united-states trusts-and-estates south-carolina
settling an estate when named party is missing
<p>Son/daughter who is a named recipient in will/trust broke off all communication a decade ago, whereabouts unknown despite parents/siblings searching (without legal/professional help). </p>

<p>How would this impact settling the estate?</p>

<p>All terms used colloquially.</p>

<p>In South Carolina the relevant law is <a href="http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t62c003.php" rel="nofollow noreferrer">§62-3-914</a>, which governs unclaimed assets. First, 8 months after the PR is appointed, the court must be convinced that the party can't be found. Then there is a hearing where interested parties can object to distributing that portion of the estate. Notice of this hearing has to be published three weeks in a row, at least a month in advance, in a newspaper in that county and at the discretion of the court one other newspaper (there are also filing requirements w.r.t. copies of the paper). The crucial next step is</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>(d) At the time fixed in the notice for cause to be shown, due proof
  of publication having been made and filed as required by subsection
  (c), <em>if no person appears as required, the court must decree
  distribution of the estate to be made as if the person whose
  whereabouts or the fact of whose death is unknown had died before the
  decedent.</em> Distribution by the personal representative is a full and
  complete discharge to the personal representative.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>If it is determined that the missing person died after the deceased did, that share is then distributed is whatever way the missing person's estate is to be distributed.</p>
