To file a Lis Pendens in Texas, the party initiating the lawsuit must follow procedures outlined in the Texas Property Code. This includes submitting a declarative affidavit to the county clerk's office where the property is located. The affidavit must generally contain: Names of the parties involved.
To file a lien claim, you will need: Property owner's name (or company name) and mailing address. Project address and the county where it is located. The amount owed for each month you performed the work that remains unpaid. A brief description of the work you performed.
After a Lis Pendens is filed, it becomes part of the public record, warning anyone interested in the property that it is involved in a legal dispute. The property owner may challenge the Lis Pendens in court, seeking to have it removed if it was improperly filed.
The notice of lis pendens remains in full force and effect until cancelled. The ordinance may authorize the cancellation of the notice of lis pendens under certain circumstances. Upon receipt of notice from the city, the clerk of superior court shall cancel the notice of lis pendens.
Section 12.0071 - Motion to Expunge Lis Pendens (a) A party to an action in connection with which a notice of lis pendens has been filed may: (1) apply to the court to expunge the notice; and (2) file evidence, including declarations, with the motion to expunge the notice.
(b) The party filing a lis pendens or the party's agent or attorney shall sign the lis pendens, which must state: (1) the style and number, if any, of the proceeding; (2) the court in which the proceeding is pending; (3) the names of the parties; (4) the kind of proceeding; and (5) a description of the property ...
A lis pendens has no life of its own apart from the lawsuit that underlies it. If there is no lawsuit, there can be no valid lis pendens. “A lis pendens operates only during the pendency of the underlying suit, and only as to those matters that are involved in the suit.
Prerequisites to Filing a Lis Pendens Pending Legal Action: A lawsuit involving a property claim, such as ownership or title, must be filed or about to be filed. Direct Connection to Property: The legal action must directly affect the property's title, ownership, or rights, not just financial disputes.
The party filing a lis pendens or the party's agent or attorney shall sign the lis pendens, which must state: (1) the style and number, if any, of the proceeding; (2) the court in which the proceeding is pending; (3) the names of the parties; (4) the kind of proceeding; and (5) a description of the property affected.