abstract of title legal definition

A short history or summary of the ownership of a parcel of land. The abstract includes a list of all conveyances, transfers, and other evidence of title; all grants, conveyances, wills, records, and judicial proceedings that may affect title; and a list of encumbrances and liens of record on the land, along with a statement whether the encumbrances and liens still exist. A company whose business is to obtain such information from public records usually does such an abstract for the mortgagee or buyer of real property in connection with a proposed sale of land. See also chain of title.