What is the maximum duration a lis pendens remains valid?

The maximum duration a lis pendens remains valid is three years. A lis pendens is a legal notice that informs all interested parties that a property is subject to litigation. Its primary purpose is to protect the claimant's interest by ensuring that no transactions affecting the property can occur without the party involved in the litigation being notified.

After filing, the lis pendens serves its purpose for a limited period; if no further legal action is taken to extend its validity within that three-year timeframe, it will typically lapse. This three-year limit balances the need for claimants to secure their interests while preventing indefinite encumbrance of property based on stale claims.

This duration ensures that potential buyers and lenders can have confidence regarding the status of the property, knowing that if a lis pendens is no longer active, they may proceed with transactions free from the burden of the previous claim.