Will Requirements in South Carolina
A South Carolina will must be signed by the testator and by at least two witnesses, holographic wills made in the state are not valid, and a will can be made self-proved with a notarized affidavit.
Last checked . General information, not legal advice.
South Carolina at a glance
- Witnesses
- 2 witnesses
- Self-proving affidavit
- Allowed
- Handwritten (holographic) wills
- Not recognized
The rules in South Carolina
How many witnesses does a will need in South Carolina?
A will in South Carolina must be signed in front of two witnesses, who sign it too.
Can a will be self-proved in South Carolina?
Yes. South Carolina allows a self-proving affidavit, which lets a court accept the will without calling the witnesses to testify.
Is a handwritten will valid in South Carolina?
No. South Carolina does not recognize unwitnessed handwritten wills made under its own law.
Where do the South Carolina rules for wills come from?
They come from S.C. Code Title 62, Chapter 2. We last checked them in October 2026. Laws change, so check the current statute before you rely on it.
How South Carolina compares
27 jurisdictions recognize handwritten wills; South Carolina is not one of them, so a will made there should be witnessed.
What this means in practice
Sign the will in front of all the witnesses at the same time and have them sign right after you. Many people choose adult witnesses who receive nothing under the will, which avoids questions later.
Keep the signed original somewhere safe and tell your executor where it is. A copy is usually not enough to probate a will.
Changing a will later takes the same formalities: sign a codicil or a new will with witnesses, rather than writing changes on the original.
General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.