How long is a Notice of Pendency effective?

• A. Notice of pendency is effective for only 3 years (unless mortgage foreclosure action).
• B. 1 year
• C. 5 years
• D. Indefinite

Answer: (A)

Notice of Pendency, or lis pendens, is a filing that puts the world on notice that real property is subject to a lawsuit affecting its title. Its purpose is to protect the plaintiff’s interests while the case proceeds, but it isn’t meant to stay in effect forever. The standard duration is three years, and it can be renewed or extended by the court if the action is still pending. In mortgage foreclosure actions, the litigation often lengthy, so the pendency can extend to cover the duration of the foreclosure process. That’s why three years is the typical term, with the possibility of extension in foreclosure cases. The other timeframes don’t reflect how lis pendens is designed to function.