What does a lis pendens indicate in legal terms?

A lis pendens is a legal term that signifies that a lawsuit has been filed which may affect the title or ownership of real property. It serves as a public notice that there is an ongoing legal proceeding concerning the property in question. The purpose of a lis pendens is to alert potential purchasers or financiers that the property is subject to litigation, which could impact their interests if they were to acquire the property. This means that when someone sees a lis pendens recorded against a property, they are informed that there is a legal dispute regarding the title that may ultimately affect the ownership or value of the real estate involved in the case.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately define what a lis pendens represents. A claim for damages typically relates to monetary compensation sought in a lawsuit but does not inherently pertain to the status of real property title. A breach of contract refers to the failure to perform as specified in a contract, which is a different legal principle entirely. A notice of foreclosure is specific to the process of a lender seeking to regain property due to default on a mortgage and also does not convey the broader implications of title disputes represented by a lis pendens.