What is a condensed history of the title to land known as?

A condensed history of the title to land is known as the Abstract of Title. This document is vital in real estate transactions as it summarizes the legal history of a property, outlining all the recorded interests, rights, and encumbrances associated with the land. The Abstract of Title provides a chronological sequence of events and transfers, detailing past deeds, court cases, liens, and other instruments that affect the property's ownership and title status.

Having an accurate Abstract of Title is crucial when establishing clear ownership and ensuring that there are no undisclosed claims or issues that could affect the buyer's rights to the property. It helps in determining the marketability of the title and is typically required before closing a property transaction to safeguard against future disputes regarding ownership.

In contrast, a title report is often generated by a title company and serves to inform the buyer of any issues present in the title but does not present the condensed history as succinctly as an Abstract of Title. Meanwhile, a property summary may provide an overview of various aspects related to the land but does not specifically focus on the historical title information. A land deed, on the other hand, is a legal document that transfers ownership from one party to another, representing a single transaction rather than a summary of the title history