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