Title 62, South Carolina Probate Code

Unless previously barred by adjudication and except as provided in any accounting, the rights of successors and of creditors whose claims have not otherwise been barred against the personal representative for breach of fiduciary duty are barred unless a proceeding to assert the s…

Unless previously adjudicated in a formal testacy proceeding or in a proceeding settling the accounts of a personal representative or otherwise barred, the claim of any claimant to recover from a distributee who is liable to pay the claim, and the right of any heir or devisee, or…

After his appointment has terminated, the personal representative, his sureties, or any successor of either, upon the filing of a verified application showing, so far as is known by the applicant, that no action concerning the estate is pending in any court, is entitled to receiv…

If other property of the estate is discovered after an estate has been settled and the personal representative discharged or for other good cause, the court upon application of any interested person and upon notice as it directs may appoint the same or a successor personal repres…

The power of a person to leave property by will and the rights of creditors, devisees, and heirs to his property are subject to the restrictions and limitations contained in this Code to facilitate the prompt settlement of estates, including the exercise of the powers of the pers…

Except as provided in Section 62-3-1201 and except as to a will that has been admitted to probate in another jurisdiction which is filed as provided in Article 4, to be effective to prove the transfer of any property or to nominate a personal representative, a will must be declar…

Except as otherwise provided in this article [Sections 62-3-101 et seq.] and in Article 4 [Sections 62-4-101 et seq.], to acquire the powers and undertake the duties and liabilities of a personal representative of a decedent, a person must be appointed by order of the court, qual…

No claim may be filed against the estate of a decedent and no proceeding to enforce a claim against the estate of a decedent or his successors may be revived or commenced before the appointment of a personal representative, except as provided in Section 62-3-804(1)(b). After the …

Persons interested in decedents' estates may apply to the court for determination in the informal proceedings provided in this article [Sections 62-3-101 et seq.], and may petition the court for orders in formal proceedings within the court's jurisdiction including but not limite…

In proceedings within the jurisdiction of the court where notice is required by this Code or by rule, and in proceedings to construe probated wills or determine heirs which concern estates that have not been and cannot now be opened for administration, interested persons may be b…

Unless administration under Part 5 [Sections 62-3-501 et seq.] is involved, (1) each proceeding before the court is independent of any other proceeding involving the same estate; (2) petitions for formal orders of the court may combine various requests for relief in a single proc…

(A)(1) No informal probate or appointment proceeding or formal testacy or appointment proceeding, other than a proceeding to probate a will previously probated at the testator's domicile and appointment proceedings relating to an estate in which there has been a prior appointment…

The running of any statute of limitations on a cause of action belonging to a decedent which had not been barred as of the date of his death is suspended during the eight months following the decedent's death but resumes thereafter unless otherwise tolled.

A compromise of a controversy as to admission to probate of an instrument offered for formal probate as the will of a decedent, the construction, validity, or effect of a probated will, the rights or interests in the estate of the decedent, of a successor, or the administration o…

The procedure for securing court approval of a compromise is as follows: (1) The terms of the compromise shall be set forth in an agreement in writing which shall be executed by all competent persons and parents acting for any minor child having beneficial interests or having cla…

(a) Thirty days after the death of a decedent, any person indebted to the decedent or having possession of tangible personal property or an instrument evidencing a debt, obligation, stock, or chose in action belonging to the decedent shall make payment of the indebtedness or deli…

The person paying, delivering, transferring, or issuing personal property or the evidence thereof pursuant to affidavit is discharged and released to the same extent as if he dealt with a personal representative of the decedent. He is not required to see to the application of the…

(a) If it appears from the inventory and appraisal that the value of the entire probate estate (the decedent's property passing under the decedent's will plus the decedent's property passing by intestacy), less liens and encumbrances, does not exceed forty-five thousand dollars a…

(a) Unless prohibited by order of the court and except for estates being administered under Part 5 (Sections 62-3-501 et seq.), after filing an inventory with the court, and paying any court fees due, the personal representative may close an estate administered under the summary …

The provisions of this Part are hereby declared to be the only procedure for the sale of lands by the court, except where the will of the decedent authorizes to the contrary.

The court may, as herein provided, authorize the sale of the real property of a decedent.

At any time after the qualification of the personal representative, on petition to the court by an interested person requesting the sale of real property of the decedent, a summons shall be issued to the personal representative (if not the petitioner), the heirs at law of the dec…

The form of such summons must be in like form as summonses for civil actions in the circuit courts.

