Home › Guides › South Carolina
South Carolina debt collection rules: lawsuit deadlines, garnishment limits and judgments
In South Carolina, an action upon a contract, obligation or liability, express or implied, must be brought within 3 years. On $800.00 of weekly take-home pay, a creditor with a judgment for an ordinary consumer debt can garnish at most $0.00 a week in South Carolina — a creditor cannot garnish wages for a consumer credit sale, lease, loan or rental-purchase debt.
The rules at a glance
| Deadline for a creditor to sue | In South Carolina, an action upon a contract, obligation or liability, express or implied, must be brought within 3 years. (S.C. Code § 15-3-530(1)) |
|---|---|
| Deadline to respond to a lawsuit | In South Carolina, a defendant must serve an answer within 30 days after the complaint is served. (S.C. R. Civ. P. 12(a)) |
| Wage garnishment limit | In South Carolina, for a debt arising from a consumer credit sale, a consumer lease, a consumer loan or a consumer rental-purchase agreement, wherever it was made, the creditor may not attach the debtor’s unpaid earnings by garnishment or like proceedings. (S.C. Code § 37-5-104) |
| How long a judgment lasts | In South Carolina, an execution may issue on a final judgment at any time within 10 years from the date of its original entry, and stays active for that period without renewal. (S.C. Code § 15-39-30) |
How much of your pay can be garnished
| Where you live | $600.00 a week | $800.00 a week | Law |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | $0.00 | $0.00 | S.C. Code § 37-5-104 a creditor cannot garnish wages for a consumer credit sale, lease, loan or rental-purchase debt |
Frequently asked questions
How long does a creditor have to sue for a debt in South Carolina?
In South Carolina, an action upon a contract, obligation or liability, express or implied, must be brought within 3 years.
How much of my paycheck can be garnished in South Carolina?
In South Carolina, for a debt arising from a consumer credit sale, a consumer lease, a consumer loan or a consumer rental-purchase agreement, wherever it was made, the creditor may not attach the debtor’s unpaid earnings by garnishment or like proceedings.
Questions answered for South Carolina
- How long does a debt judgment last in South Carolina?
- What is the statute of limitations on credit card debt in South Carolina?
- Can a credit card company garnish my wages in South Carolina?
Compare wage garnishment limits across every state we have verified