There are several instances in which you might need to file a lis pendens. Common lawsuits that may require or result in lis pendens being recorded include quiet title actions, partition lawsuits, specific performance, and easement disputes.
Key Points to Remember About the 5-Year Rule: Failure to bring the case to trial within 5 years can result in dismissal. This rule applies to various civil cases, including real estate and personal injury matters. There are some exceptions, but they're complex and require expert legal guidance.
There is no specific time frame for how long a lis pendens is valid. Rather, a lis pendens is valid until it is expunged or the underlying case is resolved. If not expunged, a lis pendens is often removed as part of a settlement agreement reached between the parties.
After a Lis Pendens is filed, it becomes part of the public record, warning anyone interested in the property that it is involved in a legal dispute. The property owner may challenge the Lis Pendens in court, seeking to have it removed if it was improperly filed.
"Notice of pendency of action" or "notice" means a notice of the pendency of an action in which a real property claim is alleged. 405.3. "Probable validity," with respect to a real property claim, means that it is more likely than not that the claimant will obtain a judgment against the defendant on the claim. 405.4.
Create a document to serve as the notice Use a title that clearly identifies the document as a Notice of Lis Pendens. Include all of the required information in the document, such as a legal description of the property, the names of the parties involved, and a statement of the claim.
Lis pendens are used most often in cases of divorce and foreclosure. For example, if a divorcing couple cannot agree on how to divide their interest in the marital home, one spouse may file a lis pendens in order to keep the other spouse from trying to sell the house until the divorce is settled.
The suit or proceeding must be pending before a competent court of jurisdiction. A right to immovable property is directly or specifically involved in the suit. The suit or proceeding must not be collusive. The property in dispute must be transferred or otherwise dealt with by any party to suit.
A lis pendens can only be filed if an action is pending. Additionally, the pending suit must involve real property, such as land and buildings. If these requirements are not met, the notice can be expunged.