CHAPTER 19 - ESCHEAT OF LAND AND PERSONAL PROPERTY
Title 27 - Property and Conveyances
CHAPTER 19.
ESCHEAT OF LAND AND PERSONAL PROPERTY
ARTICLE 1.
ESCHEAT OF LANDS
SECTION 27-19-10. Notification of supposedly escheated lands by Secretary of State to judge of circuit court.
The Secretary of State, in every case when, on his knowledge or belief or on the information of another, certain lands have been escheated to the State by the death of the person last seized in fee simple, either in law or in fact, without leaving any person who can lawfully claim such lands either by purchase or descent from such former proprietor, shall, on such knowledge or information or the order of any court of record, issue his notification of such supposedly escheated lands to one of the judges of the circuit court at least two months previous to the next session of such court to be held in the county where such lands lie.
SECTION 27-19-20. Inquest by jury; certification and recording of verdict.
The judge presiding at such court shall cause a jury, being first duly sworn, to proceed and make a true inquest of all such supposedly escheated lands which by the Secretary of State shall be subjected to their investigation and a true verdict made thereon. Thereupon the judge of the court shall certify such verdict, under his hand and the seal of the court, to the Secretary of State who shall record it in a book to be kept by him for that purpose and shall return the original within two months after the date thereof into the office of the clerk of the court, to be there filed and kept as a record thereof.
SECTION 27-19-30. Notice published in county where land lies.
On the return of any inquest of supposedly escheated lands by the Secretary of State into the office of the clerk of the county in which the lands lie, the clerk shall thereupon cause to be advertised, in a newspaper of the county or other nearest gazette, the first week in every month, for six months, a notice containing a particular description of the lands, the name of the person last seized and the supposed time of his death, together with the part of the world in which he was supposed to have been born, and requiring his heirs or others claiming under him to appear and make claim.
SECTION 27-19-40. Petition by person claiming land; proceedings thereon.
Any person shall be heard on a traverse without delay in the court of common pleas, on a petition setting forth his rights, and the lands shall be committed to him if he shall show good evidence of his title, to hold until the right shall be found and discussed for the State and the claimant, such claimant finding sufficient security to prosecute his suit to effect, and without delay, and to render to the State the yearly value of such lands, if the right be found for the State.
SECTION 27-19-50. Damages for prosecution of escheat proceedings without probable cause.
If any suit for property supposed to be escheated shall be prosecuted by the Secretary of State and the jury before whom the trial shall be had shall think there is no probable cause, the jury shall assess and award to the party aggrieved such damages as they shall think proper.
SECTION 27-19-60. Renting out land pending conclusion of process of escheat.
When no claimant shall appear to make title as aforesaid, the Secretary of State shall rent out the escheated lands, if it can be done with advantage to the State, until the process of escheat shall be concluded and the lands sold.
SECTION 27-19-70. Manner of pronouncing land escheated.
If no person shall appear and claim lands within twelve months after the expiration of the time prescribed for advertising, the clerk shall issue process, to be signed by the judge of the circuit court of the county, to the Secretary of State, pronouncing the lands escheated and vested according to law and directing him forthwith to sell and convey them upon the usual notice.
SECTION 27-19-80. Advertising land for sale; terms of sale.
As soon as the Secretary of State shall receive the process in Section 27-19-70 mentioned, he shall advertise the sale of such lands in a newspaper of the county or other nearest gazette and also in the most public places of the county in which the lands lie, giving six weeks' public notice, on a credit of twelve months, payable in lawful money. He shall, moreover, take good and sufficient surety and a mortgage of the premises before the title shall be altered or changed.
SECTION 27-19-90. Division of land into tracts for sale.
When any such lands shall exceed six hundred acres and can be divided into smaller tracts with advantage to the State in the sale thereof, the Secretary of State shall cause them to be divided in such manner as shall be most beneficial to the State.
SECTION 27-19-100. Land may be bid in or purchased by State Budget and Control Board; disposition of such lands.
At any sale of escheated property, if, in his judgment, the property is being sold at a sacrifice, the Secretary of State may buy the land for the State Budget and Control Board or cause it to be so bid in and, upon payment of the costs accrued thereon, may cause the title deed to be made therefor as escheated property to the State Budget and Control Board which shall rent or sell the property in such manner, at such time and upon such terms as, in its judgment, shall be for the best interests of the State and apply the proceeds thereof as directed in Section 27-19-340.
SECTION 27-19-110. Compensation of person making good title to land within five years.
If any person shall appear within five years and make good title to such lands in the court of common pleas on an issue tried, he shall forthwith receive adequate compensation.
SECTION 27-19-120. Estates of felons shall not escheat.
No property shall be vested in the State or any inquisition had by the escheator when any person shall have committed or may commit any felony against the State but such property shall descend to, and be vested in, the representatives of such person.
