Research


Scope and Content Note

Notices of pending equity suits ("lis pendens") affecting title to real property were filed in the New York County Clerk's Office. Suits were brought in the Court of Chancery, Court of Equity (1st Circuit) (1823-1829), and Court of Chancery (1st Circuit) (1830-1847).

Most notices concern foreclosure of a mortgage. Such notices typically include names of parties to the suit, purpose of the suit, an abstract of the terms and conditions of the mortgage, a description of the mortgaged property, and the names of any defendants owning equity of redemption in the mortgage. The notice is endorsed with the names of the parties, the signature of the complainant's solicitor, and the filing date. A few notices concern other types of Chancery proceedings involving title to real property, such as sale of lands of a deceased individual.