property
chain of title
Chain of title is the sequence of recorded conveyances and documents showing how ownership of a property passed from one owner to the next, back to the original source. A title searcher examines the chain in the public records for gaps or breaks, such as a missing deed, which can create a cloud on title and may require a quiet title action to resolve.
- Exam tip
- Chain of title is the history of ownership; abstract of title is the written summary of that history. A gap in the chain is a title defect.
- Example
- A title search shows the property passed from A to B to C, but no recorded deed from B to C exists, creating a break in the chain of title.
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Last verified: 2026-10-23