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.
The Lis Pendens List identifies pre-foreclosure properties as well as other properties involved in pending litigation. This valuable tool will help you: Provide clients with timely, accurate real property data. Identify and quickly assess foreclosure litigation opportunities.
Find the property's county. Search the county's property appraiser's website and note the current property owner's name(s), parcel number, and legal description. Check the county recorder's public record for any liens, judgments, or lis pendens attached to the property under the owner's name.
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.
Section 48.23 provides that the notice must contain the names of all of the parties, the name of the court in which the action is instituted, a description of the property involved or affected, a description of the relief sought as to the property, and one of the following: the date of the institution of the action, ...
(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 ...
What Does Lis Pendens Mean? Lis pendens is a Latin term that literally means “lawsuit pending.” In a modern context, it is a notice filed against real estate that is under the control of the courts because of a pending lawsuit. It is often referred to as a “cloud on title”.
Ing to Florida Statute Section 48.23, a lis pendens must have a caption with the names of all the parties, the date of the action, description of the property and statement of the relief being sought. There is a Supreme Court approved form, and it should be used.