Lis Pendens Texas

Notice Of Lis Pendens Texas

Lis Pendens Texas Form

When a buyer or seller breaches a Real estate Purchase of Sales Contract the other interested party may file a lawsuit for protection. This lawsuit helps ensure the property is not sold or encumbered until the dispute is resolved. The lawsuit itself cannot stop the property from being sold, but the ancillary document drafted in the lawsuit and filed in the county records acts as notice to anyone that a civil action is pending concerning the title of the real property.

This ancillary document is called Lis Pendens and it must be filed in the county records where the property is located.

What Does The Law Say About Lis Pendens?

Lis Pendens Texas Search

Lis Pendens Texas Only a party that asserts direct interest in the real property can qualify for a lis pendens. That means that parties that only have monetary or collateral interest in a property cannot benefit from this. A lis pendens ensures that the real property you may be entitled to remains untouched until the issue is resolved.

This document is actually an affidavit that has the effect of a Lien because it notifies the public that the real property is under litigation.

According to the Texas Property Code Sec. 12.007. “LIS PENDENS”

(a) After the plaintiff’s statement in an eminent domain proceeding is filed or during the pendency of an action involving title to real property, the establishment of an interest in real property, or the enforcement of an encumbrance against real property, a party to the action who is seeking affirmative relief may file for record with the county clerk of each county where a part of the property is located a notice that the action is pending.

(b) The party filing a lis pendens or the party’s agent or attorney shall sign the lis pendens, which musty 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

How Long Does A Lis Pendens Last

Lis Pendens Texas Property Code

For a lis pendens to have any effect, a lawsuit must be filed, which means that it automatically terminates once a judgment has been given and no appeal is filed. In other words a Lis Pendens cannot exist without the lawsuit. “ A lis pendens operates only during the pendency of the [underlying] suit, and only as to those matters that are involved in the suit. It terminates with the judgment, in the absence of an appeal.” Rosborough v. Cook, 108 Tex. 364, 367, 194 S.W. 131, 132 (1917).

Another way a lis pendens can end is if a court cancels it. This may happen if a notice of lis pendens is not filed correctly. Most of the time this happens if the person that filed the notice of lis pendens has no real property claim. In this situation the judge may declare that the notice is based on “bogus assertions that cannot survive a challenge”.

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Texas Real Estate Law Firm FAQ

What is a lis pendens in the state of Texas?

A notice of lis pendens signals that a civil action involving real property title, the formation of an interest in real property, or the enforcement of an encumbrance against real property is pending.

How long does lis pendens last?

A lis pendens is a legal document that stays on the public record until the issue is resolved in court. Depending on the state in which you live, this could take months or years. A lis penden can have long-term consequences, making it difficult to obtain insurance, sell your house, or obtain a mortgage.

Can you buy a house with lis pendens in Texas?

In a title search, lis pendens is usually a red flag. It does not prohibit you from purchasing or selling the property, but it does necessitate the completion of additional procedures before the deed is transferred.