South Carolina Code 62-3-1309. Time for answer
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Terms Used In South Carolina Code 62-3-1309
- Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Decedent: A deceased person.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
- Personal property: All property that is not real property.
- Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
- Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
- Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
The time to answer a summons and petition for sale of real property of a decedent is the same as the time to answer in any civil litigation case. Interested persons who wish to file an answer or return to the petition must do so in writing in the same manner as an answer to a complaint in other civil litigation cases. In addition the court may hear motions and accept such subsequent pleadings as would be heard or accepted in other civil litigation cases. After the filing and service of the summons and petition and the time for filing responsive pleadings has elapsed, the court will convene a hearing on the merits of the petition. If based on the evidence presented at the hearing the court finds the real property should be sold it shall then, in its discretion, either (a) order the personal representative to sell the same at private sale upon such terms and conditions as the court may impose; or (b) proceed to sell the same upon the next or some subsequent convenient sales day after publishing a notice of such sale three weeks prior thereto in some paper published in the county. Upon the sale being made, after the payment of the costs and expenses thereof, the proceeds of the sale will be paid over to the personal representative. The personal representative shall administer such proceeds in like manner as proceeds of personal property coming into his hands. Nothing in this part may be construed to abridge homestead exemptions. Notice of hearings in regard to the petition will be provided to interested persons in accordance with § 62-1-401.