
Full Answer
What does lis pendens mean in real estate?
Lis Pendens is Latin for suit pending. It’s used in connection with real estate and means there is a pending lawsuit or other claim involving the property. A notice of lis pendens is the actual document filed with the county recorder’s office.
What is constructive notice of lis pendens?
From the time the lis pendens is recorded, a subsequent transferee of the property (for example, a buyer) or secured lender against the property (such as, a bank making a loan on the property) is said to be on "constructive notice" of the lawsuit as it relates to the real estate.
When to file a lis pendens?
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 outcome of the lawsuit.
Can a litigant record a lis pendens?
A litigant in a lawsuit asserting a "real property claim" concerning a specific piece of property (or many pieces of property) may record a lis pendens. A lis pendens must be signed by an attorney, or approved by a court. See Code of Civil Procedure Sections 405.20 through 405.24.

What is the purpose of lis pendens?
A “lis pendens notice” is a notice recorded in a real property's chain of title and is designed to enable interested third parties to discover the existence and scope of pending litigation affecting the title to or asserting a mortgage, lien, security interest, or other interest in real property.
How do you get a lis pendens off in SC?
The lis pendens notice, however, may be cancelled without a court order by the person who filed the notice any time after the action has been settled, discontinued, abated, or dismissed by a court of law by the submission of a written notice of cancellation to the clerk of court of each county in which a notice was ...
What is lis pendens SC?
South Carolina Lis Pendens Information In South Carolina a Lis Pendens (affecting title to real property) can be recorded by the plaintiff, with the County Recorder's Office up to 20 days before the actual Court Case is filed (or at any time afterwards). A Defendant may also file a Lis Pendens in certain circumstances.
What is an example of a lis pendens?
For example, if buyer A and a seller enter into a contract for the sale of a home and the seller decides to sell the home to buyer B, buyer A may sue the seller to enforce the sale. The buyer can file a lis pendens, making it difficult for the seller to actually sell the house.
When can lis pendens be Cancelled?
Cancellation of lis pendens — Before final judgment, a notice of lis pendens may be cancelled upon order of the court, after proper showing that the notice is for the purpose of molesting the adverse party, or that it is not necessary to protect the rights of the party who caused it to be registered.
What is the foreclosure process in South Carolina?
South Carolina Foreclosure Process Foreclosures in South Carolina are judicial, which means a court handles the process. The lender must file a lawsuit to foreclose the home. In some other states, though, foreclosures are nonjudicial, which means they're usually carried out with little, if any, court involvement.
What is the rule of lis pendens what conditions are required to be fulfilled for the application of rule of lis pendens?
The rule of lis pendens lays down that whoever purchases a property during the pendency of an action, is held bound by the judgment that may be made against the person from whom he derived his title (to the immovable property, the right to which is directly and specifically in question in the suit or proceeding) even ...
How do you record on lis pendens?
A lis pendens cannot be recorded unless: (1) it is signed by the attorney of record for the claimant; or (2) the court in which the action is pending approves the lis pendens before it is recorded. The court's approval should be either endorsed on or attached to the recorded lis pendens.
What is lis pendant?
Legal Definition of lis pendens 1 : a pending suit. 2 : a written notice of a pending suit involving property usually filed in the appropriate office (as a registry of deeds) — called also notice of pendency.
WHO issues lis pendens?
The Supreme Court has delivered a judgment expounding the doctrine of "lis pendens" under Section 52 of the Transfer of Property Act.
What does discharge of lis pendens mean?
pending litigationSUMMARY. A party to a lawsuit intended to affect real estate may record a notice on the land records containing the names of the parties, the name and object of the suit, the court where it will be heard, and a description of the property. This is called a notice of lis pendens, which signifies pending litigation.
What does nod mean in real estate?
Notice of DefaultSometimes, depending on state law, a nonjudicial foreclosure process begins when the trustee records a Notice of Default (NOD) at the county recorder's office. The NOD serves as public notice that the borrower is in default. The NOD often contains: the name and address of the borrowers.
WHO issues lis pendens?
The Supreme Court has delivered a judgment expounding the doctrine of "lis pendens" under Section 52 of the Transfer of Property Act.
What is meant by constructive notice?
Constructive notice is the legal fiction that someone actually received notice (being informed of a case that could affect their interest - see: Notice) whether or not they truly did receive this.
What is lease pendency?
lis pendens. (lease pen-dense) n. Latin for "a suit pending," a written notice that a lawsuit has been filed which concerns the title to real property or some interest in that real property.
Which legal instrument is given give constructive notice of pending legal action?
A lis pendens is a recorded legal document which gives constructive notice that an action affecting a particular piece of property has been filed in either a state or federal court. Lis pendens is a Latin term which means "action pending" and is in the nature of a quasi lien.
