reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-706. Duty of personal representative; inventory and appraisement.

(A) Within ninety days after his appointment, a personal representative, who is not a special administrator or a successor to another representative who has previously discharged this duty, shall:
(1) prepare an inventory and appraisement of probate property owned by the decedent at the time of his death, listing it with reasonable detail, and indicating as to each listed item, its fair market value as of the date of the decedent's death, and the type and amount of any encumbrance that may exist with reference to any item;
(2) file the original of the inventory and appraisement with the court; and
(3) mail a copy of the filed inventory and appraisement to interested persons who have filed a demand for notice of the filing of the inventory pursuant to Section 62-3-204.
(B) Within ninety days of a demand by an interested person for an inventory of nonprobate property, the personal representative shall:
(1) prepare a list of the property owned by the decedent at the time of his death that is not probate property, so far as is known to the personal representative which may, at the discretion of the personal representative, include the value and nature of the decedent's interest in the property on the date of the decedent's death;
(2) mail a copy of the list to each interested person who has requested the list; and
(3) file proof of the mailing with the probate court.
(C) The court, upon application of the personal representative, may extend the time for filing or making either the inventory and appraisement or list of nonprobate property provided for in this section.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 1987 Act No. 171, Section 27; 1990 Act No. 521, Section 47; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1609; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-707. Employment of appraisers.

The personal representative may obtain a qualified and disinterested appraiser to assist him in ascertaining the fair market value as of the date of the decedent's death of any asset. Different persons may be employed to appraise different kinds of assets included in the estate. The names and addresses of any appraiser must be indicated on the inventory and appraisement or by supplemental inventory and appraisement with the item or items he appraised. On application of any interested person, the court may require that one or more qualified appraisers be appointed to ascertain the fair market value of all or any part of the estate or may approve one or more qualified appraisers.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 1990 Act No. 521, Section 48; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
Effect of Amendment
The 2013 amendment, in the first sentence, deleted "the value of which may be subject to reasonable doubt" from the end; in the third sentence, inserted "and appraisement or by supplemental inventory and appraisement"; deleted the prior fourth sentence, relating to execution of the inventory; and in the fourth sentence substituted "On application" for "on motion".
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-708. Duty of personal representative; supplementary inventory.

If any property not included in the original inventory and appraisement comes to the knowledge of a personal representative or if the personal representative learns that the value or description indicated in the original inventory for any item is erroneous or misleading, he shall submit a supplementary, amended or corrected inventory or appraisement showing the market value as of the date of the decedent's death of the new item or the revised market value or descriptions, the appraisers or other data relied upon, if any, and restating the unchanged information from the original inventory and appraisement and furnish copies to persons who receive the original inventory, and to interested persons who have requested or demanded the new information.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
Effect of Amendment
The 2013 amendment rewrote the section.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-709. Duty of personal representative; possession of estate.

Except as otherwise provided by a decedent's will, every personal representative has a right to, and shall take possession or control of, the decedent's property, except that any real property or tangible personal property may be left with or surrendered to the person presumptively entitled thereto unless or until, in the judgment of the personal representative, possession of the property by him will be necessary for purposes of administration. The request by a personal representative for delivery of any property possessed by an heir or devisee is conclusive evidence, in any action against the heir or devisee for possession thereof, that the possession of the property by the personal representative is necessary for purposes of administration. The personal representative shall pay taxes on, and take all steps reasonably necessary for the management, protection, and preservation of, the estate in his possession. He may maintain an action to recover possession of property or to determine the title thereto.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-710. Power to avoid transfers.

The property liable for the payment of unsecured debts of a decedent includes all property transferred by him by any means which is in law void or voidable as against his creditors, and subject to prior liens, the right to recover this property, so far as necessary for the payment of unsecured debts of the decedent, is exclusively in the personal representative.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-711. Powers of personal representatives; in general.

