Probate Judges



Irvin G. Condon, CPA, Esquire

Charleston County Probate Judge


Irvin G. Condon, CPA, Esquire
Irvin G. Condon, CPA, Esquire Probate Judge

Judge Irvin G. Condon was elected Charleston County Probate Judge in November 1994 and was re-elected in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018. During his more than 20 years of service, Judge Condon has worked with dedication and innovation to make the Charleston County Probate Court a national model of excellence.

Judge Condon led the planning team and started the Charleston County Adult Drug Court in 1999 and has presided over the court since its inception. Judge Condon implemented a Veterans Treatment Court as part of the Adult Drug Court. Associate Probate Judge Peter Kouten, a Marine Corps veteran, presides over this court. Judge Condon also led the planning team for the Charleston County Mental Health Court, which began in January 2003. Associate Probate Judge Tamara Curry presides over this court. In 2010, Judge Condon also began presiding over the Ninth Circuit Juvenile Drug Court.

In addition to making Charleston County a leader in the creation of problem solving courts, Judge Condon has received national recognition by participating in cutting edge programs assisting incapacitated adults under guardianship and conservatorship. In 2011, the American Bar Association selected the Charleston County Probate Court as one of two courts in the nation to participate in a pilot project providing assistance and monitoring for incapacitated adults and their guardians. Students from the Charleston School of Law serve as volunteer court visitors. Courts in South Carolina and nationally have adopted this program. In 2018, the National Center for State Courts selected the Charleston County Probate Court as one of two courts in the nation to pilot the rapid response conservator program. The program will use cutting edge software to monitor spending by conservators on behalf of incapacitated adults along with the annual accountings. Judge Condon also led the Charleston County Probate Court in becoming the first probate court in South Carolina to use electronic filing.

Judge Condon offers free workshops to the public on the estate administration process on the first Monday of each month. He also assisted the family members of the Charleston Nine and the Emmanuel Nine with the probate process.

Judge Condon has been a leader in South Carolina and nationally in many organizations involving his court. Judge Condon is past President of the National College of Probate Judges, the South Carolina Association of Probate Judges, the National Guardianship Association, and the Congress of State Associations of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. He is currently President of the South Carolina Association of Drug Court Professionals and the James Hoban Society. James Hoban was the architect of Charleston County's historic courthouse and the White House.

He also is a member of the Charleston County Bar Association, the South Carolina Bar, the American Bar Association, the South Carolina Association of Probate Judges, the National College of Probate Judges, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the National Guardianship Association, the South Carolina Association of Drug Court Professionals, and the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.

Judge Condon has been a faculty member and frequent speaker for the National Judicial College, the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, the National Drug Court Institute, the National Business Institute, the Charleston School of Law, West Virginia University's Master of Legal Studies online program, and for numerous civic and charitable organizations. Judge Condon serves on the planning committee for the Medical University of South Carolina Attorneys and Judges Substance Abuse Annual Seminar. Judge Condon, the Charleston County Probate Court, and the Mills House Hotel have partnered on an annual probate seminar for over 20 years to raise funds for portraits and furnishings for the courthouse and funds for housing, bus passes, etc. for citizens in the problem solving courts.

Before his election, Judge Condon was a shareholder in the law firm of Rosen, Rosen & Hagood, P.A., in Charleston where he practiced probate and business law. Judge Condon earned his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law. Judge Condon is a Certified Public Accountant and worked for McKnight Frampton and Price Waterhouse for three years before going to law school. He attended the College of Charleston and received his B.S. degree in accounting, magna cum laude, from Clemson University. Judge Condon was also admitted to the MBA Program of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania but chose to work for Price Waterhouse followed by law school. He is a graduate of Bishop England High School.

Judge Condon grew up in Charleston as the seventh of ten children born to the late Harriet Molony Condon and the late J. Joseph Condon. He and his wife, Michelle Mensore Condon, an attorney originally from New Martinsville, West Virginia, have a 13-year-old son. They are members of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Charleston.

First, we are here to help you. One reason I ran for Probate Judge was to help people and make them aware that probate does not have to be an unbearable experience. Accordingly, the following information concerning the statutory requirements of becoming a conservator/guardian is furnished to assist you. Please do not hesitate to ask specific questions about any problem encountered that is not explained here. Our staff will be happy to furnish assistance and information to the extent allowed by law. Seeking legal counsel is always recommended, as our staff cannot provide legal advice. Elizabeth Currie, Tina Homer and Jennifer Curry are the Conservatorship/Guardianship clerks.

