Short answer. Yes, but only by court order, and only on specific grounds. A notice of lis pendens may be cancelled if the court finds, after proper showing, that it was recorded to molest the adverse party, or that it is no longer necessary to protect the rights of the party who caused it to be recorded.
What the law says
The notice of lis pendens hereinabove mentioned may be cancelled only upon order of the court, after proper showing that the notice is for the purpose of molesting the adverse party, or that it is not necessary to protect the rights of the party who caused it to be recorded.
Rule 13, Section 19 — Notice of lis pendens. Read the full provision →
What a notice of lis pendens does
Rule 13, Section 19 of the Rules of Court lets a plaintiff, or a defendant claiming affirmative relief, record a notice with the registry of deeds when a case affects the title or right of possession of real property. The notice states the parties' names and the object of the action, and once recorded, anyone who later buys or takes an encumbrance on the property is deemed to have constructive notice of the pending case. It functions as a warning to the world that the property's title is in dispute, so a buyer cannot later claim ignorance of the litigation.
Cancellation requires a court order, not consent
The rule is explicit that a recorded notice of lis pendens "may be cancelled only upon order of the court." The other side cannot have it removed simply by objecting to it, disputing your case, or asking the registry of deeds directly. Only a court, acting on a proper application, has the authority to order cancellation, which means the party who wants it removed must actually bring the matter before the court that has jurisdiction over the case or the property.
The two grounds for cancellation
The rule limits cancellation to two specific grounds, after "proper showing" is made: that the notice was recorded for the purpose of molesting the adverse party, or that it is not necessary to protect the rights of the party who caused it to be recorded. The first targets notices recorded in bad faith, as a tool to harass or pressure the property owner rather than to genuinely protect a real claim. The second targets notices that may have started out legitimate but no longer serve a protective purpose, for example because the underlying claim to the property has become moot. If your notice was recorded because your case genuinely affects title to or possession of the property, and it continues to serve that protective purpose, neither ground is easily made out against you.
What this means if the other side pushes for cancellation
Because cancellation is not automatic, the other side has the burden of making the required showing before the court, not merely asserting that the notice is inconvenient or that they disagree with your case's merits. You are generally entitled to defend the notice by showing that it was recorded to protect a genuine claim affecting the property's title or possession, and that the claim remains live. The rule's structure means a properly recorded notice, tied to an actual pending case over the property, is not easily dislodged on a bare request.