(a) Until termination of his appointment or unless otherwise provided in Section 62-3-910, a personal representative has the same power over the title to property of the estate that an absolute owner would have, in trust however, for the benefit of the creditors and others interested in the estate. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), this power may be exercised without notice, hearing, or order of court.
(b) Except where the will of the decedent authorizes to the contrary, a personal representative may not sell real property of the estate except as authorized pursuant to the procedures described in Sections 62-3-911 or Sections 62-3-1301 et seq. and shall refrain from selling tangible or intangible personal property of the estate (other than securities regularly traded on national or regional exchanges and produce, grain, fiber, tobacco, or other merchandise of the estate for which market values are readily ascertainable) having an aggregate value of ten thousand dollars or more without prior order of the court which may be issued upon application of the personal representative and after notice or consent as the court deems appropriate.
(c) If the will of a decedent devises real property to a personal representative or authorizes a personal representative to sell real property (the title to which was not devised to the personal representative), then subject to Section 62-3-713, the personal representative, acting in trust for the benefit of the creditors and other interested persons in the estate, may execute a deed in favor of a purchaser for value, who takes title to the real property in accordance with the provisions of Section 62-3-910(B).
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 1987 Act No. 171, Section 28; 2000 Act No. 398, Section 4; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
Effect of Amendment
The 2013 amendment, in subsection (b), substituted "procedures described in Sections 62-3-911 or Sections 62-3-1301 et seq." for "procedure described in Section 62-3-1301 et seq.", substituted "ten thousand dollars" for "five thousand dollars", and inserted "which may be issued upon application of the personal representative and after notice or consent as the court deems appropriate"; and in subsection (c), substituted "other interested persons" for "others interested", and substituted "Section 62-3-910(B)" for "Section 62-3-910(b)".
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-712. Improper exercise of power; breach of fiduciary duty.

If the exercise of power concerning the estate is improper, the personal representative is liable to interested persons for damage or loss resulting from breach of his fiduciary duty to the same extent as a trustee of an express trust. The rights of purchasers and others dealing with a personal representative shall be determined as provided in Sections 62-3-713 and 62-3-714.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-713. Sale, encumbrance, or transaction involving conflict of interest; voidable; exceptions.

Any sale or encumbrance to the personal representative, his spouse, agent or attorney, or any corporation or trust in which he has a substantial beneficial interest, or any transaction which is affected by a substantial conflict of interest on the part of the personal representative, is voidable by any person interested in the estate except one who has consented after fair disclosure unless:
(1) the will or a contract entered into by the decedent expressly authorized the transaction; or
(2) the transaction is approved by the court after notice to interested persons.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-714. Persons dealing with personal representative; protection.

A person who in good faith either assists a personal representative or deals with him for value is protected as if the personal representative properly exercised his power. The fact that a person knowingly deals with a personal representative does not alone require the person to inquire into the existence of a power or the propriety of its exercise. Except for restrictions on powers of personal representatives under Part 5 [Sections 62-3-501 et seq.] which are endorsed on letters as provided in Section 62-3-504, no provision in any will or order of court purporting to limit the power of a personal representative is effective except as to persons with actual knowledge thereof. A person is not bound to see to the proper application of estate assets paid or delivered to a personal representative. The protection here expressed extends to instances in which some procedural irregularity or jurisdictional defect occurred in proceedings leading to the issuance of letters, including a case in which the alleged decedent is found to be alive. The protection here expressed is not by substitution for that provided by comparable provisions of the laws relating to commercial transactions and laws simplifying transfers of securities by fiduciaries.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-716. Powers and duties of successor personal representative.

A successor personal representative has the same power and duty as the original personal representative to complete the administration and distribution of the estate, as expeditiously as possible, but he shall not exercise any power expressly made personal to the executor named in the will.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-717. Corepresentatives; when joint action required.

If two or more persons are appointed corepresentatives and unless the will provides otherwise, the concurrence of all is required on all acts connected with the administration and distribution of the estate. This restriction does not apply when any corepresentative receives and receipts for property due the estate, when the concurrence of all cannot readily be obtained in the time reasonably available for emergency action necessary to preserve the estate. When a corepresentative has been delegated to act for the others, written notice of the delegation signed by the others and setting forth the duties delegated must be filed with the court. Persons dealing with a corepresentative if actually unaware that another has been appointed to serve with him or if advised by the personal representative with whom they deal that he has authority to act alone for any of the reasons mentioned herein, are as fully protected as if the persons with whom they dealt had been the sole personal representative.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
Effect of Amendment
The 2013 amendment inserted ", written notice of the delegation signed by the others and setting forth the duties delegated must be filed with the court" in the third sentence.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-718. Powers of surviving personal representative.

