certificate of title

Legal Definition of certificate of title

1 : a certificate of ownership stating that the title to the specified property is free and clear except for any encumbrance (as a mortgage) listed on it: as

a : a certificate issued by a motor vehicle registry

— called also title

b : a certificate issued by a registry of deeds — see also torrens system

2 : a document issued by a title abstracter (as an attorney) giving a legal opinion as to the status of a property's title based on a title search or abstract of title — compare deed