(A) Unless a suit for enforcing the lien is commenced and notice of pendency of the action is filed within six months after the person desiring to avail himself of it ceases to labor on or furnish labor or material for the building or structure, the lien must be dissolved.
(B) A mechanics' lien and associated bonds may be released by a court order, a written affidavit of the bond holder's attorney, or by a written affidavit from the defendant's attorney stating:
(1) six months has passed since the lien was attached and no suit or notice of pendency has been filed; or
(2) the failure of the filing party to take some other timely action required by this chapter. This affidavit must be in the form approved by the appropriate local office where the mechanics' lien was filed and must reference the lien's recording information.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 45-262; 1952 Code Section 45-262; 1942 Code Section 8737; 1932 Code Section 8737; Civ. C. '22 Section 5649; Civ. C. '12 Section 4119; Civ. C. '02 Section 3014; G. S. 2356; R. S. 2471; 1869 (14) 220; 1873 (15) 350; 1957 (50) 181; 2009 Act No. 40, Section 3, eff June 2, 2009.
Effect of Amendment
The 2009 amendment designated subsection (A) and added subsection (B) relating to conditions under which lien may be released.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 29 - Mortgages and Other Liens
Section 29-5-15. Filing requirements; penalty for frivolous lien.
Section 29-5-22. Reasonable rental value of tools, appliances, machinery, and equipment.
Section 29-5-23. Notice of Project Commencement; location notice; failure to file notice.
Section 29-5-25. Private security guard services at site of real estate improvement.
Section 29-5-26. Landscape services.
Section 29-5-27. Laborer and person defined.
Section 29-5-30. Lien against debtor with life estate or whose estate is less than fee simple.
Section 29-5-50. Lienor's preference over contractor.
Section 29-5-60. Proration of payments among lienors.
Section 29-5-70. Force of lien against existing recorded mortgage.
Section 29-5-80. Notice of nonresponsibility by owner of building or structure.
Section 29-5-90. Dissolution of lien for failure to serve and file statement; contents of statement.
Section 29-5-100. Proceedings not invalidated by inaccuracy of statement of account.
Section 29-5-110. Release of lien upon filing written undertaking and security.
Section 29-5-120. Time for bringing suit to enforce lien; dissolution and release of lien.
Section 29-5-130. Enforcement of certain liens before magistrate's court.
Section 29-5-140. Enforcement of lien by petition to court of common pleas.
Section 29-5-150. Service of petition.
Section 29-5-160. Contents of petition.
Section 29-5-170. Petition filed by multiple lienors.
Section 29-5-180. Amendments of pleadings.
Section 29-5-190. Notice to owner and other creditors.
Section 29-5-200. Notice by publication or other than personal service.
Section 29-5-210. Further notice of suit.
Section 29-5-220. Hearing on claims of lienors.
Section 29-5-230. Questions for jury.
Section 29-5-240. Determination of claims due but not yet payable.
Section 29-5-250. Recovery for part performance.
Section 29-5-260. Sale of premises if lien established.
Section 29-5-270. Sale of part of property.
Section 29-5-280. Notice of sale.
Section 29-5-290. Distribution of proceeds of sale.
Section 29-5-300. Distribution of proceeds by court.
Section 29-5-310. Distribution of surplus.
Section 29-5-320. Prior attaching creditor is preferred.
Section 29-5-330. Distribution of proceeds where there is attaching creditor.
Section 29-5-340. Subsequent attachments.
Section 29-5-350. Attachments intervening between two liens.
Section 29-5-360. Rights of creditors among themselves.
Section 29-5-380. Executor or administrator may enforce creditor's lien.
Section 29-5-390. Suits begun by one creditor may be prosecuted by another.
Section 29-5-400. Allowance of claim and costs of petitioning creditor.
Section 29-5-420. Civil action not barred.