Notice of Lis Pendens

What is a lis pendens on a Florida house, and can you still sell it?

A lis pendens is a public notice that a lawsuit affecting the property has been filed. You can usually still sell, but the buyer takes the house subject to the case unless the claim is paid or resolved at closing.

Get My Cash Offer → 📞 (813) 610-6460
✓ No obligation ✓ Any condition ✓ A person reads every message

Got a lis pendens notice? Ask us

Any Florida county. Tell us the address and the case number. A person reads every message, and there is no obligation.

By submitting you agree we may contact you about your property by phone or email. We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information.

— or —
📅 Book a call with our acquisitions team
Choose any time that suits you. No obligation, and no pressure to decide on the call.

The short answer

Yes, you can often sell. A lis pendens is recorded in the county's official records to warn anyone buying that a court case could change who owns or has rights in the property. It is not a judgment and it is not a lien by itself, but it makes the title hard to insure.

Howler Property Group LLC, a Tampa-based company that buys Florida houses directly, publishes this guide. It is general information and not legal advice.

Why was one filed?

  • A foreclosure. This is the most common reason. The lender files the case and records the notice. See selling before a Florida foreclosure.
  • A lien case from an HOA, a contractor or a code board.
  • A divorce, partition or ownership dispute involving the property.

What does it do to a sale?

A title company generally will not insure over a recorded lis pendens, and a buyer who closes anyway can be bound by the result of the case. So a sale usually works only if the claim behind the notice is paid off from the proceeds at closing, and the case is dismissed or settled afterward.

How does it clear?

The notice ends when the case is dismissed, settled or otherwise decided, and the party who filed it, or the court, discharges it in the county record. Ask the clerk of the circuit court for the case number and the docket, and ask your attorney what is needed. Do not skip this step: a title company will search for it.

What should you do first?

  • Read the complaint and the dates. A response deadline is short, and ignoring a case can lead to a default.
  • Talk to a Florida attorney or legal aid about the case itself.
  • Ask the other side for a payoff figure in writing if a sale is the plan.

Where does Howler Property Group fit in?

Howler Property Group buys Florida houses as-is for cash, including houses with a recorded case against them. We run a title search, confirm what the notice is about, and put the terms in a written contract. If the claim is larger than what a sale could cover, we will say so. We are not a law firm.

Written 2026-10-27. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice, and we are not a law firm. For your own deadlines and rights, talk to a Florida attorney.

Related questions

Good Questions

Frequently asked

What is a lis pendens in Florida?
A public notice, recorded in the county's official records, that a lawsuit affecting the property has been filed. It is not a judgment and it is not a lien by itself.
Can I sell a house with a lis pendens on it?
Often yes, but a title company generally will not insure over it, so the claim behind it is usually paid from the proceeds at closing and the case is dismissed or settled.
How long does a lis pendens stay on the title?
Until the case ends and the notice is discharged in the county record. Check the case docket with the clerk of the circuit court.
Does a lis pendens mean I am in foreclosure?
Not always. Foreclosure is the most common cause, but a lien case, divorce or ownership dispute can also lead to one.
How do I find out why a lis pendens was filed?
Look up the recorded notice in the county's official records. It names the case and court, and the clerk of the circuit court has the docket.