Atty. John M. Jolley

Atty. John M. Jolley

John is a Partner practicing in the firm's Hilton Head office where he focuses his practice on Estate Planning and Probate Administration law. John is certified by the South Carolina Supreme Court as a specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Administration and is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC).

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Profile Summary

About John M. Jolley at a glance

John M. Jolley is a trusts and business attorney based in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, practicing at Jolley Law Group. Admitted to practice in South Carolina, South Carolina Bar and Virginia, Virginia State Bar Association. Educated at The University of South Carolina (J.D., 1998) and The University of South Carolina (B.A., 1994). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Trusts and Estates (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026). Serands clients in Hilton Head Island, SC and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • John is a Partner practicing in the firm's Hilton Head office where he focuses his practice on Estate Planning and Probate Administration law
  • John is certified by the South Carolina Supreme Court as a specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Administration and is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC)
  • John graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1998 and was admitted to the South Carolina and Virginia Bar in the fall of 1998
  • After graduation, John practiced in Richmond, Virginia and in Alexandria, Virginia before returning to South Carolina in the fall of 2000
  • John practiced in Columbia, South Carolina until joining McNair Law Firm in the fall of 2005
  • John writes and speaks regularly to public and private groups about estate planning, estate administration, and South Carolina probate issues
  • He served on the South Carolina Bar committee studying the proposed Uniform Trust Code and on the South Carolina Bar Committee studying the ETHICS 2000 report of the American Bar Association
  • John serves on the South Carolina Bar committee to study and propose changes to the South Carolina Probate Code

Practice Areas Explained

John M. Jolley's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases John M. Jolley handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Trusts

John M. Jolley is one of 104,171 trusts attorneys indexed nationally. Browse trusts attorneys in South Carolina →

Business & Corporate Law

Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.

John M. Jolley is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in South Carolina →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in South Carolina

Practicing law in South Carolina. Legal matters in South Carolina are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Hilton Head Island are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate South Carolina state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in South Carolina brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in South Carolina courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional South Carolina attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Hilton Head Island or all attorneys in South Carolina.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about John M. Jolley

Where is John M. Jolley's law office located?
John M. Jolley's law practice is located in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The firm is Jolley Law Group. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does John M. Jolley handle?
John M. Jolley focuses on trusts, business. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in South Carolina.
Where did John M. Jolley go to law school?
John M. Jolley earned their education at (J.D., 1998); (B.A., 1994).
How can I contact John M. Jolley for a consultation?
You can contact John M. Jolley directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has John M. Jolley received?
John M. Jolley's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships); Best Lawyers in America — Trusts and Estates; Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:; Best Lawyers in America — Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law; Best Lawyers in America — Corporate Law.

Education

J.D.
The University of South Carolina
- 1998
B.A.
The University of South Carolina
- 1994

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Trusts and Estates
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Corporate Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Trusts and Estates
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Tax Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Awards:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Readers’ Choice Awards, Hilton Head, SC/Bluffton, SC (2019)
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — ; "Lawyer of the Year," Trusts and Estates, Savannah, SC (2019)
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — (2016-2020)
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent© Peer Review Rating
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Certified as a Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Administration by the South Carolina Supreme Court
- 2026
Lawyer of the Year — Trusts and Estates (Savannah)
- 2019

Bar Admissions

South Carolina, South Carolina Bar
Virginia, Virginia State Bar Association

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