Why estate planning matters in South Carolina
Without a plan, South Carolina law—not you—decides who inherits your estate, who raises your children and who manages your money if you cannot. The intestacy statute (S.C. Code § 62-2-102) gives a surviving spouse only half of an estate when there are children, and a court, not your family, appoints the person in charge. A complete plan replaces those defaults with your decisions, in documents the probate court and your bank will accept without argument.
Frost Law Group prepares plans for families across Dorchester, Berkeley and Charleston counties. Tara Frost served as a Dorchester County Associate Probate Judge; she has read hundreds of wills and trusts from the bench and knows which ones cause trouble later.
What a complete estate plan includes
A thorough plan is more than a will. Each document below has its own page explaining what it does, why it matters here, and whether it belongs in your plan.
Last will and testament
Who inherits, who is in charge, and who raises the kids—decided by you, not the statute.
Learn moreRevocable living trust
Avoid probate, plan for incapacity, keep it private. When a trust is worth it.
Learn morePowers of attorney
Financial and medical decision-makers, named by you and ready before a crisis.
Learn moreLiving will
Your end-of-life wishes, in the form South Carolina hospitals recognize.
Learn more
Planning for your situation
Most families need the four documents above. Many need one of these as well.
Asset protection trusts
Irrevocable trusts, Medicaid look-back, and honest limits on what can be protected.
Learn moreBlended families
Second marriages and stepchildren: fixing the defaults that leave someone out.
Learn moreBusiness owners
Succession, buy-sell and operating agreements, and trusts that keep a company running.
Learn moreSpecial needs planning
Special needs trusts and ABLE accounts that protect benefits and provide extras.
Learn moreLarger estates & complex portfolios
Complex portfolios, multiple properties, tax exposure and professional trustees.
Learn morePlan reviews & trust amendments
Second opinions on existing plans; amendments and restatements of trusts.
Learn more
How it works here
- A conversation, not a questionnaire. We meet at the office (or by phone if you prefer) and talk through your family, your assets, and what worries you. You leave with a recommendation and a flat-fee quote.
- Design. We draft the documents and send you a plain-English summary of what each one does. Changes are part of the price.
- Signing. You sign at our office with the witnesses and notary South Carolina requires, so the will is self-proved and the powers of attorney are ready to record.
- Funding and follow-through. Trusts only work if assets are titled to them. We give you a funding checklist, letters for your financial institutions, and deeds for Lowcountry real estate.
- Reviews. Life changes—marriages, births, a move, a business sale. We review plans on request and recommend a look every three to five years.
Questions and answers
Short answers to the questions people in Summerville ask us and Google most often are on the pages linked above and on our FAQ page. Two we hear every week:
Will or trust? A will plus powers of attorney serves most families. A revocable living trust adds incapacity planning and keeps your estate out of probate, which matters most if you own real estate in more than one state, want privacy, or want to spare your family the eight-month probate timeline.
What happens without a will? The estate is divided by statute among spouse and children (or parents, siblings and further relatives), a court chooses the personal representative, and a judge chooses the guardian for minor children.
Plan today, rest easy.
A single consultation with our Summerville estate planning attorneys can give you, and your family, real peace of mind.
Questions people ask
Do you offer flat fees for estate plans?
Yes. Once we know what you need, we quote one price that covers drafting, changes and the signing meeting.
Do both spouses need their own will?
Yes. Each spouse signs their own will and powers of attorney; a couple can share one revocable trust.
Can you update a plan from another state?
Yes. We review out-of-state and online documents and amend or restate them so they work under South Carolina law. See plan reviews.