RULE 18
APPEALS

(a) All appeals of judgments rendered by the magistrates court shall be to the circuit court of the county where the judgment was rendered. Within thirty (30) days after delivery of written notice of judgment to the parties or their attorneys, a party wishing to appeal shall serve on the respondent and file a notice of appeal containing a statement of the grounds for appeal with the magistrate rendering the judgment and with the Circuit Court of the County where the judgment was rendered. If the judgment is announced at the trial in the presence of the parties or their attorneys, the notice of appeal shall be served and filed within thirty (30) days of the date the judgment is announced. At the time of the filing of the notice of appeal, the appropriate filing fee shall be paid by the appellant to the clerk of the circuit court to which the appeal is taken, unless a motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis and an affidavit showing the appellant's inability to pay the fee required to appeal the action accompanies the filing of the notice of appeal. The right of appeal from a judgment exists for thirty (30) days after the denial of a motion for a new trial.

(b) Within thirty (30) days of the date of filing of the notice of appeal with the Circuit Court, the magistrate shall file the return to the notice of appeal with the Clerk of the Circuit Court for the county wherein the judgment was rendered, together with the record, a statement of all proceedings in the case, and, if necessary, the testimony taken at trial. Upon motion for good cause shown, the Circuit Court may allow a definite extension of time in which to file the return.

(c) Pursuant to Rule 75, SCRCP, upon receipt of the magistrate's return, the clerk of the Circuit Court to which the appeal is taken shall give notice in writing to the parties that the return has been filed.