To such summons a copy of the petition must be attached and copies of the summons and petition served on the personal representative (if not the petitioner), the heirs at law of the decedent (if the decedent died intestate or the time to challenge a will admitted to probate has n…

The sheriffs of the several counties in this State are required to serve all processes which may be issued, if so ordered by the court under the provisions of this Part, for which they shall receive the same fees as are allowed them by law for similar services, which must be paid…

If there is any party who resides beyond the limits of this State or whose residence is unknown and who does not consent in writing to the sale, the court may authorize publication of the summons as provided by this Code and if such party does not appear and show sufficient cause…

Upon the filing of the petition, the petitioner shall file in the office of the clerk of the circuit court a notice of pendency of action authorized by Sections 15-11-10 to 15-11-50 and upon the filing of such notice it has the same force and effect as notice of pendency of actio…

The time to answer a summons and petition for sale of real property of a decedent is the same as the time to answer in any civil litigation case. Interested persons who wish to file an answer or return to the petition must do so in writing in the same manner as an answer to a com…

The regular bond of the personal representative must protect the creditors, heirs, devisees, or other interested persons, if any, in the handling of the proceeds of sale by the personal representative, but in case no such bond has been given, the court may require the giving of a…

The court shall file and keep the original petition with due proof of service thereon and all original papers connected with the sale and shall require from such personal representative his final account showing the distribution of the funds received by him.

In case any lands of the deceased subject to the lien of any judgment, mortgage, or other lien is sold under the provisions of this Part the court may enter a release of the lands so sold upon the records in the office of the clerk of court or register of deeds of the county from…

(a) Venue for the first informal or formal testacy or appointment proceedings after a decedent's death is: (1) in the county where the decedent had his domicile at the time of his death; or (2) if the decedent was not domiciled in this State, in any county where property of the d…

If conflicting claims as to the domicile of a decedent are made in a formal testacy or appointment proceeding commenced in this State, and in a testacy or appointment proceeding after notice pending at the same time in another state, the court of this State must stay, dismiss, or…

(a) Whether the proceedings are formal or informal, persons who are not disqualified have priority for appointment in the following order: (1) the person with priority as determined by a probated will including a person nominated by a power conferred in a will; (2) the surviving …

Any interested person desiring notice of any order or filing pertaining to a decedent's estate may file a demand for notice with the court at any time after the death of the decedent stating the name of the decedent, the nature of his interest in the estate, and the demandant's a…

(a) Applications for informal probate or informal appointment shall be directed to the court, and verified by the applicant to be accurate and complete to the best of his knowledge and belief as to the following information: (1) Every application for informal probate of a will or…

Upon receipt of an application requesting informal probate of a will, the court, upon making the findings required by Section 62-3-303, shall issue a written statement of informal probate. Informal probate is conclusive as to all persons until superseded by an order in a formal t…

(a) In an informal proceeding for original probate of a will, the court shall determine whether: (1) the application is complete; (2) the applicant has made oath or affirmation that the statements contained in the application are true to the best of his knowledge and belief; (3) …

Applications for informal probate which relate to one or more of a known series of testamentary instruments (other than a will and its codicils), the latest of which does not expressly revoke the earlier, shall be declined.

If the court is not satisfied that a will is entitled to be probated in informal proceedings because of failure to meet the requirements of Sections 62-3-303 and 62-3-304 or any other reason, he may decline the application. A declination of informal probate is not an adjudication…

(a) The moving party must give notice as described by Section 62-1-401 of his application for informal probate to any person demanding it pursuant to Section 62-3-204, and to any personal representative of the decedent whose appointment has not been terminated. No other notice of…

(a) Upon receipt of an application for informal appointment of a personal representative other than a special administrator as provided in Section 62-3-614, the court, after making the findings required by Section 62-3-308, shall appoint the applicant subject to qualification and…

(a) In informal appointment proceedings, the court must determine whether: (1) the application for informal appointment of a personal representative is complete; (2) the applicant has made oath or affirmation that the statements contained in the application are true to the best o…

If the court is not satisfied that a requested informal appointment of a personal representative should be made because of failure to meet the requirements of Sections 62-3-307 and 62-3-308 or, for any other reason, he may decline the application. A declination of informal appoin…

The applicant must give notice of his intention to seek an appointment informally to any person having equal right to appointment not waived in writing and filed with the court. The notice shall state that, if no objection or nomination of another or no competing application or p…

If an application for informal appointment indicates the existence of a possible unrevoked testamentary instrument which may relate to property subject to the laws of this State, and which is not filed for probate in this court, the court shall decline the application.