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Florence County Probate Court Records, Estate Forms, Marriage License & Filing Help
Need to search a Florence County probate case, open an estate, file a small estate affidavit, request certified copies, or understand marriage-license steps? This guide uses official Florence County and South Carolina court sources to route you to the right Probate Court task without private-record confusion.
Where to Start for Florence County Probate Court Help
Start with Florence County Probate Court at 181 N. Irby Street, Suite 1300, Florence, SC 29501. Official Florence County and South Carolina Judicial Branch listings show Judge Jesse S. Cartrette, Jr. and phone 843-665-3085. The Probate Court page says the court has original jurisdiction over marriage licenses, estates of deceased persons, wills, estates of minors or incapacitated persons, trusts, and involuntary mental and chemical dependency commitments.
For case lookup, use South Carolina Probate Search and select Florence. For forms, use the South Carolina Judicial Branch Probate Court forms page. For local estate instructions, use Florence County’s estate page because it includes appointment, mailing, small estate, and local paperwork details.
Choose the Florence County Probate Step You Actually Need
Most users do not only need “records.” They need the right probate lane: estate search, small estate, marriage copy, guardianship, commitment, forms, fees, or certified documents. Choose your task before clicking a portal.
Search a probate case or estate record
Case number, case name, party search, filing date, appointment date, creditor claim due date, and case status.
Use South Carolina Probate Search, select Florence, then contact Probate Court if you need copies.
Online case data is not the same as a certified copy, letters, order, or full estate file.
How to Search Florence County Probate Court Records
Use this order before you pay a private record site, visit the courthouse, or request a certified copy. Florence probate search is easiest when you start with the probate-specific tool and then confirm copy rules with the court.
Use the probate-specific search first
Open South Carolina Probate Search. The search page includes Florence as a county option and allows searches by case number or name combinations. It also notes that a percent sign can be used as a wildcard.
Search with the strongest detail
Use exact case number first. If you do not have it, try decedent name, estate name, last and first name combination, guardian or conservator name, attorney name, filing year, or marriage names.
Expand the case result
The probate search page says users can click the gray plus to expand case details. Available columns may include case number, case name, party, type of case, filing date, county, appointment date, creditor claim due, and case status.
Contact the court for official documents
If you need certified copies, estate papers, letters, marriage-license records, appointment documents, or full file details, contact Florence County Probate Court. A search screen is not a certified court record.
Check forms and fees before filing
Use Florence County’s estate page for local packet and mailing guidance, and use SC Judicial Branch Probate forms for official statewide probate forms.
Official Florence County Probate Court Links
These links are placed near the tasks they help with. Use them first to avoid wrong-state pages, Clerk of Court confusion, Register of Deeds searches, private background-check pages, and outdated forms.
Opening a Full Estate or Probating a Will in Florence County
Florence County’s estate page gives unusually practical instructions. For a full estate, it says users should submit completed Form 300ES, all required documents, and court costs, and notes incomplete documents cannot be accepted. After documents are received, an Estate Clerk reviews the packet and contacts the user to schedule an appointment.
Full estate / will appointment
Use Form 300ES when applying or petitioning for probate of a will or appointment. The Florence page says completed documents should be dropped off with required documents and costs, then an estate clerk contacts the filer.
Death certificate and original will
Florence’s estate instructions mention a copy of the death certificate and the original will if there was one. Do not mail or drop off originals until you understand the court’s current requirements.
Estate clerk follow-up
The county says documents will be reviewed and an estate clerk will contact you to schedule an appointment. If you cannot attend, the page gives a mailing address for paperwork.
Mail estate paperwork
If unable to come for an appointment, Florence’s estate page says paperwork may be mailed to Florence County Probate Court, 181 N. Irby St., Suite 1300, Florence, SC 29501.
Filing tip: Do not use a private estate packet, an old PDF, or another county’s form without checking the Florence estate page and SC Judicial Branch forms first.
Florence County Small Estate Affidavit: Form 420ES, Threshold and Local Costs
Florence County’s estate instructions explain that if the decedent did not own real property and the value of personal property is less than $45,000, users should follow Form 420ES, Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property Pursuant to Small Estate Proceedings. The page says small estate packets should include required documents and court costs.
