---
title: "South Carolina Executor Checklist: First 30 Days | MCC"
description: "South Carolina executor checklist: first 30 days, up to $25,000 small estate limit, 30-day wait, notarized affidavit, 2 will witnesses, official court links."
url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/notary/south-carolina-executor-checklist"
---

Executor checklist · South Carolina

# South Carolina executor and estate paperwork checklist

The first 30 days, the small estate route, the will at probate, and the official pages to ask, from this state's own court and statute pages.

**Quick answer.** In the first 30 days, an executor in South Carolina orders certified death certificates, finds the original will, secures the home, car and mail, lists what the person owned and owed, and holds off on paying debts until it's clear who has authority. For the small estate route, South Carolina's official pages give a limit of up to $25,000, a 30-day wait after the death and a notarized affidavit; it goes through the court.

✓ New Jersey commissioned notary, no. 50244803, insured for errors and omissions. [See the credentials](/about/credentials)

**Short answer.** South Carolina: up to $25,000 small estate limit; 30-day wait; notarized affidavit; filed through the court; 2 will witnesses; self-proving affidavit allowed. 11 of 11 state facts below are confirmed on official pages.

**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.

- **Order certified death certificates**Through the funeral director or the vital records office. Order several: banks, insurers, pension plans and the court may each want one.
- **Check that Social Security has been told**The 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.
- **Find the original will**Look for the signed original and any codicils (later changes). Keep the original safe and unaltered; make copies for yourself.
- **Look at the last pages of the will**A sworn statement signed by the witnesses before an officer may be attached; what this state says about it is below.
- **Protect the property**Change locks if keys are out, keep insurance paid, and have the mail forwarded so bills and statements reach you.
- **Don't pay bills or hand out belongings yet**First learn which route fits and who is allowed to act; ask the probate office or an attorney about anything urgent.
- **Know that a power of attorney has ended**A power of attorney ends when the principal dies; the agent's authority stops there.
- **Start an inventory**Every account, property, vehicle and debt, with how each is held. Beneficiary and joint accounts usually pass directly, not through the estate.
- **Compare the estate with $25,000**That's the small estate figure on this state's official page. Count only what the page says counts.
- **Count 30 days from the death**That's when the official page says the small estate paperwork can be used.
- **Open a simple money log**One line per payment or deposit, with the date, who, how much and the receipt. It makes the final accounting easy.
- **When appointed, get an EIN and open an estate account**Pay 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](https://ssa.gov/personal-record/when-someone-dies) · [IRS: Deceased taxpayers, filing the estate income tax return (Form 1041)](https://www.irs.gov/individuals/deceased-taxpayers-filing-the-estate-income-tax-return-form-1041) · power of attorney: [Power of attorney at a real estate closing](/notary/guides/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.

Sources: [Greenville County Probate Court: Small estate proceedings brochure (Form 420ES)](https://www.greenvillecounty.org/apps/ProbateForms/Forms/Brochure%20Small%20Estates.pdf); [Lexington County Probate Court: Estate administration](https://www.lex-co.sc.gov/departments/probate-court/estate-administration); [Nolo (secondary source): Probate Shortcuts in South Carolina (Nolo, updated 10/21/2024)](https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/south-carolina-probate-shortcuts-31957.html), checked November 2026

