Wills & Probate Court
Records Compiled by: Paul M. Kankula NN8NN (non-copyrighted) |
09 Jan 2015
General Information
Church of LDS SC Probate Court Records
Cyndi's List - Wills & Probate
Court Record Notes:
Prior to 1769, proprietary and crown courts were convened at Charleston. These were known as the General Court and the Grand Council.
1769-1772 a circuit court system was begun. Judicial district began to keep records for some courts, although records were still filed in Charleston. After 1780 the records were kept in the various courthouses.
1671-1790's Court of Chancery handled land and inheritance matters for the entire colony.
1703-Present Court of Common Pleas was a statewide court until 1790 when each district established a separate court with jurisdiction over guardianship and civil matters.
1769-Present Circuit courts have had district or countywide jurisdiction in criminal cases and some civil cases.
1769-1776 Court of General Sessions was a statewide court until 1790, when each district established a separate court. These courts had jurisdiction over criminal cases.
1785-1798 County courts had jurisdiction over minor civil and criminal matters.
1791-1900 Courts of equity had countywide jurisdiction over property matters.
Probate records of SC were kept by the secretary of the providence prior to 1732, and were later kept by the courts of ordinary and probate courts of each county.
Each county of South Carolina has a popularly elected Clerk of Court who serves a four-year term. The Clerk of Court serves both the Circuit and Family Court as they operate in each county. The Clerks of Court are charged with docket management; receiving fees, fines, and costs; maintaining all court records; and handling reporting requirements. In the Circuit Court, their duties encompass both civil and criminal areas: receiving criminal warrants and forwarding them to the Solicitor; receiving bail; assembling trial lists; handling jury-related matters; performing courtroom duties.
Probate court has exclusive original jurisdiction over all matters
pertaining to Estates of decedents; protection of minors and incapacitated
adults; Trusts; issuance of marriage licenses, involuntary commitment for
mental illness, alcoholism, drug addiction, and active pulmonary
tuberculosis; and wrongful death and survival action settlements.
Abbeville County - (Formed from Ninety-Six District in 1785)
Abbeville County Probate Court
http://www.abbevillecountysc.com/
Charles Mark Sumner, Judge of Probate
e-Mail: [email protected]
Phone: 864-366-5312, Ext. 62 Fax: 864-366-4023901 W. Greenwood
Street, Suite 2300, Abbeville, SC 29620
Hours: 8:30am - 5:00pm
( Road Map Hyperlink )
On-Line Will Project =
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~scabbevi/probate%20wills.html
Anderson County - (Formed from Ninety-Six District in 1785)
Probate Court:
http://www.andersoncountysc.org/
2nd floor of the New Courthouse
Box 8002, Anderson, SC 29622-8002
864-260-4049 , fax 864-260-4811
Brandi Harbin, [email protected]
Deputy Judge
Church of LDS Bound Volume #? Will Microfilm 1791-1834 (293 images)
Church of LDS Bound Volume #1 Will Microfilm 1791-1857 (1,052 images)
Church of LDS Bound Volume #? Will Microfilm 1793-1798 (119 images)
Church of LDS Bound Volume #1 Will Microfilm 1835-1857 (254 images)
Church of LDS Bound Volume #3 Will Microfilm 1856-1880 (436 images)
Church of LDS Bound Volume #4 Will Microfilm 1880-1891 (372 images)
Church of LDS Bound Volume #5 Will Microfilm 1891-1900 (372 images)
Church of LDS Bound Volume #6 Will Microfilm 1899-1907 (347 images)
1791-1834 (vol. 1) & 1840-1867 (???) (vol. 2) Anderson County Will Ledgers are available for viewing at the Anderson County Probate Court.
1840-1853(*) (vol. 1) & 1863-1867 (vol. 2) Anderson County Will Ledger images are available for on-line viewing at the Church of LDS website.
Oconee County - (Formed from Indian Land & Pickens County in 1868)
Clerk of Court:
415 S. Pine St., Walhalla, SC 29691
864-638-4280
Probate Court:
http://www.oconeesc.com
211 W. Main St., Walhalla, SC 29691
864-638-4275, fax 864-638-4277
Pickens County - (Formed from Pendleton District in 1825)
Courthouse holds wills and estate records from 1828. For earlier records (Pendleton County/District 1798- ), you may need to search in Anderson County and/or the South Carolina Archives.
Clerk of Court:
214 East Main Street, A100
Box 215,
Pickens, SC 29671
864-898-5862, fax 864-898-5863
Probate Court:
http://www.co.pickens.sc.us
222 McDaniel Avenue, B-16,
Pickens, SC 29671
864-898-5903, fax 864-898-5924