what is a lis pendens 
a lis pendens is an official notice to the public that a lawsuit involving a claim on a property has been filed lis pendens is connected to the concept that a property buyer must assume any litigation that exists pertaining to the property if a bank is suing the owner of a lot and a new buyer purchases it the new owner inherits the responsibility of the lawsuit the sale of the property does not prevent the plaintiff from seeking redress via litigation it can represent a contingent liability 