(A) For the counties of this State bordering North Carolina, Oconee, Pickens, Greenville, Spartanburg, Cherokee, York, Lancaster, Chesterfield, Marlboro, Dillon, and Horry, hereinafter referred to as the "affected counties", the following provisions apply to the foreclosure of liens encumbering affected lands, as further defined and set forth in Section 30-5-270.

(B)(1) In the event a real estate foreclosure proceeding is instituted pursuant to Title 29, Chapter 3 to recover the payment of money secured by mortgages and other liens purporting to encumber property being identified as affected lands, the purported mortgagee, through its attorney of record, shall file with the court a copy of the recorded Notice of Boundary Clarification, along with the attorney's certification that title to the subject real property has been searched in the affected counties and the affected jurisdiction, as further defined and set forth in Section 30-5-270(B)(2) and (3) respectively, and that all parties having an interest in the subject real property pursuant to the muniments of title, as further defined and set forth in Section 30-5-270(B)(9), have been served with notice of the proceeding pursuant to the applicable procedure below. All proceedings in the foreclosure action must be stayed until the attorney's certification is filed with the court.

(2) In all mortgage foreclosure actions pending on the effective date of the boundary clarification legislation, as further defined and set forth in Section 30-5-270(B)(6), before any merits hearing in the case or if an order of foreclosure has been entered before any foreclosure sale, the mortgagee shall, through its attorney of record, serve a copy of the Notice of Boundary Clarification and filed pleadings upon any party identified on the Notice of Boundary Clarification or known to have an interest in the subject affected lands, not already a party to the action, by mailing the notice via certified mail or overnight delivery to the property addresses of the subject affected lands and to all known addresses of the parties; provided, that the notice also shall state that the party has thirty days from the date of mailing of the Notice of Boundary Clarification to file and serve an answer or other response to the mortgagee's summons and complaint.

(3) In all mortgage foreclosure actions filed after the effective date of the boundary clarification legislation, the mortgagee, through its attorney of record, shall serve along with the summons and complaint a copy of the recorded Notice of Boundary Clarification upon the mortgagor and all parties identified on the Notice of Boundary Clarification or known to have an interest in the subject affected lands.

(C) If within thirty days after having been served with Notice of Boundary Clarification as set forth in subsection (B)(1), any party served has failed, refused, or voluntarily elected not to file a response in the foreclosure proceeding, the mortgagee, through its attorney, shall certify that fact to the court, and the foreclosure action may proceed with the parties being bound as any other party in the action by the judgment and order of the court having jurisdiction over the foreclosure action; provided, however, that all parties shall receive actual notice of any hearings and sales in the foreclosure.

(D) The court having jurisdiction over the foreclosure action shall hear and determine any dispute concerning any party's right, title, or interest in the subject affected lands.

HISTORY: 2016 Act No. 270 (S.667), Section 16, eff January 1, 2017.