Unless the terms of the will otherwise provide, every power exercisable by personal corepresentatives may be exercised by the one or more remaining after the appointment of one or more is terminated and, if one of two or more nominated as coexecutors is not appointed, those appointed may exercise all the powers incident to the office.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-719. Compensation of personal representative.

(a) Unless otherwise approved by the court for extraordinary services, a personal representative shall receive for his care in the execution of his duties a sum from the probate estate funds not to exceed five percent of the appraised value of the personal property of the probate estate plus the sales proceeds of real property of the probate estate received on sales directed or authorized by will or by proper court order, except upon sales to the personal representative as purchaser. The minimum commission payable is fifty dollars, regardless of the value of the personal property of the estate.
(b) Additionally, a personal representative may receive not more than five percent of the income earned by the probate estate in which he acts as fiduciary. No such additional commission is payable by an estate if the probate judge determines that a personal representative has acted unreasonably in the accomplishment of the assigned duties, or that unreasonable delay has been encountered.
(c) The provisions of this section do not apply in a case where there is a contract providing for the compensation to be paid for such services, or where the will otherwise directs, or where the personal representative qualified to act before June 28, 1984.
(d) A personal representative also may renounce his right to all or any part of the compensation. A written renunciation of fee may be filed with the court.
(e) If more than one personal representative is serving an estate, the court in its discretion shall apportion the compensation among the personal representatives, but the total compensation for all personal representatives of an estate must not exceed the maximum compensation allowable under subsections (a) and (b) for an estate with a sole personal representative.
(f) For purposes of this section, "probate estate" means the decedent's property passing under the decedent's will plus the decedent's property passing by intestacy. This subsection is intended to be declaratory of the law and governs the compensation of personal representatives currently serving and personal representatives serving at a later time.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 1990 Act No. 521, Section 50; 1997 Act No. 152, Section 16; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-720. Expenses in estate litigation.

If any personal representative or person nominated as personal representative defends or prosecutes any proceeding in good faith, whether successful or not, he is entitled to receive from the estate his necessary expenses and disbursements including reasonable attorneys' fees incurred.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-721. Proceedings for review of employment of agents and compensation of personal representatives and employees of estate.

(a) After notice to all interested persons, on petition of an interested person or on appropriate motion if administration is under Part 5 [Sections 62-3-501 et seq.], the propriety of employment of any person by a personal representative including any attorney, auditor, investment advisor, or other specialized agent or assistant, the reasonableness of the compensation of any person so employed, or the reasonableness of the compensation determined by the personal representative for his own services, may be reviewed by the court. Any person who has received excessive compensation from an estate for services rendered may be ordered to make appropriate refunds.
(b) Upon the settlement of their accounts by personal representatives the court shall allow each appraiser appointed by the court a reasonable daily fee for each day spent on appraising the property of the estate and also mileage at the same rate that members of state boards, commissions, and committees receive for each mile actually traveled in going to and from the place where the property ordered to be appraised is situated. In determining the reasonableness of the fee to each appraiser the court shall consider the value of the estate, the actual time consumed by the appraisers in the performance of their duties, and other such circumstances and conditions surrounding the appraisal as the court deems appropriate.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-801. Notice to creditors.

(a) Unless notice has already been given under this section, a personal representative upon his appointment must publish a notice to creditors once a week for three successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county announcing his appointment and address and notifying creditors of the estate to present their claims within eight months after the date of the first publication of the notice or be forever barred.
(b) A personal representative may give written notice by mail or other delivery to any creditor, notifying the creditor to present his claim within one year of the decedent's death, or within sixty days from the mailing or other delivery of such notice, whichever is earlier, or be forever barred. Written notice is the notice described in (a) above or a similar notice.
(c) The personal representative is not liable to any creditor or to any successor of the decedent for giving or failing to give notice under this section.
(d) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), notice to creditors under this section is not required if a personal representative is not appointed to administer the decedent's estate during the one year period following the death of the decedent.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 1987 Act No. 171, Section 31; 1990 Act No. 521, Section 51; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
Effect of Amendment
The 2013 amendment, in subsection (a), substituted "must publish" for "shall publish"; in subsection (b), substituted "within one year of the decedent's death" for "within eight months from of the published notice as provided in (a) above,", and substituted "whichever is earlier" for "whichever is later"; and added subsection (d), relating to when notice is not required.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-802. Statutes of limitations.

