Legal Definitions - notice doctrine

The notice doctrine is an equitable principle that states that if a new owner acquires an estate with knowledge that someone else had a claim on it at the time of the transfer, that claim may still be enforced against the new owner, even if it would have been disregarded at law.

For example, if a person purchases a piece of property with knowledge that there is a pending lawsuit over the ownership of the property, the new owner cannot claim ignorance of the lawsuit and will be subject to the outcome of the case.

Another example is if a person buys a car from someone who does not have the legal right to sell it, but the buyer knows or should have known that the seller did not have the right to sell it. In this case, the true owner of the car can still assert their claim to the vehicle against the new owner.

The notice doctrine is designed to prevent fraud and protect the rights of those who have legitimate claims to property. It is important for buyers to conduct due diligence and investigate any potential claims or disputes before purchasing property or assets.