Jasper County Probate Court
Jasper County Probate Court is the local court for probate filings in Ridgeland. The court is led by Hon. Albert Kleckley Jr., Probate Judge. The physical location is 306 3rd Avenue, Ridgeland, SC 29936, and the mailing address is P.O. Box 1028, Ridgeland, SC 29936. The phone number is 843-726-7718, the fax number is 843-726-5173, and hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except legal holidays.
The county page lists probate jurisdiction over decedents' estates, trusts, guardianships of adult incapacitated persons, conservatorships of minors and adult incapacitated persons, involuntary commitments for mental illness, intellectual disability, chemical dependency, and tuberculosis, marriage licenses, and approval of certain wrongful death settlements. The same page lists court activities such as appointing personal representatives, trustees, conservators, and guardians; holding hearings and trials; handling informal proceedings; admitting wills and other instruments to probate or record; and maintaining official probate records.
Jasper County Probate Court
Judge: Hon. Albert Kleckley Jr.
306 3rd Avenue
Ridgeland, SC 29936
Mailing: P.O. Box 1028, Ridgeland, SC 29936
843-726-7718
Fax: 843-726-5173
Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., except legal holidays
The official Jasper County probate source gives the local office, judge, and jurisdiction that control most Jasper County probate records.
Those local details are important because probate access in Jasper County depends on direct contact with the court more than a public online index.
Jasper County Probate Terms
Probate filings use terms that do not always appear in ordinary civil court records. A short definition box helps separate estate cases from guardianship and conservatorship matters. In Jasper County, all of these terms can affect which form is filed, who receives notice, and what records may be open to the public.
- Testator
- A person who made a will before death.
- Executor
- A person named to carry out a will. South Carolina forms often use personal representative for the appointed estate fiduciary.
- Intestate
- Dying without a valid will, so heirs are identified under state law.
- Guardianship
- A probate case about personal care decisions for an incapacitated adult.
- Conservatorship
- A probate case about management of protected property or finances for a minor or incapacitated adult.
The research also identifies a personal representative as the fiduciary appointed to administer an estate. A fiduciary is someone with a legal duty to act for another person or estate. Conservators and guardians may need inventories, reports, accountings, court orders, and ongoing filings after appointment.
Search Jasper County Probate Records
No Jasper-specific online probate-record search channel was found on the official Probate Court page. That changes the best access path. Instead of relying on a database, requesters should identify the probate matter, contact the court, and ask what can be inspected or copied. Older estate files, certified copies, and records not visible online should be handled through the Probate Court itself. County FOIA may help with general county records, but the research notes that FOIA may not substitute for court record procedures.
- Identify whether the matter is an estate, will-only filing, small estate affidavit, guardianship, conservatorship, trust, or other probate matter.
- Call Jasper County Probate Court at 843-726-7718 to verify local filing requirements, public access, and fees before submitting a request.
- Use the SCJB Probate Court forms page for official forms when filing a new probate matter.
- File or request records in person or by mail at 306 3rd Avenue or P.O. Box 1028, Ridgeland, SC 29936.
- Pay statutory probate fees based on estate or conservatorship value, copy type, or specific filing type.
The South Carolina Judicial Branch Probate Court overview confirms that Probate Court exists in each county and handles probate, estate, guardianship, conservatorship, and related jurisdiction.
The statewide overview supports the local Jasper County role but does not replace the local court for copies or filing questions.
