Union County Probate Court Records
The Union County Probate Court is led by Probate Judge Hon. Toni S. Allen. The court is located in the Union County Court House at 210 West Main Street, Union, South Carolina 29379, with phone 864-429-1625 and fax 864-427-1198. The office states that it is open by appointment only from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The elected Probate Judge serves a four-year term.
Union County Probate Court handles probating estates, disputes in estates and trusts, involuntary commitments for alcohol or drug abuse or mental illness, marriage licenses, guardianships, conservatorships, minor and wrongful death settlements, and trust litigation. It does not hear criminal cases, does not work as a probation office, does not issue divorce papers, and does not write wills or powers of attorney. Divorce papers belong with Clerk of Court or Family Court channels, while marriage licenses and certificates belong with Probate Court.
Union County Probate Court
Judge: Hon. Toni S. Allen
Union County Court House
210 West Main Street
Union, SC 29379
864-429-1625
Fax: 864-427-1198
By appointment only, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
The Probate Court homepage is shown in the image captured from Union County Probate Court.
The homepage anchors the local office details used for Union County probate record requests.
Union County Probate Terms
Probate records use terms that can sound technical even when the task is simple. These definitions match the way Union County Probate Court describes estates, guardianships, and conservatorships. A term may control which form is filed, who signs, and whether the filing belongs in Probate Court or Family Court.
- Testator
- The person who made a will.
- Executor
- The person named to carry out the will and help administer the estate.
- Intestate
- A death without a valid will, so estate distribution follows legal priority rules.
- Personal representative
- The person appointed or authorized to act for an estate.
- Guardianship
- A court relationship where a competent adult makes personal care decisions for an incapacitated adult.
- Conservatorship
- A court relationship where a competent adult or entity manages property and finances for a minor or incapacitated adult.
Search Union County Probate Records
Union County research found no public online Probate Court database. The Probate Court says the public may come in during office hours to view probate files that are public record. It also says the office generally will not accept phone, mailed, or emailed requests to search records due to staffing. That means a person who needs a search should plan an in-person visit or hire an abstractor or attorney to search on the person's behalf.
Mail can still be used for a specific copy request when the requester already knows enough to identify the file and document. Include the case name or decedent name, the specific documents requested such as a will or final accounting, the mailing address, and a contact phone number. After the request is received, Probate Court contacts the requester with the amount owed. Copies are mailed after payment is received.
| Search Channel | Available? | Union County Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Online probate search | No local database found | Do not use Public Index as a substitute for Probate Court files. |
| In-person file search | Yes | Public probate files may be viewed during office hours. |
| Mail copy request | For specific documents | Provide case/decedent name, document names, mailing address, and phone. |
| Phone or email search | Generally no | Probate states searches are generally not accepted by phone, mail, or email. |
The records and copy request source is shown in the image from Union County Probate records and copy requests.
That page supports the in-person search rule and the mail-copy workflow for known documents.
Union County Probate Fees
Probate fees depend on the type of filing or copy. Union County publishes copy charges, a processing fee for mailed copy requests, a formal action filing fee, and a local small-estate fee schedule. Because estate and guardianship filings may need review, call the Probate Court before assuming a payment amount is final for a particular file.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Regular probate copies | $0.50 per page | Also applies if extra copies are needed for formal filings. |
| Older Papervision archived copies | $1.00 per page | Older archived copy source. |
| Mail copy request processing | $5.00 plus page fees | Probate contacts requester with amount owed. |
| Formal action filing | $150.00 | Payment may be cash, money order, cashier's check, or personal check. |
| Small estate under $100 | $12.50 | Based on local small-estate schedule. |
| Small estate $100.00-$4,999.99 | $25.00 | Based on estate value after liens and encumbrances. |
| Small estate $5,000.00-$19,999.99 | $45.00 | Local page states these amounts. |
| Small estate $20,000.00-$25,000.00 | $67.50 | Local threshold published as $25,000. |
Union County Estate Probate
Informal estate administration, informal special administration, and small estate affidavits are by appointment only. Union County Probate Court says this appointment practice predates COVID-19 and is its standard operating procedure. Completed filings may be dropped off with the proper filing fees. Staff review them later and either file them if correct or return them if incomplete, incorrect, or missing a fee. Staff do not review dropped-off filings while the person waits.
The estate administration source is shown in the image from Union County Probate estate administration.
The image reinforces that Union County estate filings depend on appointments and later staff review.
Union County Probate Court also publishes a broad services page at Probate Court services.
The services list is useful because it separates estates, marriage licenses, guardianships, commitments, and matters the court does not handle.
Formal and Small Estate Records
A formal probate action or lawsuit is more complex than an informal estate opening. Union County Probate Court recommends hiring an attorney for formal actions. To begin, the petitioner needs a summons, completed petition, certified death certificate, $150 filing fee, and the petitioner's driver's license or state-issued ID. Extra copies should be brought for clocking and service, or the court's copy fee applies. After filing, interested parties must be served with clocked copies within 120 days, and proof of service must be filed.
A small estate affidavit may apply when the smaller estate has no real estate and the entire probate estate, less liens and encumbrances, does not exceed the local threshold published by Union County Probate Court. Thirty days must have passed since death, no personal representative application can be pending in any jurisdiction, and a successor must be entitled to payment or delivery. A person who paid the funeral bill may qualify as a successor for this purpose. All small estate affidavits require an appointment.
The formal action source is shown in the image from Union County Probate formal actions.
The formal filing source is where the summons, petition, death certificate, service, and filing fee requirements are documented.
The small-estate source is shown in the image from Union County Probate small estate affidavit.
Use the local page for Union County filing steps, and verify the threshold before filing because state law may change.
Note: The local Probate page still publishes a $25,000 small-estate threshold, so applicants should verify it before relying on it.
Union County Guardianship Records
Union County Probate Court handles adult guardianships and conservatorships, but the court notes that minor guardianships may only be filed in Family Court. Probate cannot give legal advice, cannot recommend an attorney, and cannot help fill out forms. Official forms are available through the South Carolina Judicial Branch forms system. Commitment matters are also within the Probate Court's specialized functions, including mental-health and chemical-dependency proceedings.
Commitment records should not be treated like routine public estate files. The local process can involve Union Mental Health Center or Union Behavioral Health Services, emergency detention orders, law-enforcement transport for examination, judicial admission petitions, medical examination, notice, and hearing. Because these records involve health and treatment information, public access may be restricted even though Probate Court is the filing court.
For a marriage certificate or divorce distinction connected to Probate Court services, see Union County marriage and divorce records.