1-119. Notice void unless action prosecuted.

(a) The notice of lis pendens is of no avail unless it is followed by the first publication of notice of the summons or by an affidavit therefor pursuant to Rule 4 (j)(1)c of the Rules of Civil Procedure or by personal service on the defendant within 60 days after the cross-indexing.

(b) When an action is commenced by the issuance of summons and permission is granted to file the complaint within 20 days, pursuant to Rule 3 of the Rules of Civil Procedure, if the complaint is not filed within the time fixed by the order of the clerk, the notice of lis pendens shall become inoperative and of no effect. The clerk may on his own motion and shall on the ex parte application of any interested party cancel such notice of lis pendens by appropriate entry on the records, which entry shall recite the failure of the plaintiff to file his complaint within the time allowed. Such applications for cancellation, when made in a county other than that in which the action was instituted, shall include a certificate over the hand and seal of the clerk of the county in which the action was instituted that the plaintiff did not file his complaint within the time allowed. The fees of the clerk may be recovered against the plaintiff and his surety.

(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this section, a notice of lis pendens filed pursuant to G.S. 1-116(a)(5) shall remain effective until the order to freeze or seize assets under G.S. 14-112.3(b1)(3) is terminated or an order directing the sale of real property under G.S. 14-112.3(e1)(1)c. is entered. Notice of lis pendens filed pursuant to G.S. 1-116(5) shall be exempt from filing fees.