Bill

Bill > H4965


SC H4965

SC H4965
Probate judge qualifications


summary

Introduced
01/15/2026
In Committee
01/15/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

126th General Assembly

Bill Summary

Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Amending Section 14-23-1040, Relating To Qualifications Of Probate Judges, So As To Revise The Qualifications For Probate Judges In Counties Greater Than Fifty Thousand In Population, And To Grandfather Those Probate Judges Currently Serving.

AI Summary

This bill amends South Carolina law to revise the qualifications for probate judges, specifically in counties with populations over fifty thousand people. For these larger counties, a probate judge must now be at least twenty-five years old and either be a licensed attorney in good standing or hire a staff attorney. The bill also maintains existing qualifications such as being a U.S. citizen, a qualified elector in the county, and having a four-year college degree or four years of experience in a probate judge's office, though these are modified for the larger counties. Importantly, any probate judge currently serving in office before this act becomes law will be exempt from these new requirements, meaning their service will be "grandfathered" in.

Committee Categories

Justice

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

House Judiciary Domestic Relations, Business & Probate Laws Subcommittee on 3113, 4696, 4965 (10:00:00 1/28/2026 Blatt Room 516) (on 01/28/2026)

bill text


bill summary

Loading...

bill summary

Loading...
Loading...