ARTICLE 3.
ESCHEAT OF PERSONAL PROPERTY
SECTION 27-19-210. Secretary of State or Attorney General may sue for and recover moneys or personal property in hands of executor or administrator.
When any moneys or other personal estate shall be found in the hands of an executor or administrator, being the property of any person deceased leaving no person entitled to claim and without making disposition of them, the Secretary of State or the Attorney General, on behalf of the State, shall sue for and recover and pay any moneys so recovered into the State Treasury.
SECTION 27-19-220. Advertising of moneys or property; vesting of property in State.
The State Treasurer shall advertise such moneys or other personal property in some newspaper once in every month for six months in like manner as lands are herein directed to be advertised, and if no person shall appear and make good title to such personal estate within two years thereafter other than as executor or administrator or their legal representatives, then such moneys or other personal estate shall become vested in and applied to the use of the State.
SECTION 27-19-230. Personal property of inmates dying in the Charleston Home.
If any inmate of the Charleston Home die intestate leaving money or personal property, no one making claim for it within two years after the death of such inmate, such money or personal property shall become the property of the Home, to be expended by the board of commissioners for improvements and repairs of the premises of the Home.
ARTICLE 5.
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO BOTH LANDS AND PERSONALTY
SECTION 27-19-310. Duties of escheator devolved upon Secretary of State as agent of State Budget and Control Board.
The duties of escheator are devolved upon the Secretary of State as agent of the State Budget and Control Board and as escheator the Secretary of State shall act under the direction and control of the State Budget and Control Board and, under the direction of the Board, may use such of the funds and the services of such subagents of the Board as in its discretion may be necessary to efficiency in discovering, renting, litigating and realizing money from escheated lands under existing law.
SECTION 27-19-320. Purchase of land by Secretary of State prohibited; penalties.
The Secretary of State shall not, directly or indirectly, either by himself or any person whomsoever, purchase or be concerned with any person in purchasing any escheated lands, without being subject and liable to the payment of five thousand dollars, to be sued for and recovered in any court of record, one half for the benefit of the informer, who shall sue for and recover such penalty, and the other half to be applied to the use of the State. And such Secretary of State shall also be rendered incapable of holding or exercising any office of trust or emolument therein.
SECTION 27-19-330. Assessment of costs and charges.
When any person shall appear and make title to lands or personal estate, after office found by the jury, the court may assess such reasonable costs and charges as the Secretary of State has sustained in promoting the claim of the State.
SECTION 27-19-340. Disposition of proceeds of escheats.
The Secretary of State shall turn over to the State Treasurer the net proceeds of escheats after deducting and retaining therefrom for the benefit of the Sinking Fund so much money as in the opinion of the State Budget and Control Board will reimburse the Sinking Fund for moneys and agents' services used and advanced as aforesaid and also any other expense necessarily incurred in executing the law and protecting the interest of the State in the matter of escheats. Costs and expenses incurred as aforesaid on account of agents' services and money advanced or otherwise in one case may be deducted and retained from the proceeds of any other case of escheatment in the discretion of the State Budget and Control Board.
SECTION 27-19-350. Rights of persons under disability or absent from United States.
Nothing herein contained shall prejudice the rights of individuals having legal title and who may be under the disabilities of infancy or lunacy or beyond the limits of the United States until three years after such disabilities shall be removed.
SECTION 27-19-360. Reports of Secretary of State and State Budget and Control Board.
A report shall be made annually by the Secretary of State, to be included in his annual report, showing the receipts and payments under the provisions of this chapter in each case of escheat, with the items thereof. In case any escheated property be purchased by the State Budget and Control Board, its annual report shall show all resales of such property and all income, rents and profits derived from such property while held by the Board.
SECTION 27-19-370. Liability of Secretary of State for misconduct or fraudulent practices.
If the Secretary of State shall fail to do his duty, as herein directed, on behalf of the State and any loss or damage shall accrue to the State by his misconduct or fraudulent practices, he shall be responsible for all such loss or damage and the court of common pleas may order a prosecution in the name of the State. A jury shall try the fact and assess the damage and, upon conviction, such Secretary of State shall be incapable forever thereafter from holding or exercising any office of trust or profit within this State.
SECTION 27-19-380. Application of chapter.
Every part of this chapter and the mode herein prescribed for recovering and appropriating real and personal property escheated to the State shall be pursued and observed when any person shall hereafter die without an heir or become divested thereof by operation of law without leaving any legal representative.
SECTION 27-19-390. Chapter complementary to Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act.
The provisions of this chapter are complementary to and not in derogation of the "Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act" as contained in the permanent provisions of Chapter 18 of this title. All personal property for which provision is made in that chapter shall be disposed of as therein provided and the Secretary of State is relieved of all responsibility assigned to him in this chapter for such property.