South Carolina executor and estate paperwork checklist

This is an organizer, not legal advice. An estate attorney or the county probate/surrogate office answers questions about your situation.

The first 30 days

Work down the list; nothing you tick is saved or sent. The steps are general, the dates come from the official pages.

1. Order certified death certificatesThrough the funeral director or the vital records office. Order several: banks, insurers, pension plans and the court may each want one.
2. Check that Social Security has been toldThe funeral home usually reports it. Otherwise call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), and ask about the $255 lump-sum death payment for a surviving spouse or some children.
3. Find the original willLook for the signed original and any codicils (later changes). Keep the original safe and unaltered; make copies for yourself.
4. Protect the propertyChange locks if keys are out, keep insurance paid, and have the mail forwarded so bills and statements reach you.
5. Don't pay bills or hand out belongings yetFirst learn which route fits and who is allowed to act; ask the probate office or an attorney about anything urgent.
6. Know that a power of attorney has endedA power of attorney ends when the principal dies; the agent's authority stops there.
7. Start an inventoryEvery account, property, vehicle and debt, with how each is held. Beneficiary and joint accounts usually pass directly, not through the estate.
8. Compare the estate with $25,000That's the small estate figure on this state's official page. Count only what the page says counts.
9. Count 30 days from the deathThat's when the official page says the small estate paperwork can be used.
10. Open a simple money logOne line per payment or deposit, with the date, who, how much and the receipt. It makes the final accounting easy.
11. When appointed, get an EIN and open an estate accountPay estate bills from that account only. Form 1041 is due if the estate has more than $600 of gross income in a year (IRS).

Sources for the federal steps: Social Security Administration: When someone dies · IRS: Deceased taxpayers, filing the estate income tax return (Form 1041) · power of attorney: Power of attorney at a real estate closing.

The small estate route

• ConfirmedSmall estate limit

  Personal property and cash accounts worth $25,000 or less net of liens. It can't be used to distribute real estate; titled property such as cars and boats counts.

  "Personal Property and/or Cash accounts are valued at $25,000 or less."

  • Vehicles count toward this limit.

  Source: Greenville County Probate Court: Small estate proceedings brochure (Form 420ES), checked November 2026

• ConfirmedReal estate

  Real estate in the person's name alone takes the estate out of this procedure.

  Source: Greenville County Probate Court: Small estate proceedings brochure (Form 420ES), checked November 2026

• ConfirmedWaiting period after the death

  30 days. At least 30 days after the death (the brochure also says 31 days in one place; ask the court).

  "Has been deceased for at least 30 days"

  Source: Greenville County Probate Court: Small estate proceedings brochure (Form 420ES), checked November 2026

• ConfirmedNotary or oath

  Signed before a notary. Sign and notarize the form where indicated.

  Source: Greenville County Probate Court: Small estate proceedings brochure (Form 420ES), checked November 2026

• ConfirmedWhere the paperwork goes

  Through a court office. Filed with the county probate court, which issues an order.

  Source: Greenville County Probate Court: Small estate proceedings brochure (Form 420ES), checked November 2026

• ConfirmedOfficial form

  Form 420ES, Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property. A statewide probate court form; the county brochure explains it.

  Source: Greenville County Probate Court: Small estate proceedings brochure (Form 420ES), checked November 2026

• Not confirmedSimplified court procedure

  Not confirmed — check Greenville County Probate Court: Small estate proceedings brochure (Form 420ES).

• ConfirmedWorth knowing

  Court costs in Greenville County start at $12.50 and run to $67.50 for $20,000 to $59,999.99.

  Source: Greenville County Probate Court: Small estate proceedings brochure (Form 420ES), checked November 2026

The will at probate

When the will goes to the court, these signing rules are what it is checked against.

• ConfirmedWitnesses the will needed

  Two witnesses, per the county probate court's FAQ.

  "is at least eighteen (18) years old and have two witnesses."

  Source: Probate's Office FAQ (Fairfield County, South Carolina, Probate Court), checked November 2026

• Not confirmedSelf-proving affidavit

  Not confirmed — check Probate's Office FAQ (Fairfield County, South Carolina, Probate Court).

• Not confirmedIf the will is handwritten

  Not confirmed — check Probate's Office FAQ (Fairfield County, South Carolina, Probate Court).

• Not confirmedA witness who inherits

  Not confirmed — check Probate's Office FAQ (Fairfield County, South Carolina, Probate Court).

Documents to gather

• The last few years of tax returns
• Recent bills, loan and credit card statements
• Pension, Social Security and benefit letters
• Safe deposit box location and keys
• Certified death certificates
• The original will and any codicils
• Deeds and mortgage statements
• Vehicle titles and registrations
• Recent bank, brokerage and retirement statements
• Life insurance policies and annuities
• The official small estate form: Form 420ES, Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property

Who to notify

Landlord or mortgage servicer, Credit card companies, Pension or employer, Social Security (if the funeral home hasn't), Banks and credit unions, Brokerage and retirement accounts, Life insurance companies, Utilities and phone. Send a short letter with a copy of the death certificate, and keep a log of who you told and when.

Documents needed abroad

• ConfirmedA death certificate needed abroad

  Apostilles for this state's documents come from the South Carolina Secretary of State, Authentications. $5 per document, not per page.

  Source: South Carolina Secretary of State, Authentications, checked November 2026

Where to ask

An estate attorney or the county probate/surrogate office answers questions about your situation. Official pages for South Carolina:

• Greenville County Probate Court: Small estate proceedings brochure (Form 420ES)
• Lexington County Probate Court: Estate administration
• Probate's Office FAQ (Fairfield County, South Carolina, Probate Court)

Still to confirm

• Simplified court procedure: check Greenville County Probate Court: Small estate proceedings brochure (Form 420ES)
• Self-proving affidavit: check Probate's Office FAQ (Fairfield County, South Carolina, Probate Court)
• If the will is handwritten: check Probate's Office FAQ (Fairfield County, South Carolina, Probate Court)
• A witness who inherits: check Probate's Office FAQ (Fairfield County, South Carolina, Probate Court)

General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. We are not lawyers, and MCC Solutions is not a law firm. An estate attorney or the county probate/surrogate office answers questions about your situation. Facts checked November 2026.

Common questions

Related: Executor guide by state · Estate paperwork help