A contractor receives a preliminary notice for a mechanics lien. How many days do they have to respond before the lien can be filed?
Correct Answer
D) 15 days
South Carolina law requires a 15-day preliminary notice before filing a mechanics lien, giving the property owner time to address the claim.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
South Carolina mechanics lien law requires that a preliminary notice be served at least 15 days before the actual lien is filed. This 15-day window gives the property owner — or in this context, the party receiving the notice — an opportunity to resolve the payment dispute before the lien encumbers the property record.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: 10 days
10 days is too short; South Carolina does not allow a lien to be filed after only a 10-day waiting period following preliminary notice. This figure is sometimes found in other states' notice timelines.
Option B: 30 days
30 days is more than the required waiting period. While 30 days appears in many SC deadline calculations (e.g., time to file a response in court), it is not the preliminary notice waiting period before a mechanics lien can be filed.
Option C: 20 days
20 days is close but incorrect. The statute specifies 15 days, not 20. Confusing these two figures is a common exam error.
Memory Technique
Think '15 days = 2 business weeks to make it right.' A party serving a preliminary notice gives the other side just two working weeks to resolve the dispute before the lien hits the title.
More South Carolina Questions
What is the maximum contract value a Tier 1 residential contractor can undertake in South Carolina?
Under South Carolina law, a contractor discovers a material defect in their work 6 months after project completion. The owner demands immediate correction. What is the contractor's legal obligation?
A contractor has 15 employees and annual payroll of $780,000. The workers compensation rate is $4.25 per $100 of payroll. What is the annual premium?
According to SC building codes, what is the maximum allowable deflection for a residential floor joist with a 16-foot span under live load?
A subcontractor completes $25,000 of electrical work but is not paid by the general contractor. The general contractor was paid by the owner. What is the subcontractor's lien priority against the property?
A contractor receives a stop work order from the building official. Work continues for 3 additional days before stopping. What penalty applies per South Carolina building codes?
Under South Carolina workers compensation law, which of the following employees would be exempt from coverage requirements?
Under South Carolina contractor licensing law, how many hours of continuing education are required annually for license renewal?
A Class B contractor wants to bid on a $750,000 commercial project. What must the contractor do to be eligible?
A contractor's license expires on June 30th. They submit renewal application and fees on July 15th. What additional penalty must they pay?
People Also Study
Business & Financial Management
120 questions · 70% to pass
Contract Administration
60 questions · 70% to pass
Project Management
60 questions · 70% to pass
Related Study Resources
Previous Question
A material supplier delivered $25,000 worth of lumber to a job site. The general contractor has not paid after 45 days. Under SC mechanics lien law, what is the supplier's next required action to preserve lien rights?
Next Question
Under South Carolina building codes, what is the minimum required width for emergency egress windows in basement bedrooms?