What Is a Title Abstract?

A title abstract (also called an abstract of title) is a comprehensive summary of all recorded documents that affect the title to a property. In NYC, it includes deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, judgments, and other encumbrances found in the public records at the City Register (ACRIS) and County Clerk offices.

What a Title Abstract Contains

• Chain of Title - Every deed transfer from the earliest recorded owner to the present
• Mortgages - All recorded mortgages, assignments, modifications, and satisfactions
• Liens - Tax liens, mechanic liens, judgment liens, federal tax liens
• Easements - Rights of way, utility easements, party wall agreements
• Court Records - Lis pendens, foreclosure actions, bankruptcy filings
• Tax Status - Current and delinquent property tax information

Title Abstract vs. Title Search

A title search is the process of examining records. A title abstract is the document that summarizes the findings. In practice, the terms are often used interchangeably. A "full search" typically goes back 40-60 years, while a "current search" covers a shorter period.

Who Prepares Title Abstracts

Title abstracts in NYC are prepared by title companies, title abstract companies, and sometimes law firms. The abstractor examines records at ACRIS, the County Clerk office, and sometimes the NYC Department of Finance and other agencies to compile the report.

Modern Title Research

While traditional abstracts required in-person record searches, digital tools like ACRIS have made much of the research possible online. RegWatch further streamlines this by aggregating property data from multiple agencies, providing many of the data points found in a title abstract in a searchable, real-time format.