South Carolina: the six-month suit window is shorter than it looks

A South Carolina supplier who serves and files on day 90 after last furnishing often thinks there's six months left to sue. There isn't. The suit and notice of pendency run six months from the same last-furnishing date, so a day-90 filing leaves roughly three months.

The lien is also capped at what the owner still owes when you give notice. A supplier who waits until the account is badly overdue may find the contract has already been paid down to almost nothing. Sending the owner notice early protects the amount, not just the right.

The serve, file and suit dates for each kind of claimant are on LienDeadline's page on South Carolina lien deadlines for material suppliers.

From the LienDeadline team. General information, not legal advice. Have a qualified reviewer check the facts on any live job.