Title 27, Property and Conveyances

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 o…

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 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…

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 f…

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…

The duties of escheator are devolved upon the Secretary of State as agent of the Department of Administration and as escheator the Secretary of State shall act under the direction and control of the Department of Administration and, under the direction of the department, may use …

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…

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.

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 Department of Administration will reimburse the Sinking Fund for mon…

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.

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 Departm…

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 …

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 le…

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 dispos…

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 …

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.

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.

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 …

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' pu…

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.