Titles & Deeds

    Chain of Title

    The recorded history of ownership of a property, tracing each transfer from owner to owner over time.

    Chain of title is the sequence of recorded transfers that shows how ownership passed from one owner to the next over the property's history. A clear, unbroken chain supports marketable title.

    A break or defect in the chain, such as a missing deed or a forged signature, creates a cloud on title that may need to be resolved before a sale can close.

    On the exam

    A clean chain of title supports marketable title. Gaps or defects create clouds that must be cleared.

    Exam trap

    A title search examines the chain of title but cannot reveal every defect, which is why title insurance exists.

    Tested in

    Titles and Deeds (7% of the exam)

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    This definition is Florida real estate exam-prep education, not legal, tax, or professional advice. Verify current rules against the official source before relying on them for a real transaction. Back to the full glossary.