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South Carolina · LiensSouth Carolina judgment liens on real estate: abstract entry and the ten-year term

In South Carolina a final judgment or decree of a state court of record, or of a federal court whose judgments create liens, is a lien on the judgment debtor's real estate in any county where the judgment or a transcript is entered on the book of abstracts of judgments and indexed. The lien begins at that entry and continues for ten years from the date of the final judgment or decree (S.C. Code §15-35-810). It doesn't reach real property exempt from attachment, levy and sale under the state Constitution (§15-35-820). For a sale, a judgment entered against the seller in the county's abstract of judgments within the ten years has to be paid or released at closing for the buyer to take clear title.

What the statutes set

  1. Lien (§15-35-810)

    From entry on the county's book of abstracts of judgments.

  2. Ten years (§15-35-810)

    Counted from the date of the final judgment or decree.

  3. Exempt property (§15-35-820)

    No lien on property exempt under the Constitution.

What the TC does when a South Carolina title search shows a judgment

  • Confirm the judgment is against the seller and not someone with a similar name – the title company may accept an affidavit.
  • Request a payoff and a satisfaction or release, and list the payoff on the settlement statement.
  • Check the entry date and any renewal under South Carolina law.

Questions about South Carolina judgment liens

How long does a judgment lien last in South Carolina?

Ten years from the date of the final judgment or decree, from its entry on the county's book of abstracts of judgments (S.C. Code §15-35-810).

Does a South Carolina judgment attach in every county?

Only in counties where the judgment or a transcript is entered on the book of abstracts of judgments and indexed (S.C. Code §15-35-810).

Related guides

Track judgment payoffs and releases as tasks on the deal in ClosingCode.

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Sources: S.C. Code §§15-35-810, 15-35-820 (scstatehouse.gov), read October 30, 2026.

General information, not legal advice. ClosingCode is software; it is not a law firm or brokerage. This guide is not a substitute for the advice or services of an attorney.