The purpose of the predistress hearing is to protect the tenant's use and possession of property from arbitrary encroachment and to prevent unfair or mistaken deprivation of property. If the magistrate shall, after conducting the hearing, find that the landlord's right to distress is valid and the tenant has no overriding right to continue in possession of the property subject to distress, then the magistrate may issue his distress warrant naming the amount of rent due, with costs, and such warrant shall be delivered to an officer as set forth in Section 27-39-210. HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 41-151.1; 1973 (58) 384.
South Carolina Legal Code