What indicates that a legal action has been filed regarding a property?

A lis pendens is a legal notice that indicates there is a pending lawsuit affecting the title or possession of a specific property. It serves as a public record that alerts interested parties, such as potential buyers or lenders, that there is a legal dispute concerning the property, which could affect its ownership or value. When a lis pendens is filed, it becomes a warning that the property may be subject to litigation, and as such, it can significantly impact the ability to sell or transfer the property until the legal matter is resolved.

In contrast, a title opinion is a professional judgment from an attorney about the validity of the title, a valid lien may indicate a debt owed against the property, and an abstract of title is a summary of the historical ownership of a property. While these other options provide important information about property rights or obligations, none serve the specific purpose of formally notifying that a legal action has been initiated regarding the property as effectively as a lis pendens does.