Detailed answer — practical steps under South Carolina law

If you believe filings in your father’s probate case are missing or incorrect, you can take concrete steps to review the record and, if necessary, seek correction through the probate court. Below is a clear, step‑by‑step approach you can use in South Carolina.

1. Identify the probate case

Find the county where your father’s probate was or should be opened (usually where he lived at death). You will need the decedent’s full name and date of death to locate the case. If you do not know the county, check the death certificate or ask family members.

2. Obtain the case file and docket

Visit or contact the county Probate Court / Clerk of Court. Request to:

• Obtain the official docket sheet (list of filings and hearings).
• Obtain copies of the key documents: petition for probate or letters of administration, the will (if admitted), letters testamentary/letters of administration, inventory, accountings, notices to creditors, and any motions or orders.

Many South Carolina counties keep public records online or will provide copies for a fee. The South Carolina Code of Laws addressing wills, administration, and probate procedure is collected in Title 62; see the Title 62 index for statute topics and text: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t62.php

3. Review the contents and timeline

Compare what you receive from the court with what you expect to be in the file. Common missing or incorrect items include:

• No inventory or incomplete inventory of assets.
• No accounting of distributions.
• Missing notice to heirs or creditors.
• Incorrect beneficiary names, asset descriptions, or distribution amounts.
• Failures to file mandatory motions or reports required by the court.

Make a checklist of missing items and note exact filing dates and document titles that are present.

4. Ask the personal representative (executor/administrator) for information

South Carolina personal representatives have duties to collect assets, notify heirs and creditors, and account for estate activity. Politely request copies of the estate inventory, accountings, receipts, and any communications with the court. Keep written records (email or letter) of your requests and any responses.

5. Use court procedures to obtain missing documents or corrections

If the personal representative does not comply or filings are missing from the court file, you have options:

• Request the clerk to check for missing filings. Clerks can confirm whether a document was filed and whether it has been scanned into the public file.
• File a motion or petition in the probate court. Common filings include motions to compel an inventory or accounting, motions to correct the record, or petitions for an order requiring the personal representative to file required reports.
• Object to specific filings or filings errors. If a submitted inventory or accounting contains errors, you can file a written objection or exception with the court and request a hearing.
• Request a hearing. The court can require the personal representative to explain missing filings or correct inaccurate entries under court supervision.

The South Carolina probate statutes and court rules govern what the court can order and how to proceed; review Title 62 for the framework of wills and administration: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t62.php

6. Consider more serious remedies if necessary

When a personal representative fails to act or there is evidence of misconduct (e.g., hiding assets, wrongful distributions, or fraud), the court can:

• Require an accounting and supporting documentation.
• Surcharge the personal representative for losses caused by mismanagement.
• Remove the personal representative and appoint a successor.
• Order restitution or other equitable relief.

Filing a petition to remove the personal representative or to surcharge requires a formal court filing and supporting evidence. These matters are governed by probate statutes and case law and are fact‑specific.

7. Time considerations and deadlines

Act promptly. Some challenges to probate actions or will validity are time‑limited. Even where time limits do not strictly bar relief, delay can make it harder to obtain records or recover assets. If you suspect wrongdoing or missing filings, begin by requesting records from the clerk and asking for an attorney consultation quickly.

8. When to consult a South Carolina attorney

If records are complex, the personal representative refuses cooperation, you suspect mismanagement, or you need to file objections, consult a probate attorney licensed in South Carolina. An attorney can help prepare motions, present evidence, and represent you at hearings.

Helpful hints

• Start at the county Probate Court or Clerk of Court — they maintain the official case file and docket.
• Request certified copies of key documents when you need them for banks or title companies.
• Keep a dated paper trail of every request you make — emails or certified letters are best.
• Be specific when you ask for documents — request an inventory, accounting, notice to creditors, letters testamentary or of administration, and any orders related to distributions.
• If you cannot visit in person, many clerks will accept written requests or give guidance by phone; ask about online access.
• Do not delay if you suspect fraud or asset disappearance — prompt action preserves evidence and increases chances of recovery.
• Use the South Carolina Code Title 62 as a starting point to understand probate rules: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t62.php
• If you are an heir, beneficiary, or creditor and the personal representative is not performing duties, ask an attorney about filing a motion to compel or a petition to remove the personal representative.