Lis Pendens Requirements In Pennsylvania
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FAQ
Other than resolution of the pending lawsuit, the only way to remove a lis pendens is by expungement, which requires a court order from a circuit judge. If you refuse service or the action is otherwise delayed, the lis pendens remains intact, making it difficult to sell or otherwise transfer a property.
How Long Does a Lis Pendens Last in Pennsylvania? Under Pennsylvania law, a Lis Pendens typically remains recorded for a period of fifteen years. This duration provides adequate notice to interested parties about ongoing litigation or other legal actions involving the real property.
The Lis Pendens A lis pendens is a document that is filed in the public records that alerts the world that someone is asserting claim over the property. A lis pendens is not, by itself, a legal bar to purchasing the property—someone can still legally close on property with a lis pendens filed on it.
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.
Lis pendens is a formal notice that there is a pending action, or lawsuit, that could affect the title of the property. However, it serves an even bigger purpose. When a lis pendens is filed, any future transfers of the property are affected by the pending action if it were to be awarded.
The lien will stay in effect for five years, but can be renewed, if the debtor does not sell the property within that time period.
After the action is resolved, the attorney for the plaintiff should file a praecipe to remove the lis pendens and resulting cloud on title. Note that if a defendant believes a lis pendens has been filed improperly, it may make a motion with the court to have it stricken.