(a) Unless an estate is insolvent, the personal representative, with the consent of all successors whose interests would be affected, may waive any defense of limitations available to the estate. If the defense is not waived, no claim which was barred by any statute of limitations at the time of the decedent's death shall be allowed or paid.
(b) The running of any statute of limitations measured from some other event than death or the giving of notice to creditors is suspended during the eight months following the decedent's death but resumes thereafter as to claims not barred pursuant to the sections which follow.
(c) For purposes of any statute of limitations, the proper presentation of a claim under Section 62-3-804 is equivalent to commencement of a proceeding on the claim.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 1987 Act No. 171, Section 32; 1990 Act No. 521, Section 52; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-803. Limitations on presentation of claims.

(a) All claims against a decedent's estate which arose before the death of the decedent, including claims of the State and any political subdivision thereof, whether due or to become due, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, founded on contract, tort, or other legal basis, if not barred earlier by another statute of limitations or nonclaim statute; are barred against the estate, the personal representative, the decedent's heirs and devisees, and nonprobate transferees of the decedent; unless presented within the earlier of the following:
(1) one year after the decedent's death; or
(2) the time provided by Section 62-3-801(b) for creditors who are given actual notice, and within the time provided in Section 62-3-801(a) for all creditors barred by publication.
(b) A claim described in subsection (a) which is barred by the nonclaim statute of the decedent's domicile before the giving of notice to creditors in this State is barred in this State.
(c) All claims against a decedent's estate which arise at or after the death of the decedent, including claims of the State and any subdivision thereof, whether due or to become due, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, founded on contract, tort, or other legal basis, are barred against the estate, the personal representative, and the heirs and devisees of the decedent, unless presented as follows:
(1) a claim based on a contract with the personal representative within eight months after performance by the personal representative is due; or
(2) any other claim, within the later of eight months after it arises, or the time specified in subsection (a)(1).
(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed as placing a limitation on the time for:
(1) commencing a proceeding to enforce a mortgage, pledge, lien, or other security interest upon property of the estate;
(2) to the limits of the insurance protection only, commencing a proceeding to establish liability of the decedent or the personal representative for which he is protected by liability insurance; or
(3) collecting compensation for services rendered to the estate or reimbursement for expenses advanced by the personal representative or by the attorney or accountant for the personal representative of the estate.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 1987 Act No. 171, Section 33; 1990 Act No. 521, Section 53; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
Effect of Amendment
The 2013 amendment rewrote the section.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-805. Classification of claims.

(a) If the applicable assets of the estate are insufficient to pay all claims in full, the personal representative shall make payment in the following order:
(1) costs and expenses of administration, including attorney's fees, and reasonable funeral expenses;
(2) debts and taxes with preference under federal law;
(3) reasonable and necessary medical expenses, hospital expenses, and personal care expenses of the last illness of the decedent, including compensation of persons attending the decedent prior to death;
(4) debts and taxes with preference under other laws of this State, in the order of their priority, including medical assistance paid under Title XIX State Plan for Medical Assistance as provided for in Section 43-7-460;
(5) all other claims.
(b) Except as is provided under subsection (a)(4), no preference shall be given in the payment of any claim over any other claim of the same class, and a claim due and payable shall not be entitled to a preference over claims not due.
(c) Any person advancing or lending money to a decedent's estate for the payment of a specific claim shall, to the extent of the loan, have the same priority for payment as the claimant paid with the proceeds of the loan.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 1994 Act No. 481, Section 8; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
Effect of Amendment
The 2013 amendment rewrote the section.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-807. Payment of claims.

