Small Claims Answer - Preparation Worksheet - South Carolina

DO NOT FILE THIS PACKET AS-IS. South Carolina small-claims procedure depends on the exact court, the notice received, the claim type, and current local instructions. This packet records those instructions and organizes facts for a court-approved response.

SOUTH CAROLINA SMALL-CLAIMS ANSWER PREPARATION PACKET

1. Operative Notice and Court-Control Sheet

☐ Counsel or the self-represented party confirmed that the selected response format is accepted by the exact court.

☐ A copy of the operative notice, current official instructions, and any required official form is attached.

2. Caption Worksheet

3. Response to the Claim

Notice or claim date: [__/__/____]

Amount demanded: $[________]

Short description of the claim: [________________________________]

For each numbered allegation or factual statement, use only a response accepted by the court and supported by the defendant's knowledge and records.

4. Defense Issue Inventory

This inventory does not assert a defense. Reviewing counsel must select, name, and state only defenses supported by current law and the facts.

Defense text approved for filing:

[____________________________________________________________]

[____________________________________________________________]

5. Optional Counterclaim Worksheet

☐ No counterclaim will be asserted in this response.

☐ A counterclaim may be asserted only after the control sheet confirms the exact court's current deadline, amount limit, filing method, fee, service, and waiver consequences.

Counterclaim text approved for filing:

[____________________________________________________________]

[____________________________________________________________]

6. Requested Disposition

Reviewing counsel or the self-represented party shall use only relief the selected court may grant on the pleaded facts.

☐ Dismiss or deny the claim, to the extent authorized: [________________________________]

☐ Enter judgment for the defendant on a properly filed counterclaim: [________________________________]

☐ Apply a documented payment, credit, offset, or settlement: [________________________________]

☐ Other authorized disposition: [________________________________]

7. Signature or Verification Module

Use only the execution form required by the operative notice, official form, or current court instruction.

☐ Signature only

☐ Attorney certification

☐ Verification before an authorized officer

☐ Other: [________________________________]

Signer: [________________________________]

Capacity: [________________________________]

Signature: ____________________________________

Date: [__/__/____]

Required verification or acknowledgment text: [________________________________]

Authorized officer / notary, if required: [________________________________]

8. Filing and Service Record

9. Final Do-Not-File Checklist

☐ The court name, part, parties, and claim number match the operative notice exactly.

☐ The response format, deadline, filing method, fee, service, and proof requirements were checked against current official instructions for the exact court.

☐ Every denial, defense, counterclaim, amount, and requested disposition has factual support and counsel-approved authority.

☐ Jury, verification, notarization, counterclaim, amendment, appeal, and enforcement assumptions were not imported from another South Carolina court or another state.

☐ Sensitive personal, financial, medical, account, and identity information has been redacted or handled under the governing court instruction.

☐ A complete filed copy, exhibits, service proof, and court receipt will be retained.