b"Probate CourtMission StatementThe Probate Court is a court of record having exclusive original jurisdiction over all matters related to decedents' estates, trusts,guardianships of adult incapacitated persons, conservatorships of minors and adult incapacitated persons, involuntary commitmentof persons suering from mental illness, intellectual disability, chemical dependence, and tuberculosis, and issuance of marriagelicenses. The Court also has jurisdiction over the approval of certain wrongful death settlements.In discharging the duties and functions of the Court, the judges and court sta strive to always render courteous and eective publicservice, with sensitivity and respect to the individuals having business with the Court. Court services are rendered fairly, impartially,and equitably.Goals and ObjectivesAlways perform the Court's mission in a manner that does honor and justice to the citizens of Beaufort County and its leaders,as well as to our state and federal judicial systems, and provides meaningful, user-friendly service to the public whichincludes improving access to the public by expanding the hours of service in our Hilton Head Satellite Oce and opening aBluton Satellite OceRenovate our oces and improve our case-management system so that our sta and the public may have safe and ergonomically correctwork stations as well as user-friendly access.Increase the number of sta and move compensation in line with current comparable probate courts in the State so averagecase levels per sta member improve resulting in more detailed attention to matters before this Court.Departmental DescriptionCourtactivities/functionsrelatedtoitsjurisdictionalareasincludetheappointmentofpersonalrepresentatives,trustees,conservators, and guardians, hearings and trials in formal proceedings, processing and admitting to probate/record wills and otherprobateinstruments,pleadings,motions,marriagelicensesandapplicationstherefor,andotherocialdocuments,andthemaintenance of public records regarding the same. Our sta consists of the Probate Judge, Associate Judge, and eleven (11)Clerks and Deputy Clerks, all full-time, and one (1) part-time Clerk. Our services are delivered to members of the public both directlyand through attorneys.Performance MeasuresWe began calendar year 2022with 1,710 pending decedents' estate cases, opened 1,784 new cases and closed 1,574 during theyear. The same year, we handled 571 mental/chemical commitment cases, 190 guardianship/conservatorship/trust cases, andissued 1,504 marriage licenses. In addition to casework, we also helped hundreds of people in-person, by telephone, and email withmyriad questions about the probate process.Budget Highlights and Special NotesAs our population has exponentially increased our ability to handle dramatic caseload increases eciently and eectivelynecessitates hiring of additional sta as well as structural and technological improvements, as reected in our proposed budget.Expenditures Summary$1,426,860 $365,250(34.41% vs. prior year)Beaufort County, SC | Budget Book 2024 Page 318"