CREMATION STATUE

Cremation Statute 32-8-320, amended, relating to persons who may serve as a decedent's agent to authorize cremation, providing for those persons who in order of priority may authorize cremation. Cremation Statute Amended

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ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER

The Probate Court shall in all respects attempt to respect the privacy of all those persons and entities doing business in our office as set forth in the SC FINANCIAL IDENTITY FRAUD AND IDENTITY THEFT PROTECTION ACT (ยง30-2-310 et seq.). However, in some instances, the Court will need to collect certain personal identification information (PINFO) in order to comply with its statutory duties under state and federal law.

MARRIAGE LICENSES

Social security numbers or alien identification numbers are required by SC Law (ยง20-1-220) on marriage license applications which are kept separately from public records. For those not having social security numbers, other government issued forms of identification are collected to verify the identification and the age of applicants.

ESTATES

We may need to collect PINFO in order to confirm the nature and value of estate assets; however, the PINFO will be kept separately from the public file, destroyed, or returned to the Personal Representative.

PROTECTIVE PROCEEDINGS

We will collect the PINFO of protected persons, guardians, and conservators in order to secure and oversee the assets of protected persons under this court's jurisdiction. If collected, the PINFO will be kept separate from public access.

INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT PROCEEDINGS

We will collect the Social Security number of any person involuntarily committed to identify the individual or to make required reports to governmental agencies. Attorneys appointed to represent patients must provide PINFO for tax purposes. All records in this division are confidential and not available for public viewing pursuant to Title 44 of the SC Code.

PAYMENT OF COURT FEES/COSTS/FINES

When payment is made by check or credit card, the account numbers will be processed in order to insure proper payment. No copies of transmittals will be kept in the public record.

IT IS SO ORDERED!

_________/S/______________

DEBORA A. FAULKNER

PROBATE JUDGE

January 1, 2009

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PROBATE ALERT!

Please be aware that under no circumstances do members of the Probate Court staff ever visit in anyone's home for any reason. All of the business of the Court is conducted in the Probate Court Office.

Estate records are public records by law. Therefore, anyone has the right to research our files to learn who has died and what probate assets they owned at death and who will be inheriting. Most of the time this is done for legitimate reasons. However, unfortunately, the information may also be used by those having ulterior motives.

There have been recent reports that individuals are calling upon citizens who are probating estates under the guise of being from the Probate Court. This had occurred in both Greenville and Spartanburg Counties. Often times, this claim gains them entry into the citizen's home or onto the premises in order to convince the homeowner to invest in their company, sell them estate assets, etc. These individuals are misrepresenting themselves as public officials in order to prey upon the unsuspecting or vulnerable in our community.

If this should happen to you or anyone you know, it should be reported immediately to the Probate Court @ 864-467-7170 or to the Greenville County Sheriff's office @ 864-467-5240.

Thank you.

Debora Faulkner

Greenville County Probate Judge

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