- #### ConfirmedReal estate Real estate in the person's name alone takes the estate out of this procedure. Sources: [Greenville County Probate Court: Small estate proceedings brochure (Form 420ES)](https://www.greenvillecounty.org/apps/ProbateForms/Forms/Brochure%20Small%20Estates.pdf); [Lexington County Probate Court: Estate administration](https://www.lex-co.sc.gov/departments/probate-court/estate-administration); [Nolo (secondary source): Probate Shortcuts in South Carolina (Nolo, updated 10/21/2024)](https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/south-carolina-probate-shortcuts-31957.html), 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" Sources: [Greenville County Probate Court: Small estate proceedings brochure (Form 420ES)](https://www.greenvillecounty.org/apps/ProbateForms/Forms/Brochure%20Small%20Estates.pdf); [Lexington County Probate Court: Estate administration](https://www.lex-co.sc.gov/departments/probate-court/estate-administration); [Nolo (secondary source): Probate Shortcuts in South Carolina (Nolo, updated 10/21/2024)](https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/south-carolina-probate-shortcuts-31957.html), 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)](https://www.greenvillecounty.org/apps/ProbateForms/Forms/Brochure%20Small%20Estates.pdf), checked November 2026
- #### ConfirmedWhere the paperwork goes Through a court office. Filed with the county probate court, which issues an order. Sources: [Greenville County Probate Court: Small estate proceedings brochure (Form 420ES)](https://www.greenvillecounty.org/apps/ProbateForms/Forms/Brochure%20Small%20Estates.pdf); [Lexington County Probate Court: Estate administration](https://www.lex-co.sc.gov/departments/probate-court/estate-administration); [Nolo (secondary source): Probate Shortcuts in South Carolina (Nolo, updated 10/21/2024)](https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/south-carolina-probate-shortcuts-31957.html), 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)](https://www.greenvillecounty.org/apps/ProbateForms/Forms/Brochure%20Small%20Estates.pdf), checked November 2026
- #### ConfirmedSimplified court procedure Summary administration: A simplified probate the court can use when the entire probate estate, less liens and encumbrances, is no more than $25,000 plus the exempt property allowance, administration costs, reasonable funeral expenses and last-illness medical expenses. Sources: [Greenville County Probate Court: Small estate proceedings brochure (Form 420ES)](https://www.greenvillecounty.org/apps/ProbateForms/Forms/Brochure%20Small%20Estates.pdf); [Lexington County Probate Court: Estate administration](https://www.lex-co.sc.gov/departments/probate-court/estate-administration); [Nolo (secondary source): Probate Shortcuts in South Carolina (Nolo, updated 10/21/2024)](https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/south-carolina-probate-shortcuts-31957.html), checked November 2026
- #### 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)](https://www.greenvillecounty.org/apps/ProbateForms/Forms/Brochure%20Small%20Estates.pdf), 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." Sources: [Probate's Office FAQ (Fairfield County, South Carolina, Probate Court)](https://www.fairfieldsc.com/departments/probate-court/probates-office-faq); [Nolo (secondary source): How to Make a Will in South Carolina (Nolo, updated September 2025)](https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/south-carolina-make-will-31824.html), checked November 2026
- #### ConfirmedSelf-proving affidavit Optional under 62-2-503 (Nolo's summary): the testator and witnesses swear before a notary that the will was signed knowingly, so the court needn't contact the witnesses. Source: [Nolo (secondary source): How to Make a Will in South Carolina (Nolo, updated September 2025)](https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/south-carolina-make-will-31824.html), checked November 2026
- #### ConfirmedIf the will is handwritten South Carolina doesn't accept an unwitnessed will in the maker's own handwriting (Nolo, September 2025). Source: [Nolo (secondary source): How to Make a Will in South Carolina (Nolo, updated September 2025)](https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/south-carolina-make-will-31824.html), checked November 2026
- #### ConfirmedA witness who inherits Pick witnesses who inherit nothing; under 62-2-504, as Nolo explains, a witness-beneficiary can forfeit the gift. Source: [Nolo (secondary source): How to Make a Will in South Carolina (Nolo, updated September 2025)](https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/south-carolina-make-will-31824.html), checked November 2026

## Want us to handle it?

We order certified records, pick up and deliver documents, get the small estate affidavit signed and notarized, and file papers near where the estate is, in any state. We are not lawyers.

**Price:** Quote-based, from $199 per job plus government and court fees at cost. Starting rates. Your exact price is quoted after we confirm a local notary/runner, before you pay.

[Ask for estate paperwork help](/notary/estate-paperwork-help-out-of-state#request)

## 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](https://sos.sc.gov/node/177), 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)](https://www.greenvillecounty.org/apps/ProbateForms/Forms/Brochure%20Small%20Estates.pdf)
- [Lexington County Probate Court: Estate administration](https://www.lex-co.sc.gov/departments/probate-court/estate-administration)
- [Probate Shortcuts in South Carolina (Nolo, updated 10/21/2024)](https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/south-carolina-probate-shortcuts-31957.html)
- [Probate's Office FAQ (Fairfield County, South Carolina, Probate Court)](https://www.fairfieldsc.com/departments/probate-court/probates-office-faq)

South Carolina kit

## South Carolina Executor and Estate Kit

This checklist as printable Word and PDF files: a start-here guide, the first 30 days, the small estate route with its official links, a documents and accounts tracker, plain notification letters (bank, utilities, Social Security), and an Excel estate ledger for assets, debts, payments and distributions.

[Get the kit, $25](/toolkits/sc-executor-kit)

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

**Is there a small estate route in South Carolina?**

On the official pages we read: 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. Through a court office. Filed with the county probate court, which issues an order.

**How soon after the death can the South Carolina small estate paperwork be used?**

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

**Does the small estate paperwork in South Carolina need a notary?**

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

**Is there an official South Carolina form?**

Form 420ES, Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property. A statewide probate court form; the county brochure explains it. Link: https://www.greenvillecounty.org/apps/ProbateForms/Forms/Brochure%20Small%20Estates.pdf

**How many witnesses did a will in South Carolina need?**

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

**What about a self-proving affidavit in South Carolina?**

Optional under 62-2-503 (Nolo's summary): the testator and witnesses swear before a notary that the will was signed knowingly, so the court needn't contact the witnesses.

**Who answers questions about an estate in South Carolina?**

An estate attorney or the county probate/surrogate office answers questions about your situation. The official pages behind this checklist: Greenville County Probate Court: Small estate proceedings brochure (Form 420ES). Remember the 30-day wait before the small estate route.

Related: [Executor guide by state](/notary/executor-guide-by-state) · [Will signing requirements](/notary/will-signing-requirements-south-carolina) · [Estate paperwork help](/notary/estate-paperwork-help-out-of-state)

## Family far from the estate?

[See estate paperwork help](/notary/estate-paperwork-help-out-of-state)[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:+19084446373)