Once the complaint is filed, it enters a Lis pendens, meaning a suit is pending. The lender becomes the plaintiff, and the debtor becomes the defendant in the court record. The case receives a docket number. The plaintiff must serve the defendant with the foreclosure complaint.
Rules for Recorded Documents At least the top 2-½ inches of the first page shall be reserved for recording information. The left 3-½ inches of this space shall be used by the public to show the name of the person requesting recording and the name and address to which the document is to be returned following recording.
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.
First, you can only file a lis pendens if you have a pending lawsuit with the circuit court. Your case must be already pending before the lis pendens will be recorded by the county. In addition, this case must be pending in the correct court jurisdiction and show a real property claim.
What is a lis pendens? (CCP § 405.21) A lis pendens – also called a notice of pendency of action – is a special type of legal document filed with a county recorder. Though its use is limited to lawsuits involving real property claims, its effect is powerful.
Expunging a Lis Pendens This can happen if the party believes that the lis pendens was improperly filed or if the underlying lawsuit has been resolved. Court Hearing: If a party seeks expungement, the court will conduct a hearing to determine whether the lis pendens should be canceled.
A lis pendens must be filed with both the county recorder and the circuit court clerk. After the action has reached pending status, the lis pendens must be drafted and submitted to the county recorder to be recorded for public record. This does not end this part of the process.
File a request with the court to remove the lis pendens. Provide the legal reasons the lis pendens is improper, offering proof, for example, that the lis pendens affects real estate that is not connected to the litigation. If the lawsuit is frivolous and merely intended to harass the property owner, offer proof.
To file a lis pendens, the party filing must have or show one of two things: That there is a recorded instrument, usually some mortgage or encumbrance, or perhaps something related to a construction mechanics lien—that potentially provides the filer the right to the property on or in the document.