An abstract of title—also known as a title examination, examination of title, title abstract, or title abstraction—is the legal history or chronology of a certain piece of real property. For example, an abstract of title includes a history of all the property’s owners, the period during which each owner held the title to the property, and all liens and encumbrances that affect title to the property.

An abstract of title is usually prepared for a mortgagee (bank or lender) or a purchaser of the property and is sometimes used to market the property to a potential buyer. An abstract of title is generally designed to identify and eliminate any clouds (claims) on the title. In contrast, a title report is merely used to facilitate the purchase of title insurance and is sometimes not as complete or reliable as an abstract of title.

In Ohio, an abstract of title is a comprehensive document that outlines the history of a piece of real estate. It includes a detailed account of the property's ownership, the duration of each owner's possession, and any liens or encumbrances that may affect the property's title. The purpose of an abstract of title is to provide a clear picture of the property's legal background to identify and resolve any potential issues, known as 'clouds', on the title. This document is typically required by a mortgagee (such as a bank or lender) or a potential purchaser to ensure the title is clear before proceeding with a mortgage or purchase. It is also used occasionally in the marketing of a property. Ohio law requires that any defects or clouds on the title be addressed before the transfer of property can occur. The abstract of title is considered more thorough than a title report, which is often used for obtaining title insurance and may not provide as complete a history of the property.