How Long Does a Lis Pendens Last in Pennsylvania? Under Pennsylvania law, a Lis Pendens typically remains recorded for a period of fifteen years. This duration provides adequate notice to interested parties about ongoing litigation or other legal actions involving the real property.
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.
One tool often utilized is the filing of a lis pendens, a Latin term meaning "suit pending." In Virginia, the lis pendens memorandum serves as a notice to prospective buyers, lenders, or interested parties that a property is subject to a claim involved in litigation.
Draft the lis pendens memorandum: Once a legal action is filed, the claimant must draft the lis pendens memorandum and include the following information: the title of the pending legal action. the general object of the legal action. the court where the legal action is pending.
A memorandum of lis pendens admitted to record in an action to enforce a zoning ordinance shall expire after 180 days.
The lien will stay in effect for five years, but can be renewed, if the debtor does not sell the property within that time period.
Other than resolution of the pending lawsuit, the only way to remove a lis pendens is by expungement, which requires a court order from a circuit judge. If you refuse service or the action is otherwise delayed, the lis pendens remains intact, making it difficult to sell or otherwise transfer a property.