Thomas D. Kilpatrick represents clients in legal matters involving estate planning; probate administration and litigation; guardianships; conservatorships; trust and fiduciary administration and litigation; elder law; business formation and governance; and real estate.

Thomas serves as a Court-appointed fiduciary, including as Special Administrator and Personal Representative for Estates and as Conservator for minors and incapacitated adults.

Thomas graduated cum laude from the College of Charleston in 2009, where he majored in Political Science. Thomas received his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2012, where he served as Production Editor for the American Bar Association’s Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Journal.

Upon graduating from law school, Thomas served as Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Mary Blunt, Judge of Probate for Dorchester County, where he gained experience in estate planning and probate litigation matters.

In 2020, Thomas received an LL.M. (Master of Laws) in Taxation from the University of Alabama School of Law.

Thomas is a member of the Columbia Estate Planning Council, the Richland County Bar, and the South Carolina Bar.

Admissions

South Carolina Bar (2012)

Education

College of Charleston — B. A. (2009)

University of South Carolina School of Law — J.D. (2012)

University of Alabama School of Law — LL.M. (Taxation) (2020)

Professional Associations/Awards

South Carolina Bar (Probate, Estate Planning and Trust Section; Chair, Elder Law Committee; Chair; Guardianship and Conservatorship Sub-Committee of Elder Law Committee)

Richland County Bar Association

Columbia Estate Planning Council

Leadership Columbia – Class of 2017 – Columbia Chamber of Commerce

Legal Elite – Columbia Business Monthly (2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)

Legal Elite – Greenville Business Monthly (2020, 2021, 2022)

Legal Elite – Charleston Business Monthly (2021)

Rising Star – Super Lawyers (2021, 2022, 2023)

Top Attorneys In South Carolina, Rising Stars – Columbia Living Magazine (2021)

Presentations

Presenter, “Elder Law Issues,” The Laurie Center, May, 2016

Presenter, “Wills, Estates, & Probate,” The Laurie Center, September, 2016

Presenter, “Estate Planning: Advanced Gifting Strategies and Testamentary Planning & Asset Protection Planning and Charitable Planning,” Half Moon Seminars, October, 2016

Presenter, “The Probate Process From Start to Finish: Putting The Case To Rest: Closing The Estate,” National Business Institute, February, 2017

Presenter, “Trusts From A to Z: Simple Testamentary Trusts and Revocable Living Trusts,” National Business Institute, August, 2017

Presenter, “Probate Bootcamp: Marshalling/Valuing Assets,” National Business Institute, February, 2018

Co-Presenter, “The Role of Attorney and Role of the Guardian Ad Litem,” Richland County Probate Court – Guardianship and Conservatorship Code Training, December 14, 2018

Presenter, “Ethics: Mental Health and Our Community/GC Code Changes,” Chester County Probate Court – 2019 Guardianship/Conservatorship Seminar, September 20, 2019

Presenter, “The Role of Role of a Guardian Ad Litem – The Court’s Expectations – Your Responsibility to the A.I.I.,” Richland County Probate Court – Guardian Ad Litem Training, February 7, 2020

Presenter, “Elder Law Issues,” Lexington County Public Library, April, 2022

Contact

Email: tkilpatrick@murphykilpatrick.com
Phone:  803-254-7091

Download Estate Planning Questionnaire for Thomas D. Kilpatrick

Helpful Links

Richland County Probate Court

Lexington County Probate Court

Lieutenant Governor’s Office on Aging

South Carolina Bar