South Carolina UTMA age of majority is the answer to “utma age of majority South Carolina”. This guide gives the South Carolina figures in a dated table, explains in plain words what they mean, walks through the steps, and points to the official forms and free help.
The South Carolina UTMA age of majority figures on this page were read in the South Carolina statute as of October 2026; confirm the current text before you rely on them.
South Carolina UTMA age of majority at a Glance
| Transfer age | 21 |
| Option to extend | South Carolina adopted the UTMA on April 4, 2022 (Act of 2022, S.C. Code 63-5-601 et seq.); older accounts set up under its former gifts law keep their original terms |
| Statute | S.C. Code 63-5-601 et seq. (South Carolina Uniform Transfers to Minors Act, 2022) |
In This South Carolina UTMA age of majority Guide:
What the South Carolina UTMA Age of Majority Means
A UTMA account holds money or property given to a child. An adult called the custodian manages it until the child reaches the state’s transfer age, and then the property belongs to the young adult outright. In most cases nobody can take the gift back once it’s made, because the property belongs to the child from the start.
The South Carolina UTMA age of majority Figures
| Rule | Bonus Bank Daily verified figure |
|---|---|
| Transfer age | 21statute — verified Oct 2026 |
| Option to extend | South Carolina adopted the UTMA on April 4, 2022 (Act of 2022, S.C. Code 63-5-601 et seq.); older accounts set up under its former gifts law keep their original termsstatute — verified Oct 2026 |
| Statute | S.C. Code 63-5-601 et seq. (South Carolina Uniform Transfers to Minors Act, 2022)statute — verified Oct 2026 |
The South Carolina UTMA age of majority figures on this page were read in the South Carolina statute as of October 2026; confirm the current text before you rely on them.
Custodian Duties Before the South Carolina UTMA Age of Majority
The custodian generally has to manage the property the way a careful (prudent) person would and keep it separate from their own money, with clear records. The custodian may spend it for the child’s use and benefit, such as schooling or health costs. The custodian may not use it for personal expenses or to pay for basic support a parent already owes the child.
Check the details against the statute or with an attorney.
How the Transfer Works at the South Carolina UTMA Age of Majority
In most cases the custodian contacts the bank or brokerage when the young adult reaches the transfer age and asks for the account to be retitled into the young adult’s own name. The firm usually wants ID and its own transfer forms. If the custodian delays, the uniform act generally lets the young adult ask a court to order the transfer and an accounting.
Confirm the steps with the firm or the court clerk.
Financial Aid and the South Carolina UTMA Age of Majority
On the FAFSA, a UTMA account counts as the student’s own asset. Student assets are generally assessed at 20%, while parent assets count for at most about 5.64%, so a UTMA account can lower need-based aid more. Under the federal kiddie tax, a child’s unearned income above $2,700 (2025 tax year) may be taxed at the parent’s rate. This applies until age 19, or until 24 for full-time students.
UTMA vs 529 Plans in South Carolina
A UTMA account must be handed over to the young adult at the transfer age and can be used for anything that benefits them. A 529 plan stays under the account owner’s control and is meant for qualified education costs. 529 earnings are federally tax-free when used for those costs, and South Carolina generally allows a state income tax deduction for contributions to its Future Scholar 529 plan.
UTMA earnings are taxable each year.
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Common Mistakes With the South Carolina UTMA age of majority
The most common mistake is treating the account as the parent’s money. It belongs to the child from the day it is funded, and the custodian may use it only for the child’s benefit. Another is forgetting the transfer date: when the child reaches the age shown above, the custodian must hand the account over, whether or not the custodian thinks the young adult is ready.
A third is ignoring taxes and financial aid — the account’s earnings and value count for the child, not the parent.
Where to Get Help With the South Carolina UTMA age of majority in South Carolina
The bank or brokerage that holds the account can explain its transfer paperwork. A tax professional can explain how the account’s earnings are taxed, and a college financial aid office can explain how the account will count on aid forms. For disputes with a custodian, the South Carolina bar’s lawyer referral service can connect you with a lawyer.
How We Verify the South Carolina UTMA age of majority
The transfer age in the table comes from our 50-state data file, built by reading the South Carolina Uniform Transfers to Minors Act, and it carries the month we last checked it. If something on this page no longer matches the statute, the statute controls.
South Carolina’s act (Act No. 128 of 2022, bill H.3821) repealed the state’s old Uniform Gifts to Minors Act. It widened the kinds of property that can be given to a minor to include real estate, paintings, royalties and patents. Under the old gifts law, a custodian could choose to hand over the property early, at age 18.
Confirm with the statute or an attorney whether that applies to an older account.
Next rung: the South Carolina judgment page covers what creditors can and cannot reach.
South Carolina — the bottom line
- The South Carolina UTMA age of majority is the age the account must be handed over — the figure is in the table above.
- Before the South Carolina UTMA age of majority arrives, the custodian manages the account only for the child’s benefit.
- After the South Carolina UTMA age of majority, the young adult controls the account outright.
South Carolina UTMA Age of Majority FAQ
What is the UTMA age of majority in South Carolina?
21.
Can the UTMA transfer age be extended in South Carolina?
South Carolina adopted the UTMA on April 4, 2022 (Act of 2022, S.C.
Official South Carolina Sources & Resources
- State Uniform Transfers to Minors Act and the FinAid age-of-termination chart (Mar 2026) — custodial account age: https://finaid.org/savings/ageofmajority/
- State Uniform Transfers to Minors Act and the FinAid age-of-termination chart (Mar 2026) — custodial account age: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess124_2021-2022/bills/3821.htm
- South Carolina statute / opinion: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t63c005.php
- South Carolina State Treasurer’s Office (administrator of the Future Scholar 529 College Savings Plan): https://treasurer.sc.gov/
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: consumerfinance.gov
This South Carolina UTMA age of majority guide was last verified against official South Carolina sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current rule with the statute or a licensed attorney.
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Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Bonus Bank Daily is an independent educational resource — not a law firm, not a bank, not a debt collector and not a government agency. Judgment, levy, interest-rate and debt rules change — every figure here carries the date we verified it.
Confirm the current rule with the statute, the court clerk or a licensed attorney in your state before you act.