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
