About the SC Probate Court
Each county has a Probate Judge who is popularly elected to a four-year term and has jurisdiction over marriage licenses, estates of deceased persons, guardianships of incompetents, conservatorships of estates of minors and incompetents, minor settlements under $25,000 and involuntary commitments to institutions for mentally ill and/or chemically dependent persons. They also have exclusive jurisdiction over trusts and concurrent jurisdiction with Circuit Courts over powers of attorney.
How Judges are elected to the SC Probate Court
According to section 14-23-30 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, the judges of the Probate Court are elected by the qualified electors of the respective counties for the term of four years.