California · TitleCalifornia lis pendens: a recorded notice of pendency that binds later buyers and lenders

In California a party to an action who asserts a real property claim may record a notice of pendency of action in which that claim is alleged, in the office of the recorder of each county where all or part of the property is located; the notice must contain the names of all parties and a description of the property (Code of Civil Procedure §405.20). From the time of recording, a purchaser, encumbrancer or other transferee of the described property is deemed to have constructive notice of the pending action as it relates to the property, and only of its pendency against parties not fictitiously named (§405.24). The claimant's rights in the property, as finally determined in the action, relate back to the date the notice was recorded (§405.24).