Expunging a Lis Pendens This can happen if the party believes that the lis pendens was improperly filed or if the underlying lawsuit has been resolved. Court Hearing: If a party seeks expungement, the court will conduct a hearing to determine whether the lis pendens should be canceled.
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.
There is no specific time frame for how long a lis pendens is valid. Rather, a lis pendens is valid until it is expunged or the underlying case is resolved. If not expunged, a lis pendens is often removed as part of a settlement agreement reached between the parties.
A lis pendens must be filed with both the county recorder and the circuit court clerk. After the action has reached pending status, the lis pendens must be drafted and submitted to the county recorder to be recorded for public record. This does not end this part of the process.
File a request with the court to remove the lis pendens. Provide the legal reasons the lis pendens is improper, offering proof, for example, that the lis pendens affects real estate that is not connected to the litigation. If the lawsuit is frivolous and merely intended to harass the property owner, offer proof.
California Code of Civil Procedure section 405.30 allows a property owner to remove a lis pendens by bringing a “motion to expunge.” There are several bases for a motion to expunge, including: (1) the lack of a real property claim, (2) the claimant's failure to establish a “probable validity of their claim, or (3) the ...
A lis pendens can only be filed if an action is pending. Additionally, the pending suit must involve real property, such as land and buildings. If these requirements are not met, the notice can be expunged.