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Current Status Bill Number:View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.4569 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:20000208 Primary Sponsor:Altman All Sponsors:Altman Drafted Document Number:l:\council\bills\bbm\9212htc00.doc Residing Body:House Current Committee:Judiciary Committee 25 HJ Subject:Minors, incapacitated persons; Trusts and estates, claims to be heard in probate Courts; to raise jurisdictional amount History Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved ______ ________ ______________________________________ _______ ____________ House 20000208 Introduced, read first time, 25 HJ referred to Committee Versions of This Bill
TO AMEND SECTION 62-5-433, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO JURISDICTIONAL AMOUNTS IN CLAIMS FOR AND AGAINST MINORS AND INCAPACITATED PERSONS, SO AS TO RAISE THE JURISDICTIONAL AMOUNT BELOW WHICH THESE CLAIMS MAY BE HEARD IN PROBATE COURT FROM TEN THOUSAND TO THIRTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 62-5-433 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 521 of 1990, is further amended to read:
"Section 62-5-433. (A)(1) For purposes of this section and for any claim exceeding ten thirty-five thousand dollars in favor of or against any minor or incapacitated person, 'court' means the circuit court of the county in which the minor or incapacitated person resides. For purposes of this section and for any claim not exceeding ten thirty-five thousand dollars in favor of or against any minor or incapacitated person, 'court' means either the circuit court or the probate court of the county in which the minor or incapacitated person resides.
(2) 'Claim' means the net or actual amount accruing to or paid by the minor or incapacitated person as a result of the settlement.
(3) 'Petitioner' means either a conservator appointed by the probate court for the minor or incapacitated person or the guardian or guardian ad litem of the minor or incapacitated person if a conservator has not been appointed.
(B) The settlement of any claim over ten thirty-five thousand dollars in favor of or against any minor or incapacitated person for the payment of money or the possession of personal property must be effected on his behalf in the following manner:
(1) The petitioner shall file with the court a verified petition setting forth all of the pertinent facts concerning the claim, payment, attorney's fees, and expenses, if any, and the reasons why, in the opinion of the petitioner, the proposed settlement should be approved. For all claims that exceed ten thirty-five thousand dollars, the verified petition must include a statement by the petitioner that, in his opinion, the proposed settlement is in the best interests of the minor or incapacitated person.
(2) If, upon consideration of the petition and after hearing the testimony as it may require concerning the matter, the court concludes that the proposed settlement is proper and in the best interests of the minor or incapacitated person, the court shall issue its order approving the settlement and authorizing the petitioner to consummate it and, if the settlement requires the payment of money or the delivery of personal property for the benefit of the minor or incapacitated person, to receive the money or personal property and execute a proper receipt and release or covenant not to sue therefor, which is binding upon the minor or incapacitated person.
(3) The order authorizing the settlement must require that payment or delivery of the money or personal property be made through the conservator. If a conservator has not been appointed, the petitioner shall, upon receiving the money or personal property, pay and deliver it to the court pending the appointment and qualification of a duly appointed conservator. If a party subject to the court order fails or refuses to pay the money or deliver the personal property as required by the order, he is liable and punishable as for contempt of court, but failure or refusal does not affect the validity or conclusiveness of the settlement.
(C) The settlement of any claim that does not exceed ten thirty-five thousand dollars in favor of or against a minor or incapacitated person for the payment of money or the possession of personal property may be effected in any of the following manners:
(1) If a conservator has been appointed, he may settle the claim without court authorization or confirmation as provided in Section 62-5-424, or he may petition the court for approval as provided in items (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (B) above. If the settlement requires the payment of money or the delivery of personal property for the benefit of the minor or incapacitated person, the conservator shall receive the money or personal property and execute a proper receipt and release or covenant not to sue therefor, which is binding upon the minor or incapacitated person.
(2) If a conservator has not been appointed, the guardian or guardian ad litem must petition the court for approval of the settlement as provided in items (1) and (2) of subsection (B) above and without the appointment of a conservator. The payment or delivery of money or personal property to or for a minor or incapacitated person must be made in accordance with Section 62-5-103. If a party subject to the court order fails or refuses to pay the money or deliver the personal property as required by the order and in accordance with Section 62-5-103, he is liable and punishable as for contempt of court, but failure or refusal does not affect the validity or conclusiveness of the settlement.
(D) The settlement of any claim that does not exceed two thousand five hundred dollars in favor of or against any minor or incapacitated person for the payment of money or the possession of personal property may be effected by the parent or guardian of the minor or incapacitated person without court approval of the settlement and without the appointment of a conservator. If the settlement requires the payment of money or the delivery of personal property for the benefit of the minor or incapacitated person, the parent or guardian shall receive the money or personal property and execute a proper receipt and release or covenant not to sue therefor, which is binding upon the minor or incapacitated person. The payment or delivery of money or personal property to or for a minor or incapacitated person must be made in accordance with Section 62-5-103."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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