South Carolina General Assembly
118th Session, 2009-2010

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Bill 4049


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A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 29-3-330, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO ENTERING A SATISFACTION OF MORTGAGE IN THE PUBLIC RECORD, SO AS TO INCLUDE A PROBATE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM IN THE SATISFACTION AFFIDAVIT.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Section 29-3-330(e) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(e)    Any licensed attorney admitted to practice in the State of South Carolina who can provide proof of payment of funds by evidence of payment made payable to the mortgagee, holder of record, servicer, or other party entitled to receive payment may record, or cause to be recorded, an affidavit, in writing, duly executed in the presence of two witnesses and probated or acknowledged, which states that full payment of the balance or pay-off amount of the mortgage or other instrument securing the payment of money and being a lien upon real property has been made and that evidence of payment from the mortgagee, assignee, or servicer exists. This affidavit, duly recorded in the appropriate county, shall serve as notice of satisfaction of the mortgage and release of the lien upon the real property. The filing of the affidavit shall be sufficient to satisfy, release, or discharge the lien. Upon presentation of the instrument of satisfaction, release, or discharge, the officer or his deputy having charge of the recording of instruments shall record the same. This section may not be construed to require an attorney to record an affidavit pursuant to Section 29-3-330(e) or to create liability for failure to file such affidavit. The licensed attorney signing any such instrument which is false is guilty of perjury and subject to Section 16-9-10 and shall be liable for damages that any person may sustain as a result of the false affidavit, including reasonable attorney's fees incurred in connection with the recovery of such damages. The affidavit referred to in this item (e) shall be as follows:

'STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA MORTGAGE LIEN

COUNTY OF ______________ SATISFACTION AFFIDAVIT

PURSUANT TO Section 29-3-330

OF SC CODE OF LAWS

FOR BOOK ____ PAGE _____

The undersigned on oath, being first duly sworn, hereby certifies as follows:

1.    The undersigned is a licensed attorney admitted to practice in the State of South Carolina.

2.    That with respect to the mortgage given by __________________ to ______________________ dated _______ and recorded in the offices of the Register of Deeds in book _________ at page ________:

a.    [ ]    That the undersigned was given written payoff information and made such payoff and is in possession of a canceled check or other evidence of payment to the mortgagee, holder of record, or representative servicer;

b.    [ ]    That the undersigned was given written payoff information and made such pay off by wire transfer or other electronic means to the mortgagee, holder of record, or representative servicer and has confirmation from the undersigned's bank of the transfer to the account provided by the mortgagee, holder of record, or representative servicer.

Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this affidavit this ___ day of ____ and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it is true, correct, and complete.

                                                                                                         

(Witness)         (Signature)

                                                                                                       

(Witness)         (Name--Please Print)

(Attorney's S.C. Bar number)

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA        )

)                PROBATE

COUNTY OF                                     )

    PERSONALLY appeared before me the undersigned and made oath that (s)he was present and saw the within named                        , sign, seal and as her act and deed deliver the within Affidavit and that the undersigned with the other witness whose name is subscribed above, witnessed the execution thereof.

Witness

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO

before me this __________ day (Street Adddress)

of ______________________

                                                                                                                                                            (City, State, Zip Code)

______________________________________

(Notary Public)

______________________

(Telephone)

My commission expires:    __________________________'

(OR)

'STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA        ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

COUNTY OF                                

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this             day of                                 by                                                                 .

                                                                   

Notary Public for South Carolina

My Commission Expires:                            '

Upon presentation to the office of the Register of Deeds, the Register is directed to record pursuant to Section 29-3-330(e) and mark the mortgage satisfied of record."

SECTION    2.    The repeal or amendment by this act of any law, whether temporary or permanent or civil or criminal, does not affect pending actions, rights, duties, or liabilities founded thereon, or alter, discharge, release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under the repealed or amended law, unless the repealed or amended provision shall so expressly provide. After the effective date of this act, all laws repealed or amended by this act must be taken and treated as remaining in full force and effect for the purpose of sustaining any pending or vested right, civil action, special proceeding, criminal prosecution, or appeal existing as of the effective date of this act, and for the enforcement of rights, duties, penalties, forfeitures, and liabilities as they stood under the repealed or amended laws.

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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