Lis Pendens Explained in 5 Minutes or Less
Laura Leavitt is an expert in saving, investing, insurance, loans, and mortgages. A personal finance journalist since 2016, Laura is keen to make complex topics accessible to readers with clarity and precision. Laura has also written for NextAdvisor, MoneyGeek, Personal Finance Insider, and The Financial Diet.
Definition and Examples of Lis Pendens
Lis pendens is Latin for “suit pending,” and is filed to give notice about lawsuits that assert a claim on a particular piece of property. Given the value of property in U.S. culture, homes and land can have liens or claims on them when someone needs to recoup an outstanding debt or for other reasons.
How Does Lis Pendens Work?
Lis pendens is a legal notice that affects a property’s chain of title, or historical record of ownership and claim. If someone believes that a property’s current title doesn’t accurately reflect their claim to some portion or all of the property, they may file for a notice of lis pendens as they sue for a claim to the property.
Types of Lawsuits Prompting Lis Pendens
As previously mentioned, lis pendens are common in contested will property or property that is being divided up in a divorce. It is also very common in foreclosure proceedings, since the process of a lender taking ownership of a property takes time and involves a change in property ownership.
What It Means for a Home Sale
If you realize there is a lis pendens on a home you had your eye on, you’re generally better off not purchasing the property at hand. Lawsuits of this nature can often take months or years to come to a resolution, thus, it is considered better to continue your home search rather than waiting for the suit to come to an end.
What happens after a Lis Pendens transaction?
This means that any transactions involving the property (loans, transfers, etc.) after the recording of the lis pendens are subject to being unwound, undone, or otherwise having no force or effect against the property.
What is a Lis Pendens?
What is it? A "lis pendens", also known as a "notice of pendency of action" is a notice that recorded with the County recorder's office. The lis pendens tells the world that there is a lawsuit concerning real estate.
What is a "constructive notice" in a lawsuit?
From the time the lis pendens is recorded, a subsequent transferee of the property (for example, a buyer) or secured lender against the property (such as, a bank making a loan on the property) is said to be on "constructive notice" of the lawsuit as it relates to the real estate.
Can a plaintiff file a Lis Pendens?
Although a plaintiff can file a lis pendens when the plaintiff has a real property claim, a claimed owner of the property can request the court "expunge" or remove the lis pendens or require the plaintiff to post a bond in order to maintain the lis pendens against the property.
Can you post a bond to remove Lis Pendens?
The court can also allow the claimed owner to post a bond in order to remove the lis pendens. On this type of motion, the winner generally receives their attorney's fees incurred in brining/opposing the motion, however, it is not mandatory. See Code of Civil Procedure Section 405.30 through 405.39.
How does a Lis Pendens work?
How Lis Pendens Work. Lis pendens is literally translated from Latin as "a suit pending.". This condition can adversely affect the sale price or possibility of a sale since any pending litigations are typically unfavorable for the owner. The term is commonly abbreviated "lis pend.".
What is a Lis Pendens?
Key Takeaways. A lis pendens is an official, public notice that a property has a pending lawsuit or claim attached to it. Lis pendens can only be filed if a claim is related specifically to the property; however, it specifies that the owner of the property must assume any litigation associated with it. Lis pendens are common divorce cases in which ...
What happens if a bank is suing the owner of a lot and a new buyer purchases the lot
If a bank is suing the owner of a lot and a new buyer purchases the lot, then the new owner must face the lawsuit; sale of the property does not prevent the plaintiff from seeking redress via litigation. It can represent a contingent liability .
Can a Lis Pendens be filed?
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 outcome of the lawsuit. A lis pendens is only lifted once the lawsuit has been settled.
Can a buyer file a Lis Pendens?
The buyer can file a lis pendens, making it difficult for the seller to actually sell the house. If buyer B proceeds with the purchase and the courts determine that buyer A is entitled to enforce the sale, buyer B loses the property to buyer A and must go to the seller to get his money back.
Overview of the Foreclosure Process
Lenders use the foreclosure process to recover and sell real property, such as a home, when a property owner defaults on a loan. The right to foreclose arises from the loan agreements which typically identify the home as the collateral.
What's a Lis Pendens?
Lis Pendens is Latin for suit pending. It’s used in connection with real estate and means there is a pending lawsuit or other claim involving the property. A notice of lis pendens is the actual document filed with the county recorder’s office. It’s a public record that notifies the public that a lawsuit has been filed.
A Lis Pendens Foreclosure
Lis pendens are most commonly used in judicial foreclosures. In a judicial foreclosure, the mortgage lender starts the process by filing a lawsuit. In connection with filing the suit, the lender will file a notice of lis pendens with the county recorder’s office. This is a requirement in 22 states.
Let's Summarize..
When a borrower defaults on a home loan, the lender will start a foreclosure action to recover and sell the property. A judicial foreclosure involves a court proceeding and is generally required if your loan is secured by a mortgage.
