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The Supreme Court of South Carolina

The Supreme Court of South Carolina RE: Statewide Evictions and Foreclosures
The Supreme Court of South Carolina RE: Statewide Evictions and Foreclosures

ORDER

In recognition of the difficulties the COVID-19 pandemic may have on institutions and individuals, and on the basis that increased housing insecurity and homelessness will worsen the threat posed by the illness,

I FIND it necessary to address statewide evictions and foreclosures.
Pursuant to provisions of Article V, Section 4 of the South Carolina Constitution,

IT IS ORDERED that all evictions currently ordered and scheduled statewide shall be rescheduled for a date not earlier than May 1, 2020. Furthermore, the court shall not accept applications for ejectment, schedule hearings, issue writs or warrants of ejectment, or proceed in any other manner regarding evictions until directed by subsequent order by the Chief Justice. However, case-by-case exceptions for evictions may be made for matters that involve essential services and/or harm to person or property.

I FURTHER ORDER a moratorium in Master-in-Equity courts statewide on foreclosure hearings, foreclosure sales, writs of assistance and writs of ejectments, nor should Masters-in-Equity proceed in any other manner regarding foreclosures until directed by subsequent order by the Chief Justice.
This Order supersedes the Statewide Evictions Order dated March 17, 2020.
s/Donald W. Beatty                                   
Donald W. Beatty
Chief Justice of South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
March 18, 2020

 

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