Which term defines a written declaration related to a property under legal scrutiny?

The term that defines a written declaration related to a property under legal scrutiny is "lis pendens." This legal term serves as a public notice that there is an ongoing lawsuit concerning the property, which may affect its ownership or title. When a lis pendens is filed, it alerts potential buyers or lenders that the property is involved in litigation, and thus, any interest or claim in the property could be impacted by the outcome of the legal proceedings.

In contrast, a promissory note is a financial document in which one party promises to pay a specific amount to another party, typically related to a loan. Title insurance protects against losses resulting from defects in a property’s title that were not discovered during a title search, but it does not serve as a notice of legal claims. A deed restriction, on the other hand, is a provision in a deed that limits how the property can be used, but it is not directly related to any legal scrutiny of the property itself. Thus, "lis pendens" is the most accurate term to describe the situation where a property is under legal examination.