A second reason that I ran for Probate Judge was to stress the importance of estate planning. We hope that you will take this opportunity to review your estate planning documents. You should consider a Last Will and Testament, a Trust, a Declaration of Desire for Natural Death (otherwise known as a Living Will), a Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare, a Durable Power of Attorney for Business Affairs and other advance directives. If you have a Durable Power of Attorney and the Health Care Power of Attorney, you could bypass the Conservatorship/Guardianship procedures. You will need legal counsel to complete your estate planning. For the reason 'Why you need a Will' please call the South Carolina Bar Law Line toll-free at 1-800-521-9788 ext. 160. As a public service, we provide the statutory Living Will and Health Care Power of Attorney. If you need samples of these documents, please ask the clerk to provide them to you. We hope that you will take this opportunity to review and update your estate planning documents, and will encourage other family members to complete their estate planning.

As your Probate Judge, I am here to serve you. If you should have questions, comments, or suggestions, please let me know. I thank you for electing me to be your Probate Judge and hope that we help make probate a pleasant experience considering the circumstances.

Sincerely, Signed: Judge Irvin G. Condon Irvin G. Condon

Lenna S. Kirchner

Associate Judge of Probate


Judge Lenna S. Kirchner
Lenna S. Kirchner Associate Judge

Lenna S. Kirchner was appointed Associate Probate Judge for Charleston County in August of 2012. She received a B.A. degree from the University of South Carolina in 1999, where she graduated Cum Laude. Judge Kirchner went on to receive her Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2002.

Judge Kirchner began her legal career as law clerk for Judges Irvin G. Condon and Tamara C. Curry in the Charleston County Probate Court following law school. At the expiration of her clerkship, Judge Kirchner joined a local litigation firm, where she practiced for over seven years. Judge Kirchner has also taught Wills, Trust & Probate at Trident Technical College as part of their ABA accredited paralegal program.

In addition to her appointment as Associate Probate Judge for Charleston County, Judge Kirchner previously served on the executive board for Mental Health Heroes. Mental Health Heroes promotes and supports the activities and services of the Charleston/Dorchester Mental Health Center in its efforts to facilitate the recovery of its clients with mental illness.

Judge Kirchner also assists with the Charleston County Adult Guardianship Assistance & Monitoring Program, where each semester law school students are trained at the Charleston School of Law to serve as Court Visitors on open adult Guardianship cases.

Peter A. Kouten

Associate Judge of Probate


Judge Peter A. Kouten
Peter A. Kouten Associate Judge

Peter A. Kouten was appointed Associate Probate Judge for Charleston County in May 2017. He received a B.S. degree from the College of Charleston in 1988 in Business Administration and a Minor in Economics. He received a Master in Business Administration from The Citadel in 1991 and went on to receive his J.D. from the Charleston School of Law in 2007 as a member of the first graduating class.

Judge Kouten served in the United States Marine Corps at Parris Island, S.C. prior to earning his undergraduate degree. He was a law clerk for Judge Condon and Judge Curry following law school. Judge Kouten was in private practice concentrating on estate planning and probate matters prior to his appointment to the bench.

David Michel

Associate Judge of Probate


Judge David Michel
David Michel Associate Judge

Probate Judge Irv Condon is proud to announce the appointment of Judge David Michel as an Associate Probate Judge for the Charleston County Probate Court.

Judge Michel brings years of judicial experience to this position. Judge Michel was appointed as a Municipal Judge for the Town of Mount Pleasant in 2004 and has served in that capacity for the past 18 years. Judge Michel was promoted to Chief Judge in 2006. Also, Judge Michel was appointed as an Associate Judge for the City of Isle of Palms in 2022.

Judge Michel has been the sole practitioner of the Michel Law Firm, LLC since January 2001. His practice focused on probate administration and litigation representing clients at the trial level and before the Supreme Court of South Carolina. Judge Michel previously worked in the Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office and was the prosecutor assigned to Drug Court.

Judge Michel graduated cum laude from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1994 and continued at the University of South Carolina to obtain his Juris Doctor in May of 1997.

Judge Michel is married to Kathryn Michel, and they have two sons, John and Matthew.

Sydney M. Fowler

Associate Judge of Probate


Judge Sydney M. Fowler
Sydney M. Fowler Associate Judge

Judge Irvin G. Condon announces the appointment of Sydney M. Fowler as an Associate Judge of Probate for Charleston County.

Ms. Fowler most recently practiced with the Mt. Pleasant firm Christensen & All, P.A., in the areas of estate planning, probate administration, and guardianships and conservatorships. She had returned to the practice of law following two years as a Judicial Law Clerk at the Charleston County Probate Court. Earlier in her career, she practiced family and criminal law. Ms. Fowler received her B.A. degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law. She is a member of the Charleston County and South Carolina Bar Associations.