State guide
South Carolina
South Carolina uses county Probate Courts for adult guardianship and conservatorship. Its Probate Code now expressly defines "supports and assistance" and a "less restrictive alternative," and statewide mandatory guardianship and conservatorship forms are published by the South Carolina Judicial Branch.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Court that handles adult guardianship
- Adult guardianship and conservatorship petitions are filed in the county Probate Court; South Carolina Probate Courts have jurisdiction over guardianships of incompetents and conservatorships of estates of incompetents.
- What it's called
- guardian (person) and conservator (estate/property)
- Official forms and self-help
- Official page →
- Filing fee
- Charleston County publishes $150.00 for an adult guardianship filing; conservatorship fees are based on gross probate assets under § 8-21-770(B), starting at $25.00 for less than $5,000.00, and its page also lists $150.00 for the initial petition in any action or proceeding other than estate/conservatorship asset fees.
- Less-restrictive alternatives
- South Carolina law expressly recognizes "supports and assistance" and defines a "less restrictive alternative" that maximizes the alleged incapacitated individual’s self-determination and autonomy in lieu of guardianship or conservatorship.
- Law
- S.C. Code Ann. Title 62, Article 5, especially §§ 62-5-101, 62-5-301 to 62-5-311, and 62-5-401 to 62-5-433.
Official resources in South Carolina
Official statewide overview explaining Probate Court jurisdiction over adult guardianships and conservatorships.
County self-help page explaining adult guardianship and conservatorship filing requirements, forms, and fee schedule.
County self-help page with adult guardianship and conservatorship packets, filing requirements, and explanations of guardian and conservator roles.
County forms page for adult guardianship and conservatorship protective services matters.
Official Judicial Branch FAQ on less restrictive alternatives such as powers of attorney and other planning tools.
Key facts for South Carolina
- Only Probate Court can appoint a guardian for an adult in South Carolina.
- South Carolina defines a guardian as the person who makes personal decisions for the ward.
- South Carolina defines a conservator as the person appointed to manage the estate of a protected person.
- The Probate Code defines a less restrictive alternative as support and assistance maximizing self-determination and autonomy instead of guardianship or conservatorship.
- Mandatory statewide adult forms include 530GC for guardianship, 540GC for conservatorship, and 520GC for a combined adult petition.
- Charleston County publishes a guardianship filing fee of $150.00 and conservatorship fees based on gross probate assets starting at $25.00.
County court guardianship pages in South Carolina
| Court | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville County Probate Court - Protective Proceedings Greenville | Greenville | 864.467.7404 | Protective proceedings office for adult guardianship and conservatorship matters; Greenville publishes protective-services forms and probate fee schedules online. |
| Richland County Probate Court Richland | Columbia | Not published* | County probate court page includes guardians and conservators packets, filing requirements, and adult guardianship and conservatorship guidance. |
| Charleston County Probate Court - Guardianship/Conservatorship Coordinator Charleston | Charleston | (843) 958-5187 | County probate office page explains adult guardianship and conservatorship filing requirements and publishes local fee information. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Check the county Probate Court where the adult lives and download that court’s packet or filing checklist before using statewide forms.
- Gather capacity evidence early, because counties commonly require Form 539GC and service paperwork with the petition.
- Review powers of attorney, health care power of attorney, trusts, representative payee arrangements, and other supports before filing.
Not seeing your court or county?
Not every court publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from South Carolina's population center, for comparison only):
- Mecklenburg County SelfServe Center, North Carolina · about 82 miles
- North Carolina Judicial Branch - Guardianship, North Carolina · about 129 miles
- Chatham County Probate Court, Georgia · about 139 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Charleston County Probate Court Guardianships/Conservatorships Division
Website →Phone: (843) 958-5180 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the South Carolina page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.