A lis pendens must be filed no more than 20 days before the filing of the complaint and no less than 20 days prior to the entry of a foreclosure decree. Time when notice of lis pendens may be filed.There, the South Carolina Court of Appeals found the filing of a lis pendens is absolutely privileged. There, the South Carolina Court of Appeals found the filing of a lis pendens is absolutely privileged. First, a lawsuit must be filed with the county clerk, and the suit must be pending. This cloud could be a lis pendens, a Latin term meaning "suit pending. Service on unknown parties; notice of lis pendens.