2026 Beaufort County Probate Judge
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Heather Galvin
(Rep)
In your role overseeing mental health commitments, how will you coordinate with school therapeutic counselors and drug/alcohol programs to ensure a holistic approach for youth in crisis?
What specific steps will you take to ensure that every individual who enters the Probate Court is treated fairly—regardless of race, gender, or economic status?
How will you use the authority of the Probate Court to protect the rights of women and the elderly in estate and guardianship cases, particularly where there may be signs of abuse or suppression?
Brief Bio
Judge Galvin has proudly served the citizens of Beaufort County since 2012, as an Associate Judge and then as the elected Probate Judge in 2023. She is the immediate Past President of the South Carolina Association of Probate Judges and is on the Executive Committee of the National College of Probate Judges. Judge Galvin is admitted to the practice of law in South Carolina, Ohio, and Washington D.C. She is a member of the Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church.
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Holistic approaches for youth in crisis is a priority for our team. We hold meetings twice a year with local hospitals, law enforcement, Coastal Empire Community Mental Health Center, and Nexus Care to discuss opportunities for our agencies to collaborate to provide the best care to individuals in crisis. In addition, we have presented to various organizations, community partners, and at a school regarding the legal progress for commitment proceedings. While our proceedings are confidential by law and judges are not permitted to engage in ex parte communication, we care about everyone who comes into our Court and want to give each person the best opportunity for a positive outcome.
Our Probate Court team is as diverse as our community which enables us to better care for and appreciate each individual who enters our Court. Beaufort County also conducts annual training on a variety of topics such as sensitivity, impartiality, and discrimination. I also emphasize that each person who comes into our office should be treated exactly the same; with sensitivity, compassion, and kindness. Since taking office, I have implemented an appointment system so that each individual can receive our equal and undivided attention.
From 2015-2019, I had the privilege of serving on a task force to revise the South Carolina Probate Code and Probate Forms related to Guardianship and Conservatorship matters. As part of drafting the code, we focused on protecting the rights of alleged incapacitated individuals while ensuring the process to address allegations of abuse or suppression was expeditiously heard. Working with community stakeholders to discuss the legal processes available is an important objective as well. This year, I have had the opportunity to speak on the National and State levels on topics such as Predatory Marriage, Interstate Kidnapping of the Elderly by family members, and best practices amongst courts in handling jurisdictional issues.
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