South Carolina court costs

South Carolina probate filing cost: $95

S.C. Code § 8-21-770 sets a statewide graduated Probate Court filing fee based on the gross value of the decedent’s probate estate: $25 under $5,000; $45 for $5,000–<$20,000; $67.50 for $20,000–<$60,000; $95 for $60,000–<$100,000; for $100,000–<$600,000, $95 plus 0.15% of the value between $100,000 and $600,000; and for $600,000+, the item-(5) amount plus one-fourth of one percent of value above $600,000.

$95 is the statutory total at a $100,000 estate. Sources reviewed August 9, 2026. Sources rechecked October 3, 2026. This page last revised October 13, 2026.

What South Carolina statutes set in probate fees at a $100,000 estate

Court filing: $95 (S.C. Code § 8-21-770).
Personal representative: capped at 5% by S.C. Code § 62-3-719, on a base it defines, so it is not priced from the estate’s value; see the South Carolina executor fee page.

Worked example: South Carolina estate of $100,000
Court filing	$95
Commission	not priced here

Statute text checked October 3, 2026: S.C. Code § 8-21-770 and S.C. Code § 62-3-719.

What the statute charges

Every line below is computed from the statutory schedule quoted at the end of this page. These are court charges only. They are not an estimate of the total cost of settling an estate.

Probate Court filing fee (opening), by gross value of the probate estate

Published value bands

These are the fee bands stated in the source. The worked examples below apply them to sample values; they do not replace the published thresholds.

Base fee by gross probate estate value; statutory upper bounds are exclusive (§ 8-21-770(1)–(5))

Value band	Published fee
Up to $4,999.99	$25
More than $4,999.99 to $19,999.99	$45
More than $19,999.99 to $59,999.99	$67.50
More than $59,999.99 to $99,999.99	$95
More than $99,999.99	$95

0.15% of value between $100,000 and $600,000 (§ 8-21-770(5))

Value band	Published calculation
All values	$0 plus 0.15% of the amount over $100,000

Maximum: $750. Assessment basis: Charged only on the portion of gross probate estate value from $100,000 to $600,000 (.15 percent = $0.15 per $100); capped at $750 (0.15% of $500,000). Added to the $95 base..

One-fourth of one percent of value above $600,000 (§ 8-21-770(6))

Value band	Published calculation
All values	$0 plus 0.25% of the amount over $600,000

Assessment basis: For estates of $600,000+, add 0.25% of gross probate estate value above $600,000 to the item-(5) amount (i.e., $95 + the full $750 item-(5) marginal component)..

South Carolina Probate Court filing fee (opening), by gross value of the probate estate cost, itemised at four values of the amount this charge is assessed on
Charge	$25,000 estate	$100,000 estate	$400,000 estate	$1,000,000 estate
Base fee by gross probate estate value; statutory upper bounds are exclusive (§ 8-21-770(1)–(5))	$67.50	$95	$95	$95
0.15% of value between $100,000 and $600,000 (§ 8-21-770(5))	$0	$0	$450	$750
One-fourth of one percent of value above $600,000 (§ 8-21-770(6))	$0	$0	$0	$1,000
Total from this schedule	$67.50	$95	$545	$1,845

Not included in this total

certified copies
any county-specific charges

The marginal 0.15% and 0.25% components must be computed exactly as § 8-21-770(5)–(6) states (percent of the value falling within each band, added to the $95 base) — do not apply either percentage to the whole estate value.

Source: S.C. Code § 8-21-770, South Carolina Legislature (S.C. Code Title 8). Edition: 1995 Act No. 15, SECTION 1, eff April 4, 1995. Verified October 3, 2026.

Calculate the South Carolina opening fee

Enter the gross value of the probate estate shown on the inventory and appraisement. This calculator applies S.C. Code § 8-21-770 to the opening Probate Court filing; it does not add copies, county charges, publication, bond, or professional fees.

Enter a gross estate value to see the statutory opening fee.

What the South Carolina figure leaves out

The South Carolina caveats are listed once, on the South Carolina overview.

Other costs: probate cost lines.

Filing-cost source

Statute

S.C. Code § 8-21-770

S.C. Code § 8-21-770 — Probate Court schedule of fees and costs

The section’s own words

the fee shall be based upon the gross value of the decedent's probate estate or the protected person's estate as shown on the inventory and appraisement as follows: (1) Property valuation less than $5,000.00 $25.00 (2) Property valuation of $5,000.00 but less than $20,000.00 $45.00 (3) Property valuation of $20,000.00 but less than $60,000.00 $67.50 (4) Property valuation of $60,000.00 but less than $100,000.00 $95.00 (5) Property valuation of $100,000.00 but less than $600,000.00 $95.00 plus .15 percent of the property valuation between $100,000.00 and $600,000.00 (6) Property valuation of $600,000.00 or higher amount set forth in (5) above plus one-fourth of one percent of the property valuation above $600,000.00.

What this means: Graduated statewide schedule keyed to GROSS value of the probate estate. The marginal 0.15%/0.25% pieces apply only to value within their bands, added to the $95 base.

South Carolina Legislature (S.C. Code Title 8) · 1995 Act No. 15, SECTION 1, eff April 4, 1995 · Rechecked October 3, 2026

Sources rechecked October 3, 2026: South Carolina source list · how sources are checked · report a correction

Line	Amount
Base fee for the value band
0.15% of value from $100,000 to $600,000
0.25% of value above $600,000