. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of real estate usually requires careful review of title, heirs, authority, and court paperwork. Start with the Union County Estate Packet and ask whether a formal filing or attorney help is needed. | Sunset helps organize assets and debts, prepare the starting packet, and connect the family with a probate attorney when a sale or dispute makes counsel important. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Union County Probate Court | Publishes an Estate Packet with an Estate Worksheet, a Small Estate Packet for S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1201, and topic pages for estates, formal actions, guardianships, marriage licenses, records, and copies. Court staff can help with court information and forms, but cannot give legal advice. | Union County Court House, 210 West Main Street, Union, SC 29379. Phone: (864) 429-1625. Fax: (864) 427-1198. Website: https://www.unioncountyprobate.net/ |
| South Carolina Judicial Branch probate form set | Provides the statewide numbered Probate Court forms used for estate filings in Union County. | https://www.sccourts.org/court-forms/?courtType=PC |
| South Carolina Judicial Branch self-help resources | Explains what court staff can and cannot do. Staff can explain how court works, provide approved forms and instructions, and check whether papers are complete. Staff cannot tell you what to write or say. | https://www.sccourts.org/resources/general-public/self-help-resources/ |
| South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service | Connects the public with a lawyer. Participating lawyers agree to charge no more than $50 for a 30-minute consultation, and the Bar states 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 is available 24/7 at https://www.scbar.org/public/get-legal-help/ |
When to hire an attorney
Consider hiring a probate attorney if the will is contested, heirs disagree, real estate must be sold, a creditor claim is disputed, the estate may need a formal filing, or you live outside South Carolina and cannot manage appointments and filings alone. Sunset connects you to a vetted probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families locate bank accounts, investments, insurance, retirement accounts, and other assets that may need to be addressed during estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized probate packet so you can prepare for the Union County Probate Court appointment with fewer loose ends.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Union County estate involves a home sale, a dispute, a formal petition, or questions you should not answer alone, Sunset can connect you with a vetted probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, prepare documents, and understand the next step without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Union County, South Carolina?
File with the Union County Probate Court at the Union County Court House, 210 West Main Street, Union, SC 29379. The court's site says the office is open by appointment only, so call (864) 429-1625 before going.
Does Union County require an appointment to open an estate?
Yes for the local estate-starting categories the court names. Union County's estate page says all informal proceedings and affidavit-based collection under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1201 require an appointment.
Can I handle Union County probate by electronic filing?
Union County's probate site does not publish a probate electronic filing portal. South Carolina also has no statewide probate electronic filing system; the statewide court electronic filing rules are for the Court of Common Pleas and authorized attorney filers, not self-represented probate filings.
How do I look up a Union County estate case?
Union County's probate court page does not publish an online estate case search. Its records page says records can be searched in person during business hours, or by a professional abstractor or attorney for the requester.
Does Union County publish probate forms?
Yes. Union County publishes an Estate Packet with an Estate Worksheet and a Small Estate Packet for the S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1201 process. You should also use the statewide South Carolina Probate Court form set, including Form 300ES for an informal application or formal petition.
What is the probate cost in Union County?
The estate filing fee is governed by S.C. Code Ann. § 8-21-770(B), current text from 1995 Act No. 15, effective April 4, 1995 and retroactive to August 15, 1994. Union County publishes the full statutory six-bracket scale on its estate page, and its records page also lists copy charges.
Can I attend a Union County probate hearing remotely?
Union County's probate site does not state a local remote-hearing practice. Under the statewide Supreme Court 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 order applies to your setting.
Do I have to travel to Union County if I live out of state?
Maybe. Because the court's public site says informal proceedings and affidavit-based collection under S.C. Code Ann. § 62-3-1201 require an appointment, call the Union County Probate Court before making travel plans. The court can tell you what must be done in person, what can be prepared ahead of time, and whether an attorney or local representative should help.
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.