A wrongfully filed lis pendens can be removed by the judge in the case in which it was filed. The party seeking to remove it must file a motion and address why the lis pendens is improper under Florida law.
A lis pendens is a written notice that a lawsuit has been filed concerning real estate, involving either the title to the property or a claimed ownership interest in it.
(2) A notice of lis pendens is not effectual for any purpose beyond 1 year from the commencement of the action and will expire at that time, unless the relief sought is disclosed by the pending pleading to be founded on a duly recorded instrument or on a lien claimed under part I of chapter 713 against the property ...
Short Answer: After filing a lis pendens, property sales may stall due to legal disputes impacting the title. Misfiling can result in sanctions or slander of title damages. Removal involves court-ordered expungement or voluntary discharge.
However, once any litigation has been resolved, a lis pendens can be removed through a Florida Release of Lis Pendens. This legal document will formally remove the lis pendens so that the property title is clear.
The titleholder can sell a property and transfer the deed to someone else while subject to a lis pendens. However, most title companies will not provide insurance for homes with a lis pendens, and closing agents may close with the lien being bonded.
Lis pendens means “pending lawsuit.” Under common law, filing a complaint “concerning real property” was constructive notice to buyers that they would take subject to the suit. Oregon now requires plaintiffs to record a separate Notice of Lis Pendens to secure their interest in the property.
Lis pendens is a formal notice that there is a pending action, or lawsuit, that could affect the title of the property. However, it serves an even bigger purpose. When a lis pendens is filed, any future transfers of the property are affected by the pending action if it were to be awarded.