(a) Prior to the closing of the estate and no later than fourteen months after the decedent's death, the personal representative must proceed to pay the claims allowed against the estate in the order of priority prescribed, and after making provision for the homestead, for exempt property under Section 62-2-401, for claims already presented which have not been allowed or whose disallowance is the subject of a legal proceeding, or the time to file such a proceeding has not expired, and for unbarred claims which may yet be presented, including costs and expenses of administration. Upon application of the personal representative and for good cause shown, the probate court may extend the time for payment of creditor claims.
(b) Upon the expiration of the applicable time limitation provided in Section 62-3-803 for the presentation of claims, any claimant whose claim has been allowed, or partially allowed, under Section 62-3-806 may petition the probate court, or file an appropriate motion if the administration is under Part 5, for an order directing the personal representative to pay the claim, to the extent allowed, and to the extent assets of the estate are available for payment without impairing the ability of the personal representative to fulfill the other obligations of the decedent's estate.
(c) The personal representative at any time may pay any just claim which has not been barred, with or without formal presentation, but he is personally liable to any other claimant whose claim is allowed and who is injured by such payment if:
(1) the payment was made before the expiration of the time limit set forth in Section 62-3-803 for the presentation of a claim, and the personal representative failed to require the payee to give adequate security for the refund of any of the payment necessary to pay other claimants; or
(2) the payment was made, due to the negligence or wilful fault of the personal representative, in such manner as to deprive the injured claimant of his priority.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 1987 Act No. 171, Section 38; 1990 Act No. 521, Section 54; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
Effect of Amendment
The 2013 amendment rewrote the section.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-808. Individual liability of personal representative.

(a) Unless otherwise provided in the contract, a personal representative is not individually liable on a contract properly entered into in his fiduciary capacity in the course of administration of the estate unless he fails to reveal his representative capacity or identify the estate in the contract.
(b) A personal representative is individually liable for obligations arising from ownership or control of the estate or for torts committed in the course of administration of the estate only if he is personally at fault.
(c) Claims based on contracts entered into by a personal representative in his fiduciary capacity, on obligations arising from ownership or control of the estate or on torts committed in the course of estate administration may be asserted against the estate by proceeding against the personal representative in his fiduciary capacity, whether or not the personal representative is individually liable therefor.
(d) Issues of liability as between the estate and the personal representative individually may be determined in a proceeding for accounting, surcharge, or indemnification or other appropriate proceeding.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-809. Secured claims.

Payment of a secured claim is upon the basis of the amount allowed if the creditor surrenders his security; otherwise, payment is upon the basis of one of the following:
(1) if the creditor exhausts his security before receiving payment, upon the amount of the claim allowed less the fair market value of the security as agreed by the parties, or as determined by the court; or
(2) if the creditor does not have the right to exhaust his security or has not done so, upon the amount of the claim allowed less the value of the security determined by converting it into money according to the terms of the agreement pursuant to which the security was delivered to the creditor, or by the creditor and personal representative by agreement, arbitration, compromise, or litigation.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-810. Claims not due; contingent or unliquidated claims.

(a) If a claim which will become due at a future time or a contingent or unliquidated claim becomes due or certain before the distribution of the estate, and if the claim has been allowed or established by a proceeding, it is paid in the same manner as presently due and absolute claims of the same class.
(b) In other cases the personal representative or, on petition of the personal representative or the claimant in a special proceeding for the purpose, the court may provide for payment as follows:
(1) if the claimant consents, he may be paid the present or agreed value of the claim, taking any uncertainty into account;
(2) arrangement for future payment, or possible payment, on the happening of the contingency or on liquidation may be made by creating a trust, giving a mortgage or other security interest, obtaining a bond or security from a distributee, or otherwise.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-811. Counterclaims.

In allowing a claim, the personal representative may deduct any counterclaim which the estate has against the claimant. In determining a claim against an estate, a court shall reduce the amount allowed by the amount of any counterclaims allowed and, if such counterclaims exceed the claim, render a judgment against the claimant in the amount of the excess. A counterclaim, liquidated or unliquidated, may arise from a transaction other than that upon which the claim is based. A counterclaim may give rise to relief exceeding in amount or different in kind from that sought in the claim.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-812. Execution and levies prohibited.

No execution may issue upon nor may any levy be made against any property of the estate under any judgment against a decedent or a personal representative, but this section shall not be construed to prevent the enforcement of mortgages, pledges, liens, or other security interests upon real or personal property in an appropriate proceeding.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-813. Compromise of claims.

When a claim against the estate has been presented in any manner, the personal representative may, if it appears for the best interest of the estate, compromise the claim, whether due or not due, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-814. Encumbered assets.

