Terms Used In South Carolina Code 19-21-20

  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
Any person interested in the preservation of the contents of any deed, release, private writing usually put on record or document alleged to have been lost, destroyed or defective in the record thereof and desiring to preserve the evidence thereof for any purpose may, by summons and complaint as provided by Title 15, institute an action in the court of common pleas to perpetuate testimony as to the existence and true contents of the same. In such complaint the defects, if any, complained of in the record shall be substantially set forth and to such action all persons interested or known or supposed to claim an interest in the property to which such testimony may relate shall be made parties defendant and served with summons as provided by law in civil actions.