Less than $45,000 personal property
Florence’s local page points users to Form 420ES when there is no real property and the personal property value is less than $45,000.
What Florence says to return
The small estate section lists original death certificate, copy of paid funeral bill, obituary, affidavit as to reimbursement for funeral bill, completed affidavit, and check payable to Florence County Probate Court.
Small estate cost ranges listed by Florence County
Timing note: Florence County says if a completed small estate packet is dropped off with required documents and costs, allow 5 business days to hear from a case worker. Verify before relying on that timeline for urgent matters.
Florence County Full Estate Initial Costs and Publication Choices
Florence County’s estate page lists an initial court-fee and publication-fee choice made payable to Florence County Probate Court. These amounts are useful for planning, but always verify before filing because court-cost pages can change.
Fee warning: Publication and filing amounts are from the official Florence County estate page viewed for this refresh. Confirm the latest cost and payment method directly with Probate Court before submitting a check or packet.
Florence County Probate Forms and South Carolina Probate Forms
The South Carolina Judicial Branch Probate Court forms page lists official probate forms in PDF and Word formats. Important estate and protected-person forms include Form 300ES for probate of will or appointment, Form 420ES for small estate collection, Form 361ES for accounting, and GC forms for guardianship and conservatorship matters.
Florence County Marriage License and Certified Copy Help
In South Carolina, Probate Court handles marriage licenses. Florence County’s marriage page says the Marriage License office is at the Florence County Judicial Center, 181 N. Irby Street, Suite 1300, Florence, SC 29501, and lists the Marriage License Clerk at 843-665-3085 ext. 6.
Both applicants appear together
Florence says both parties are required to appear together to file an application. Applications cannot be taken by mail, telephone, or one party only.
24-hour waiting period
Florence lists a mandatory 24-hour waiting period after the application is filed before the license can be picked up and the parties can be married.
Certified marriage copy
Florence says a certified copy can be obtained online through South Carolina Probate Search, and requests are also accepted in person or by telephone.
Marriage-license fees listed by Florence County
Florence-only record note: Florence County says it only has licenses issued in Florence County. If the marriage license was issued in another county, contact that county.
Florence County Guardianship, Conservatorship and Restricted Records
Florence County Probate Court jurisdiction includes estates of minors or incapacitated persons. South Carolina probate forms include guardianship and conservatorship forms for protected-person matters. These cases may involve medical information, fiduciary duties, reports, inventories, accountings, bonds, notices, and access restrictions.
Personal or care decisions
A guardianship matter may involve authority for personal, health, residential, or care-related decisions for an incapacitated person.
Money, property or estate assets
A conservatorship may involve control, protection, accounting, or reporting for money, property, or estate assets of a minor or incapacitated person.
Access caution: Minor, medical, commitment, guardianship, conservatorship, and protected-person records may be restricted. Do not assume every record is searchable online.
Florence County Mental Health or Chemical Dependency Commitment: Do Not Start at Probate Court First
Florence County’s commitment-procedure page gives a very important instruction: for an emergency commitment involving a person located in Florence County, go directly to Pee Dee Mental Health Center at 125 E. Cheves St., Florence, SC 29506, and do not come to Probate Court first. The court says Probate Court can assist only after the Mental Health Center has done an initial screening.
Go to mental health center first
The local page says the Mental Health Center must do the initial screening. If emergency treatment is necessary, documents may then be brought to Probate Court for an Order of Detention.
Judicial petition and hearing path
If judicial commitment proceedings are needed, the Mental Health Center issues a judicial petition. The court schedules an examination and later a hearing if the person is found mentally ill or chemically dependent.
Certified Copies, Case Details and Probate Record Requests
Online probate search can help locate a case, but official use often requires a court-issued or certified copy. If you need records for a bank, real estate transaction, title company, heirship issue, marriage-license proof, estate administration, guardianship, or attorney file, verify exactly what document and certification level is required.
Prepare the case detail
Bring or provide case number, estate name, decedent name, filing year, party names, and the exact document type: will, order, letters, claim, accounting, settlement, or copy.
