Source: https://willing.com/south-carolina-last-will-testament
Timestamp: 2019-01-16 02:40:21
Document Index: 503983336

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 62', '§ 62', '§ 62', '§ 62', '§ 62', '§ 62', '§ 62']

South Carolina Last Will & Testament - Write Your Legal Will - Willing
Home / South Carolina Last Will & Testament – Write Your Legal Will
The legal requirements for making a will in South Carolina can be found in SC Code of Law § 62-2-501. See below for the basics.
Making a Will in South Carolina
South Carolina Will Requirements
To make a valid will in South Carolina, certain legal requirements must be met. There are requirements for both the person making the will (called a “testator”), and for the will itself.
An individual who is of sound mind and who is not a minor . . . may make a will. SC Code of Law § 62-2-501.
Regarding the will itself, the standard requirements are set forth in SC Code of Law § 62-2-502.
every will shall be:
(2) signed by the testator or signed in the testator’s name by some other individual in the testator’s presence and by the testator’s direction; and
(3) signed by at least two individuals each of whom witnessed either the signing or the testator’s acknowledgment of the signature or of the will.
Although there are various exceptions and special rules, these are the standard requirements for South Carolina wills.
You should definitely have your will notarized. Under South Carolina law, a will that meets certain requirements — including proper notarization — is “self proved”. SC Code of Law § 62-2-503. A self proved will can be admitted to probate court without the testimony of the witnesses to the will. (When a will that isn’t self proved is submitted to the probate court, the court will require testimony from witnesses, or other proof, to establish that the will is what it claims to be.)
How does it work? To make a will self-proved in South Carolina, the testator and witnesses must sign a “self proving affidavit” before a notary public. An affidavit is a sworn statement, and a notary public is an officer of the court. Therefore, an affidavit before a notary public is like making a statement in court. So, when an affidavit states that the will was properly executed, it’s as good as in-court testimony, and the witnesses don’t need to show up when it’s time for the will to be admitted to court. SC Code of Law § 62-2-503.
Do I need an attorney to make a will in South Carolina?
No. An attorney is not required to make a will in South Carolina. For the vast majority of people, an attorney will simply do the same things that a good will-making software does — ask you questions and then create documents for you based on your information and wishes. However, in certain situations it is a good idea seek legal advice from an attorney, like if you have a child with special needs, or if you have a high net worth (around $10 million) and are concerned about federal estate taxes. In these cases, an attorney can help you navigate special questions and create a proper plan.
South Carolina law handles old wills in two ways. First, if you have an old will in place, you can cancel it by creating a new one. A good will usually contains a statement that it revokes (cancels) any prior wills. Second, a will can be cancelled simply by physically destroying it. SC Code of Law § 62-2-506.
Under South Carolina law, a will must be filed with the court within 30 days after the death of the testator. SC Code of Law § 62-2-901. So, after you pass away, your will should be filed in your local probate court by the person named to be your personal representative (also called an “executor” or “administrator”). This will begin the legal process known as “probate” through which your wishes are carried out under court supervision.