how lis pendens work
lis pendens is literally translated from latin as suit pending this condition can adversely affect the sale price or the possibility of a sale since any pending litigations are typically unfavorable for the owner the term is commonly abbreviated lis pend lis pendens provides constructive notice or a warning to prospective homebuyers that the ownership of a property is in dispute and litigation is pending lis pendens can only be filed if a claim is related specifically to the property by filing a lis pendens an individual or entity is protecting its claim to the title pending the lawsuit s outcome a lis pendens is only lifted once the lawsuit has been settled because pending litigation can take months and sometimes years buyers are often advised to stay clear of these properties 