pendency

Pendency refers to the state of being pending, i.e., awaiting a decision or disposition. In law and public administration, it describes claims, petitions, or applications that have been filed but not yet resolved, with the outcome potentially affecting rights, obligations, or property.

In civil litigation, a case remains pending while it is before a court or tribunal. During pendency, related proceedings may be stayed or coordinated to avoid conflicting judgments. The term lis pendens is frequently used to denote that an action affecting title to real property is pending, a notice often recorded to warn potential buyers or lenders that the matter may affect ownership or transfer of the property.

Time limits and statutes of limitations may be tolled during pendency in some jurisdictions, meaning the period for bringing a claim does not run while the case is active, though the rules vary by jurisdiction and claim type.

In patent law, pendency refers to the period from filing of a patent application to final disposition (grant, rejection, or abandonment). The length of patent pendency can influence the patent term, maintenance planning, and, in some systems, allowances for patent term adjustments to compensate for administrative delays. The phrase patent pending is used to indicate that a patent application has been filed and is seeking protection, though no patent has yet been issued.

Etymology: pendere, from Latin, meaning to hang or to be undecided. The concept is widely applicable in administrative and legal contexts to signal unresolved status.