Prepare both names and date
Florence says marriage-copy requests require names of both parties, including bride’s maiden name, date or year of marriage, daytime phone number, and applicable fees.
Florence County Probate Court Address, Phone and Map
The official Florence County and South Carolina Judicial Branch listings show Florence County Probate Court at 181 N. Irby Street, Suite 1300, Florence, SC 29501, phone 843-665-3085. Call before visiting if you need an appointment, estate clerk, certified copy, original-document handling, small estate review, or marriage-license help.
Florence County Probate Court — James Schofield Judicial Center
Address: 181 N. Irby Street, Suite 1300, Florence, SC 29501
Why Florence County Probate Searches Go Wrong
Using Clerk of Court or Register of Deeds first
Probate estates, wills, marriage licenses, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and commitment matters should start with Probate Court unless the court directs otherwise.
Treating a search result as a certified record
A search result may identify a case, but official transactions may need certified copies, letters, orders, or court-issued documents.
Paying from old third-party information
Florence County provides local small-estate, publication, and marriage fee details. Verify current amounts before submitting payment.
Going to Probate Court first for commitment
Florence’s commitment page says emergency commitment matters must start at Pee Dee Mental Health Center before Probate Court assistance.
Useful Related ProbateCourtUSA.org Guides
These internal links help users compare South Carolina probate search patterns and official-court workflows. For Florence County action, still use the Florence County and SC official sources above.
Florence County Probate Court FAQs
Where is Florence County Probate Court located?
Florence County Probate Court is located at 181 N. Irby Street, Suite 1300, Florence, SC 29501. South Carolina Judicial Branch also lists the Probate Judge at this address.
What is the phone number for Florence County Probate Court?
The official Florence County Probate Court phone number is 843-665-3085. The marriage-license clerk is listed at 843-665-3085 ext. 6.
How do I search Florence County probate records?
Use South Carolina Probate Search, select Florence, and search by case number or a combination of name details. Expand the case result, then contact Probate Court if you need official copies or current filing status.
What does Florence County Probate Court handle?
Florence County states that Probate Court has original jurisdiction over marriage licenses, estates of deceased persons, wills, estates of minors or incapacitated persons, trusts, and involuntary mental and chemical dependency commitments.
What form starts a full estate in Florence County?
Florence County’s estate page tells users to submit completed Form 300ES with required documents and court costs for a full estate. The SC Judicial Branch forms page lists Form 300ES as Application / Petition for Probate of Will or Appointment.
What is the small estate limit in Florence County?
Florence’s estate page points users to Form 420ES when the decedent did not own real property and the value of personal property is less than $45,000. Verify all requirements before filing.
Can I mail Florence County estate paperwork?
Yes, Florence County’s estate information says that if you are unable to come for an appointment, paperwork may be mailed to Florence County Probate Court, 181 N. Irby St., Suite 1300, Florence, SC 29501.
How do I get a certified Florence County marriage license copy?
Florence County says certified copies can be obtained online through South Carolina Probate Search, and requests are also accepted in person or by telephone. You need names of both parties, date or year of marriage, phone number, and fees.
Does Florence County Probate Court perform marriage ceremonies?
No. Florence County’s marriage page states that Florence County Probate Court does not perform marriage ceremonies.
Where do I go for emergency mental health commitment in Florence County?
Florence County’s commitment page says emergency commitment matters should start at Pee Dee Mental Health Center, 125 E. Cheves St., Florence, SC 29506. It specifically says not to come to Probate Court first.
Best Next Step for Florence County Probate Court Help
For Florence County, SC probate matters, use this order: identify your task, use the official Florence Probate Court or South Carolina Probate Search path, prepare the correct SC Probate form, confirm local costs and appointment rules, then contact Probate Court before mailing paperwork, ordering certified copies, or relying on search results.
This page is an independent informational guide published for ProbateCourtUSA.org. It is not Florence County Probate Court, South Carolina Judicial Branch, a court office, or a law firm. Always verify urgent or official matters directly with the appropriate court office or a qualified South Carolina attorney.