Jasper County Probate Fees
Probate fees in Jasper County are tied to S.C. Code Section 8-21-770. Estate and conservatorship fees use a gross-value schedule. Other fees apply to certified copies, exemplified copies, demands for notice, conservatorship accountings, will filings, reopening closed estates, and special fiduciary appointments. Legal advertisement or notice-to-creditors costs are additional and due before publication when required.
| Estate or conservatorship gross value | Probate fee |
|---|---|
| Less than $5,000 | $25 |
| $5,000 to less than $20,000 | $45 |
| $20,000 to less than $60,000 | $67.50 |
| $60,000 to less than $100,000 | $95 |
| $100,000 to less than $600,000 | $95 plus 0.15% of value between $100,000 and $600,000 |
| $600,000 or more | Prior amount plus 0.25% of value above $600,000 |
Other statutory probate fees include $5 for a certified copy, $20 for an exemplified or authenticated copy, $6.75 to reform or correct a marriage record, $5 to file a demand for notice, $10 to file a conservatorship accounting, $20 to record an authenticated or certified record, $22.50 to reopen a closed estate, $22.50 for appointment of a special or temporary fiduciary, $10 to file and index a will under Section 62-2-901, and $10 to certify an appeal record.
The South Carolina probate fee statute is the source for Jasper County probate filing charges.
Because some charges depend on value and publication costs, call the court before mailing payment for a Jasper County probate filing.
Jasper County Probate Forms
Jasper County probate filings use official South Carolina Judicial Branch probate forms. The most common estate form in the research is Form 300ES, Application or Petition for Probate of Will or Appointment. Guardianship and conservatorship matters use different form families, such as 520GC, 530GC, 540GC, 542GC, 550GC, 567GC, and 568GC. Marriage-related probate forms can include 153PC for premarital preparation course certification.
| Form or field group | What the form asks for |
|---|---|
| 300ES estate filing | County, matter name or decedent, case number, formal filing parties, probate or appointment checkboxes, applicant contact, and relationship. |
| Decedent details | Full legal name, all known names, date of birth, date of death, age at death, venue reason, and property connection. |
| Heirs and devisees | Beneficiary or heir full name, birth year, address, email, relationship, and 120-hour survivorship question. |
| Estate value | Approximate probate real estate value and probate personal property value. |
| Guardianship/conservatorship | Alleged incapacitated person identity, requested relief, existing documents, powers requested to be removed, and rights issues. |
The SCJB probate forms source groups official forms by probate court type.
Use the form page for current official PDFs, then verify with Jasper County Probate Court before filing a new estate or protective matter.
Jasper County Probate Record Contents
Estate records may include a will, application or petition for probate, appointment papers, inventories and appraisements, creditor notices, accountings, distributions, closing documents, and orders. Guardianship and conservatorship records may include medical or incapacity evidence, notices to interested persons, hearing records, appointment orders, inventories, reports, and accountings. Trust and wrongful-death settlement matters may have pleadings, motions, orders, and supporting documents that depend on the proceeding.
A practical Jasper County estate process starts by identifying the case type, confirming requirements with Probate Court, using official SCJB forms, filing in person or by mail, and paying value-based or filing-type fees. Estates then may move through appointment of a personal representative, inventory and appraisal, creditor notice and publication, accountings where required, and closing or distribution. Guardianship and conservatorship cases commonly require evidence of incapacity, notice, a hearing, an appointment order, an inventory, and continuing reports or accountings.
Probate Court also issues marriage licenses, but certificate copies for eligible marriage dates may involve DPH. Jasper marriage-license detail is covered more fully in the Jasper County marriage and divorce records page.
Restricted Jasper County Probate Records
Not all probate records are open for routine public inspection. South Carolina mental-health confidentiality rules protect records that identify mental-health, alcohol, or drug-abuse patients or persons whose commitment was sought. Jasper County Probate Court handles involuntary commitments, but the underlying patient-identifying records are not ordinary public docket material in the same way as open estate files. Guardianship and conservatorship records can also involve sensitive incapacity, health, financial, and minor information.
Adoption records are a Family Court category rather than a standard probate access path, but the research highlights S.C. Code Section 63-9-780 because adoption hearings and records are confidential unless release is authorized by statute or court order. Juvenile records also have special confidentiality rules. When a Jasper County probate request involves a minor, incapacitated adult, sealed order, or health-related proceeding, ask the court what proof of authority or court order is needed before expecting inspection or copies.
Note: Open estate records and restricted commitment or incapacity records follow different public-access rules even when Probate Court is the filing office.