A lis pendens is a common tool used in Florida to put third parties on notice of a pending lawsuit against real estate. Lis pendens is a Latin term that literally means "lawsuit pending.Lis Pendens literally means "suit pending" it is defined as the "jurisdiction, power, or control which courts acquire over property involved in a pending suit. Lis pendens is a legal term to describe a notice of pending litigation against real estate or real property. Dealing with a Lis Pendens Florida? Need to preserve your rights? A lis pendens, Latin for "lawsuit pending," is a written notice to the public that a lawsuit has been filed involving a piece of real estate. The lis pendens real statute refers to a notice of a pending lawsuit filed in the public records of the county where a piece of property is located. A notice of lis pendens in Florida to give record notice of a pending action concerning title to, or an interest in, real property. In Florida, for a Lis Pendens to be effective it must be recorded in the county recorder's office, (where the property is located) 48.23 (1)(a).