Estates are opened in the probate court of the county where the person was domiciled at death; conservatorships and adult guardianships are filed where the person lives. Most Summerville addresses are in Dorchester County and file in St. George, but Nexton, Cane Bay and Carnes Crossroads are in Berkeley County and file in Moncks Corner. North Charleston, Charleston, Mount Pleasant and the islands file in Charleston County. Each court has its own intake routine, which the three guides below explain.
Which court has your case
Domicile, not the place of death or the location of the property, decides the county. A Summerville resident who died at MUSC is a Dorchester County estate; a Goose Creek resident who owned a lot in Dorchester County is a Berkeley County estate, and the Dorchester property is handled in it. A Summerville address can fall in Dorchester or Berkeley County, so check the county on the property tax bill or voter registration before filing. Only real estate in another state requires a second, ancillary proceeding there.
Dorchester County Probate Court
Address, hours, the worksheet-and-seminar rule, forms, fees and timelines at the St. George courthouse.
Learn moreBerkeley County Probate Court
Address, hours, walk-in and drop-box rules, forms, fees and timelines at the Moncks Corner courthouse.
Learn moreCharleston County Probate Court
Two Broad Street locations, EZ-Filing, appointments and workshops, forms, fees and timelines.
Learn more
The three courts at a glance
| Dorchester County | Berkeley County | Charleston County | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where | 5200 E. Jim Bilton Blvd., St. George | 300-B California Ave., Moncks Corner | 84 Broad St., 3rd floor (estates) and 100 Broad St., Suite 469 (guardianships), Charleston |
| Phone | (843) 563-0105 or (843) 832-0105 | (843) 719-4519 | (843) 958-5030 estates; (843) 958-5180 guardianships |
| Hours | Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–5 PM | Mon–Fri 9 AM–5 PM; walk-ins to 3:30 PM; drop box 9 AM–4 PM | Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–5 PM; electronic filing at any hour |
| Filing without a lawyer | Opening Probate Worksheet, then a required Opening Probate Seminar | Clerks review filings at the counter; no seminar | Online estate appointments, free workshops and EZ-Filing |
| Guide | Dorchester County guide | Berkeley County guide | Charleston County guide |
What every court will ask for
- The original will, if any, and any codicils; the will must be delivered to the court within thirty days of death whether or not an estate is opened
- A certified death certificate
- Names and addresses of heirs and devisees
- A preliminary list of assets and approximate values, and known debts
- Photo identification and the filing fee, which is set by statute on a sliding scale
Fees are the same statewide
Every South Carolina probate court charges the estate fee in S.C. Code § 8-21-770, based on the inventory value: $25 under $5,000; $45 to $20,000; $67.50 to $60,000; $95 to $100,000; $95 plus 0.15 percent of the value between $100,000 and $600,000; and 0.25 percent of the value above $600,000 on top of that. Certified copies are $5. What differs by county is procedure: who must attend a seminar, whether filings can be e-filed, and how quickly letters issue.
Practical notes
- Most filings use the statewide forms published by the South Carolina Judicial Branch; each court has local practices about scheduling and notice.
- Hearings in contested matters are before the probate judge; a party may demand a jury trial in limited cases.
- Clerks cannot give legal advice; they can tell you which form applies and whether a filing is complete.
- Public estate records for all three counties are searchable online at southcarolinaprobate.net.
Court details were checked against the counties’ websites in October 2026. Call the court, or us, before you drive.
Not sure which court?
Tell us the address and what needs to be filed. We will point you to the right courthouse and tell you what to bring.
Questions people ask
Can I file in Dorchester County if my father lived in Goose Creek?
No. The estate is opened where he was domiciled: Berkeley County for most Goose Creek addresses.
Do I need to appear in person?
For an uncontested informal estate, usually not; filings can be handled by mail, by e-filing in Charleston County, or through counsel. Dorchester County requires families filing without a lawyer to attend its Opening Probate Seminar. Contested matters and guardianships involve hearings.
Which county is Nexton in?
Berkeley County, as are Cane Bay and Carnes Crossroads, despite their Summerville addresses. Estates for those residents are opened in Moncks Corner.
Related pages
The probate process
Every step from delivering the will to closing the estate, with the deadlines that matter.
Learn moreSmall estates
The $45,000 affidavit (Form 420ES), the fee, what counts toward the limit and the summary procedure for small estates.
Learn moreGuardianship & conservatorship
Court-appointed decision-makers for adults who cannot manage and for minors—contested or not.
Learn more