Current Status Introducing Body:Senate Bill Number:193 Ratification Number:144 Act Number:80 Primary Sponsor:Hayes Type of Legislation:GB Subject:Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act Date Bill Passed both Bodies:19930527 Computer Document Number:436/12792AC.93 Governor's Action:S Date of Governor's Action:19930611 Introduced Date:19930113 Date of Last Amendment:19930525 Last History Body:------ Last History Date:19930611 Last History Type:Act No. 80 Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Hayes Stilwell Waldrep Wilson Martin Type of Legislation:General Bill
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN Leg Involved
---- ------ ------------ ------------------------------ --- ------------
193 ------ 19930611 Act No. 80
193 ------ 19930611 Signed by Governor
193 ------ 19930610 Ratified R 144
193 Senate 19930527 Concurred in House amendment,
enrolled for ratification
193 House 19930526 Read third time, returned to
Senate with amendment
193 House 19930525 Amended, read second time
193 House 19930520 Debate adjourned until
Tuesday, 19930525
193 House 19930519 Debate adjourned until
Thursday, 19930520
193 House 19930505 Committee Report: Favorable 25
with amendment
193 House 19930224 Introduced, read first time, 25
referred to Committee
193 Senate 19930223 Read third time, sent to House
193 Senate 19930218 Read second time, notice of
general amendments
193 Senate 19930217 Committee Report: Favorable 11
193 Senate 19930113 Introduced, read first time 11
referred to Committee
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
(A80, R144, S193)
AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 35, TITLE 15, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO JUDGMENTS AND DECREES, BY ADDING ARTICLE 11 SO AS TO ENACT THE UNIFORM ENFORCEMENT OF FOREIGN JUDGMENTS ACT; AND TO AMEND SECTION 8-21-310, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO FEES AND COSTS COLLECTED BY COUNTY OFFICIALS, SO AS TO ADD THE COLLECTION OF FEES AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ENROLLING AND COLLECTING FOREIGN JUDGMENTS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Uniform enforcement of foreign judgments
SECTION 1. Chapter 35, Title 15 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
Section 15-35-900. This article may be cited as the Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act.
Section 15-35-910. As used in this article, unless the context requires otherwise:
(1) `Foreign judgment' means a judgment, decree, or order of a court of the United States or a court of another state which is entitled to full faith and credit in this State, except a `support order', as defined in Section 20-7-970 (the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act) or a `custody decree', as defined in Section 20-7-786 (the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act).
(2) `Judgment debtor' means the party against whom a foreign judgment has been rendered.
(3) `Judgment creditor' means the party in whose favor a foreign judgment has been rendered.
Section 15-35-920. (A) A copy of a foreign judgment authenticated in accordance with an act of Congress or the statutes of this State may be filed in the office of the clerk of court of any county of this State in which the judgment debtor resides or owns real or personal property. Along with the foreign judgment, the judgment creditor or his attorney shall make and file with the clerk an affidavit which states that the foreign judgment is final, that it is unsatisfied in whole or in part setting forth the amount remaining unpaid on the judgment, and whether the judgment is further contested.
(B) Upon the filing of the foreign judgment and the affidavit, the foreign judgment must be docketed and indexed in the same manner as a judgment of this State; however, no foreign judgment may be indexed if contested until resolved and no execution may issue upon the foreign judgment nor may any other proceeding be taken for its enforcement until the expiration of thirty days from the date upon which notice of filing is served in accordance with Section 15-35-930.
(C) A judgment so filed has the same effect and is subject to the same defenses as a judgment of this State and must be enforced or satisfied in like manner; however, if the judgment debtor files a motion for relief or notice of defense pursuant to Section 15-35-940, enforcement of the foreign judgment is stayed automatically, without security, until the court finally disposes of the matter.
Section 15-35-930. (A) Promptly upon the filing of a foreign judgment and affidavit, the judgment creditor shall serve the notice of filing provided for in subsection (B) on the judgment debtor and shall attach a filed, stamped copy of the foreign judgment and affidavit to the notice. Service and proof of service of the notice may be made in any manner provided for in the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure.
(B) The notice must set forth the name and address of the judgment creditor, his attorney if any, and the clerk's office in which the foreign judgment is filed in this State and must state that the judgment attached to the notice has been filed in that office, that the judgment debtor has thirty days from the date of receipt of the notice to seek relief from the enforcement of the judgment, and that if the judgment is not satisfied and no relief is sought within that thirty days, the judgment will be enforced in this State in the same manner as a judgment of this State.
Section 15-35-940. (A) The judgment debtor may file a motion for relief from, or notice of defense to, the foreign judgment on the grounds that the foreign judgment has been appealed from, that enforcement has been stayed by the court which rendered it, or on any other ground for which relief from a judgment of this State is allowed.
(B) If the judgment debtor has filed a motion for relief or notice of defenses, then the judgment creditor may move for enforcement of the foreign judgment as a judgment of this State. The judgment creditor's motion must be heard before a judge who has jurisdiction of the matter based upon the amount in controversy as the amount remaining unpaid on the foreign judgment. The South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure apply. The judgment creditor has the burden of proving that the foreign judgment is entitled to full faith and credit.
Section 15-35-950. This article may not be construed to impair a judgment creditor's right to bring a civil action in this State to enforce the creditor's judgment.
Section 15-35-960. The provisions of this article do not apply to foreign judgments based on claims which are contrary to the public policies of this State."
Fees
SECTION 2. Section 8-21-310 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 612 of 1990, is further amended by adding an appropriately numbered item to read:
"( ) for filing, indexing, enrolling, and entering a foreign judgment and an affidavit pursuant to Article 11, Chapter 35, Title 15 of the 1976 Code, fifty-five dollars."
Time effective
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
Approved the 11th day of June, 1993.