About Rutledge & Coxe — Estate Planning Charleston

Rutledge & Coxe, LLC provides estate planning Charleston residents depend on, managing estate plans from creation through administration. Founding senior counsel W. Thomas Rutledge Jr. brings 26 years from Wachovia’s trust department plus 16 years in private practice before establishing the firm in 2011. Because Charleston County probates roughly 2,200 estates a year, careful drafting and funding of trusts matters. Additionally, counsel Campbell D. Coxe Jr. focuses on asset protection alongside wills and trust work.

The firm coordinates closely with clients’ CPAs and financial advisors across the Lowcountry. For comparison, browse the Charleston attorney directory. Consultations focus on goals, beneficiaries, and South Carolina probate avoidance tools.

What Clients Say

Clients describe careful, unhurried planning sessions and clear explanations of trust funding. Reviews emphasize patient education on wills, revocable trusts, durable powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. Families facing guardianship or conservatorship appreciate the firm’s courtroom-ready probate experience.

Estate Planning Charleston — Practice Areas and Services

• Wills, codicils, and revocable living trusts
• Durable powers of attorney and healthcare powers
• Asset protection planning for high-net-worth clients
• Guardianship and conservatorship proceedings
• Probate and estate administration in Charleston County Probate Court
• Trust funding and beneficiary designation review

Frequently Asked Questions

Does South Carolina require probate for small estates?

South Carolina offers a simplified small-estate process for estates valued at $25,000 or less, excluding real property. Estates above that threshold generally go through formal probate at the Charleston County Probate Court.

How long does probate take in Charleston County?

Most uncontested Charleston County probate cases take eight to twelve months. Contested matters, asset sales, or creditor disputes can extend administration beyond a year. Charleston’s probate court opens about 2,200 estates and tries 400 litigated cases annually.

Do I need a trust or just a will?

A will alone sends the estate through probate. A funded revocable trust can avoid probate for assets titled into it, speed distribution, and maintain privacy. The right tool depends on asset mix and family structure.