If any assets of the estate are encumbered by mortgage, pledge, lien, or other security interest, the personal representative may pay the encumbrance or any part thereof, renew, or extend any obligation secured by the encumbrance or convey or transfer the assets to the creditor in satisfaction of his lien, in whole or in part, whether or not the holder of the encumbrance has presented a claim, if it appears to be for the best interest of the estate. Payment of an encumbrance does not increase the share of the distributee entitled to the encumbered assets unless the distributee is entitled to exoneration.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-815. Administration in more than one state; duty of personal representative.

(a) All assets of estates being administered in this State are subject to all claims, allowances, and charges existing or established against the personal representative wherever appointed.
(b) If the estate either in this State or as a whole is insufficient to cover all family exemptions and allowances determined by the law of the decedent's domicile, prior charges and claims, after satisfaction of the exemptions, allowances, and charges, each claimant whose claim has been allowed either in this State or elsewhere in administrations of which the personal representative is aware, is entitled to receive payment of an equal proportion of his claim. If a preference or security in regard to a claim is allowed in another jurisdiction but not in this State, the creditor so benefited is to receive dividends from local assets only upon the balance of his claim after deducting the amount of the benefit.
(c) In case the family exemptions and allowances, prior charges, and claims of the entire estate exceed the total value of the portions of the estate being administered separately and this State is not the state of the decedent's last domicile, the claims allowed in this State shall be paid their proportion if local assets are adequate for the purpose, and the balance of local assets shall be transferred to the domiciliary personal representative. If local assets are not sufficient to pay all claims allowed in this State the amount to which they are entitled, local assets shall be marshaled so that each claim allowed in this State is paid its proportion as far as possible, after taking into account all dividends on claims allowed in this State from assets in other jurisdictions.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-816. Final distribution to domiciliary representative.

The estate of a nonresident decedent being administered by a personal representative appointed in this State shall, if there is a personal representative of the decedent's domicile willing to receive it, be distributed to the domiciliary personal representative for the benefit of the successors of the decedent unless: (1) by virtue of the decedent's will, if any, and applicable choice of law rules, the successors are identified pursuant to the local law of this State without reference to the local law of the decedent's domicile; (2) the personal representative of this State, after reasonable inquiry is unaware of the existence or identity of a domiciliary personal representative; or (3) the court orders otherwise in a proceeding for a closing order under Section 62-3-1001 or incident to the closing of an administration under Part 5 [Sections 62-3-501 et seq.]. In other cases, distribution of the estate of a decedent shall be made in accordance with the other parts of this article [Sections 62-3-101 et seq.].
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-901. Successors' rights if no administration.

In the absence of administration, the devisees are entitled to the estate in accordance with the terms of a probated will and the heirs in accordance with the laws of intestate succession. Devisees may establish title by the probated will to devised property. Persons entitled to property by exemption or intestacy may establish title thereto by proof of the decedent's ownership, his death, and their relationship to the decedent. Successors take subject to all charges incident to administration, including the claims of creditors and subject to the rights of others resulting from abatement, retainer, advancement, ademption, and elective share.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 1987 Act No. 171, Section 39; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
Effect of Amendment
The 2013 amendment added "elective share" at the end.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-902. Distribution; order in which assets appropriated; abatement.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), and except as provided in connection with the share of the surviving spouse who elects to take an elective share, shares of distributees abate, without any preference or priority as between real and personal property, in the following order: (1) property not disposed of by the will; (2) residuary devises; (3) general devises; (4) specific devises. For purposes of abatement, a general devise charged on any specific property or fund is a specific devise to the extent of the value of the property on which it is charged, and upon the failure or insufficiency of the property on which it is charged, a general devise to the extent of the failure or insufficiency. Abatement within each classification is in proportion to the amounts of property each of the beneficiaries would have received if full distribution of the property had been made in accordance with the terms of the will.
(b) If the will expresses an order of abatement, or if the testamentary plan or the express or implied purpose of the devise would be defeated by the order of abatement stated in subsection (a), as, for instance, in case the will was executed before the effective date of this Code, the shares of the distributees abate as may be found necessary to give effect to the intention of the testator.
(c) If the subject of a preferred devise is sold or used incident to administration, abatement shall be achieved by appropriate adjustments in, or contribution from, other interests in the remaining assets.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
Effect of Amendment
The 2013 amendment in subsection (a) inserted "and except as provided in connection with the share of the surviving spouse who elects to take an elective share,".
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-903. Right of retainer.

