Opinion ID: 41378
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The South Carolina Levy

Text: 36 In South Carolina, a judgment creditor executes upon personal property of the judgment debtor via attachment. S.C.Code Ann. § 15-19-10 (1976). Personal property is bound for four months from the date of levy. S.C.Code Ann. § 15-39-100 (1979). As in New York, a South Carolina bank may comply with the levy and give possession to the sheriff upon levy, but there must be a separate garnishment action against the bank in order to make a levy effective if the bank does not give the sheriff possession or control. See Johnson v. Serv. Mgmt. Inc., 324 S.C. 198, 478 S.E.2d 63 (1996); Johnson v. Serv. Mgmt. Inc., 319 S.C. 165, 459 S.E.2d 900 (1995), aff'd, 324 S.C. 198, 478 S.E.2d 63 (1996). There is no valid levy until the sheriff has either possession or the power to possess or control. McManus v. Bank of Greenwood, 171 S.C. 84, 171 S.E. 473 (1933). 37 The instant record contains no indication that the South Carolina bank gave possession or control of the bank account (or HLF's interest therein) to the United States Marshal or sheriff, and no indication the Ungars commenced the requisite action to make the levy effective. Accordingly, the Ungars have not shown that the South Carolina levy divested the Texas district court of jurisdiction to restrain the funds in HLF's South Carolina bank accounts.