What is an abstract of title?

An abstract of title is a comprehensive document that provides a chronological summary of the history of ownership and any recorded instruments affecting a specific parcel of real estate. This includes details like prior deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and any legal proceedings related to the property. The purpose of an abstract of title is to give potential buyers and lenders an overview of the title's status and to identify any issues that may need to be addressed before a property transaction can proceed.

This documentation is crucial in the real estate process because it allows parties to ascertain the legitimacy of the title and to ensure that there are no unresolved claims that could impact ownership or the ability to sell the property in the future.