The amount of a liquidated indebtedness of a successor to the estate if due, or its present value if not due, shall be offset against the successor's interest; but the successor has the benefit of any defense which would be available to him in a direct proceeding for recovery of the debt.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-905. Penalty clause for contest.

A provision in a will purporting to penalize any interested person for contesting the will or instituting other proceedings relating to the estate is unenforceable if probable cause exists for instituting proceedings.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-907. Distribution in kind; evidence.

(A) If distribution in kind is made, the personal representative must execute a deed of distribution with respect to real property and such other necessary or appropriate instrument of conveyance with respect to personal property, assigning, transferring, or releasing the assets to the distributee as evidence of the distributee's title to the property.
(B) If the decedent dies intestate or devises real property to a distributee, the personal representative's execution of a deed of distribution of real property constitutes a release of the personal representative's power over the title to the real property, which power is equivalent to that of an absolute owner, in trust, however, for the benefit of the creditors and others interested in the estate, provided by Section 62-3-711(a). The deed of distribution affords the distributee and his purchasers or encumbrancers the protection provided in Sections 62-3-908 and 62-3-910.
(C) If the decedent devises real property to a personal representative, either in a specific or residuary devise, the personal representative's execution of a deed of distribution of the real property constitutes a transfer of the title to the real property from the personal representative to the distributee, as well as a release of the personal representative's power over the title to the real property, which power is equivalent to that of an absolute owner, in trust, however, for the benefit of the creditors and others interested in the estate, provided by Section 62-3-711(a). The deed of distribution affords the distributee, and his purchasers or encumbrancers, the protection provided in Sections 62-3-908 and 62-3-910.
(D) The personal representative's execution of an instrument or deed of distribution of personal property constitutes a transfer of the title to the personal property from the personal representative to the distributee, as well as a release of the personal representative's power over the title to the personal property, which power is equivalent to that of an absolute owner, in trust, however, for the benefit of the creditors and others interested in the estate, provided by Section 62-3-711(a).
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 1987 Act No. 171, Section 42; 2000 Act No. 398, Section 6; 2002 Act No. 174, Section 1; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-908. Distribution; right or title of distributee.

Proof that a distributee has received an instrument or deed of distribution of assets in kind whether real or personal property, or payment in distribution, from a personal representative is conclusive evidence that the distributee has succeeded to the interest of the estate in the distributed assets, as against all persons interested in the estate, except that the personal representative may recover the assets or their value if the distribution was improper. An improper distribution includes, but is not limited to, those instances where the instrument or deed of distribution is found to be inconsistent with the provisions of the will or statutes governing intestacy.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 1987 Act No. 171, Section 43; 2000 Act No. 398, Section 7; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-909. Improper distribution; liability of distributee.

Unless the distribution or payment no longer can be questioned because of adjudication, estoppel, or limitation, a distributee of property improperly distributed or paid, or a claimant who was improperly paid, is liable to return the property improperly received and its income since distribution if he has the property. If he does not have the property, then he is liable to return the value as of the date of disposition of the property improperly received and its income and gain received by him.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code › Article 3 - Probate Of Wills And Administration › Section 62-3-912. Private agreements among successors to decedent binding on personal representative.

Subject to the rights of creditors and taxing authorities, competent successors may agree among themselves to alter the interests, shares, or amounts to which they are entitled under the will of the decedent, or under the laws of intestacy, in any way that they provide in a written contract executed by all who are affected by its provisions. The personal representative shall abide by the terms of the agreement subject to his obligation to administer the estate for the benefit of creditors, to pay all taxes and costs of administration, and to carry out the responsibilities of his office for the benefit of any successors of the decedent who are not parties. Personal representatives of decedents' estates are not required to see to the performance of trusts if the trustee thereof is another person who is willing to accept the trust. Accordingly, trustees of a testamentary trust are successors for the purposes of this section. Nothing herein relieves trustees of any duties owed to beneficiaries of trusts.
HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 539, Section 1; 2013 Act No. 100, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.