What does "lis pendens" signify?

"Lis pendens" is a legal term that signifies a pending lawsuit. It is a notice that is filed with a court or recorded in the public records to inform potential buyers or interested parties that a lawsuit has been initiated concerning a specific property or legal issue. This serves to warn individuals that there is an ongoing legal dispute that may affect their interest in that property.

In the context of real estate, a lis pendens can impact the sale or financing of property because it indicates that there may be ownership or title issues pending resolution. By marking the property with a lis pendens, the court is essentially saying that any transactions related to that property will be subject to the outcome of the ongoing litigation.

Other choices refer to different legal states that do not match the definition of "lis pendens." A resolved lawsuit would indicate the matter is closed, a dismissed suit suggests that no legal action is proceeding, and a jurisdictional challenge relates to questions about the authority of a court rather than the status of a lawsuit itself. Thus, the essence of "lis pendens" lies in its indication of a lawsuit that is still active and unresolved.