If any property distrained is not the property of the tenant, the tenant shall immediately name the owner and inform the officer of the ownership, and the officer shall distrain sufficient other property of the tenant to pay the rent and costs. Even though property of the tenant must be first applied to payment of the rent and costs, all property upon the rented premises is subject to distress as provided in this section, except property mentioned in Section 27-39-230. If at any time prior to sale, as provided in Section 27-39-320, the landlord is given or receives written notice containing facts substantiating ownership that some of the distrained property is owned by a third party, the third party must receive notice, as provided in Section 27-39-210 , and an opportunity to be heard, as provided in Section 27-39-220. Before the distrained property of the third party is subject to sale pursuant to Section 27-39-320, the magistrate shall find, in a hearing, that the ownership of the property was transferred from the tenant to the third party for the purpose of avoiding distraint. If the magistrate does not make this finding, the property of the third party is exempt from distraint as provided in Section 27-39-230.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 41-154; 1952 Code Section 41-154; 1946 (44) 2584; 1985 Act No. 85, Section 1; 2000 Act No. 409, Section 4.