Bill > H3387

This bill creates a new legal framework in South Carolina for quickly removing unauthorized occupants from residential properties through an expedited judicial process. The bill defines "unlawful occupants" as individuals who are residing in a property without the owner's permission and have no legal right to be there, such as non-tenants who have entered a property without authorization. Under the new law, property owners can file a verified petition with the local court or magistrate to obtain an immediate ex parte order to remove these occupants. The court can grant an order within 24 hours if the petition demonstrates that the occupants are not tenants, have not been given permission to be on the property, and have not leased the property in the past three months. The bill also provides additional protections for property owners, such as the ability to restrain the unauthorized occupants from returning to the property or communicating with the owner. Furthermore, the bill establishes criminal penalties for unlawful occupation, making it a felony punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to $3,000. The law aims to provide property owners with a faster and more streamlined process for reclaiming their residential properties from unauthorized occupants, while also creating legal consequences for those who illegally enter and remain in someone else's property.

Justice

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=3387&session=126&summary=B