South Carolina timeline
South Carolina probate timeline: the 30-day wait and creditor deadlines
The simplified route starts 30 days after death.
South Carolina creditor deadlines are set out below against the event each one runs from.
Sources reviewed August 9, 2026. Latest primary-source re-fetch October 3, 2026.
The one date this page can source
The collection of personal property by affidavit (s.c. code § 62-3-1201); small-estate summary administrative procedure (s.c. code § 62-3-1203) route requires 30 days to elapse from the date of death. This is a precondition: the affidavit or petition cannot be presented before it runs, regardless of how straightforward the estate is.
state that the value of the entire probate estate (the decedent's property passing under the decedent's will plus the decedent's property passing by intestacy), wherever located, less liens and encumbrances, does not exceed forty-five thousand dollarsS.C. Code § 62-3-1201 — South Carolina Legislature (S.C. Code Title 62, SCPC); 2025 Act No. 26 (H.3472), SECTION 1, eff May 8, 2025.
Creditor deadlines
- From publication of notice to creditors
- Eight months after the date of first publication of the notice to creditors (§ 62-3-801).
- From actual notice to a known creditor
- The earlier of one year from the decedent’s death or sixty days from the mailing of actual notice (§ 62-3-801).
- Outer limit, running from death
- One year after the decedent’s death (§ 62-3-803).
How these combine. South Carolina runs separate, differently-triggered deadlines: a publication bar of eight months from first publication of notice (§ 62-3-801), an actual-notice bar (the earlier of one year from death or 60 days from mailing), and an outer non-claim limit of one year after death (§ 62-3-803). These cannot be reduced to one number; the operative bar depends on which notice trigger applies.
to present their claims within eight months after the date of the first publication of the notice or be forever barredS.C. Code §§ 62-3-801, 62-3-803 — South Carolina Legislature (S.C. Code Title 62, SCPC); verified October 3, 2026.
General sequence: first week, how long probate takes.
South Carolina record: 5/5 verified, 20 matched checks, latest source re-fetch October 3, 2026. Source record · method · report a correction