Lis Pendens

Lis pendens is Latin for “suit pending. It says that during pending litigation, neither party can alienate or otherwise deal with such property so as to affect his appointment. This is to protect the parties to litigation against the alienations by their opponents during the pendency of the suit. Recording a lis pendens against a piece of property alerts a potential purchaser or lender that the property’s title is in question, which makes the property less attractive to a buyer or lender. After the notice is filed, anyone who nevertheless purchases the land or property described in the notice takes subject to the ultimate decision of the lawsuit.