Dorchester County, South Carolina Court Filing
Fee Lookup

Court filing fees in Dorchester County, South Carolina are collected by the Dorchester County Probate Court in St. George according to South Carolina's statutory fee schedule, plus any local surcharges authorized by county ordinance.

South Carolina's court structure — Circuit Court (civil) / Family Court / Probate Court (county-level) / Magistrate Court (small claims) — determines which courthouse accepts which case types and what fees apply.

The Dorchester County Probate Court operates as a high-volume court with structured calendars. Confirming the current fee schedule with the clerk's office is recommended, as fees can change when new state legislation takes effect or when the county updates its local surcharge schedule.

For the full South Carolina court filing fee schedule, see our South Carolina Court Filing Fees.

• Filing fees in Dorchester County are based on South Carolina's statutory schedule, which applies statewide, plus any local surcharges assessed by the county. For reference, the statewide base fees by case type are: probate and estate filings — $50–$150 (Probate Court — per county)
• civil complaints and appearances — $150–$260 (Circuit Court) / $80–$100 (Magistrate Court)
• family law matters (divorce, custody, support) — $150–$260 (Family Court)
• small claims filings — $80–$100 (Magistrate Court / Small Claims). These figures represent the state-level base
• the total amount due at the Dorchester County Probate Court in St. George may include additional local charges.

• As a high-volume jurisdiction, Dorchester County may assess higher local surcharges than smaller counties, reflecting the greater administrative cost of operating a busy court in St.
• George.

• Beyond the initial filing fee, Dorchester County litigants and estate administrators should budget for recurring court costs throughout the proceeding: fees for filing subsequent motions and responses, charges for certified copies of letters testamentary or court orders (typically $5 to $25 per document in South Carolina), jury demand deposits in civil cases, and in probate matters, fees associated with filing the inventory, accountings, and petition for discharge.
• For a complete picture of expected court costs in Dorchester County, request the full fee schedule from the Dorchester County Probate Court clerk in St.
• George before initiating the proceeding.

South Carolina is expanding e-filing across its court system. The Dorchester County Probate Court in St.

George likely participates in the state system — represented parties in civil and family matters may be required to file electronically. Contact the clerk directly to confirm requirements for your case type and whether a convenience fee (typically $2–$8 per transaction) applies.

For full statewide e-filing details, see our South Carolina Court Filing Fees.

• Dorchester County residents who cannot afford court filing fees may apply for a fee waiver under S.C.
• Code Ann. § 8-21-310.
• To apply, file a declaration of financial condition with the Dorchester County Probate Court clerk's office in St.
• George at the time of your initial filing.
• The declaration lists all household income sources, monthly expenses, assets, and liabilities.
• A judge or court commissioner reviews the application and issues an order granting or denying the waiver, typically within a few days of submission.

• Eligibility for a fee waiver in Dorchester County generally requires that household income fall at or below 125% to 200% of the federal poverty level, or that the applicant is receiving qualifying public benefits — commonly Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, or public housing assistance.
• The specific income thresholds and qualifying programs are defined in S.C.
• Code Ann. § 8-21-310 and may have been updated by recent legislation.
• Ask the Dorchester County Probate Court clerk in St.
• George for the current income guidelines before completing your declaration.

• A granted fee waiver covers filing fees charged by the Dorchester County Probate Court — including initial filing fees and subsequent filings in the same case — but does not cover costs owed to third parties.
• In Dorchester County probate proceedings, a fee waiver does not eliminate the cost of publishing a notice to creditors in a newspaper of general circulation (a statutory requirement in most states), service of process fees paid to process servers or the sheriff's office, or costs for court-ordered appraisals.
• Budget for these additional costs separately even when a fee waiver is in effect.