Abstract (of title) - A condensed history of a title to real estate consisting of a summary of the various links in the chain of title, together with a statement of all liens, judgements, taxes or encumbrances affecting the property.

Adverse possession - Possession inconsistent with the right of the true owner.

Curtesy - In most states, an estate for life which a husband takes at the death of his wife in one-third of those properties which she owned at the time she died.

Deed - A written instrument duly executed and delivered for the purpose of conveying title to real estate.

Defect of record -  Any encumbrance on a title which is made part of the public record. Some recorded defects are judgements, mortgages, other liens, easements, etc.

Dower - In most states, an estate for life which a wife takes at the death of her husband in one-third of those properties which he owned at the time he died.

Easement - A privilege or right of use or enjoyment which one person may have in the lands of another; for example, a right-of-way for utility lines, a joint driveway, etc.

Encroachment - Trespass: the building of a structure or any improvements partly or entirely intruding upon the property of another.

Encumbrance - Any right to or interest in land which may be held by third parties to the lessening of the value of the title to real estate, such as a judgement, unpaid taxes, other liens, easements, etc.

Equity - The interest or value which an owner has in real estate over and above the debts against it.

General Warranty Deed - A deed containing a covenant whereby the grantor agrees to protect the grantee against any claimant.

Grantee - The buyer of real estate.

Grantor - The seller of real estate.

Hidden defect - Any encumbrance on a title that is not apparent in the public records: for example, unknown heirs, secret marriages, forged instruments, mental incompetency, infancy of the grantor, etc.

Infancy - That state of being wherein a person has not yet reached the age of legal majority-in most states an infant is a person who has not yet reached the age of 18, although in some states the age of majority is still 21.

Lien - A hold or claim which one person has upon the property of another as a security for some debt or charge.

Mortgagee - the lender under a mortgage.

Mortgagor - the borrower under a mortgage.

Partial interest - Any interest less than a whole; for example, a wife's dower interest, an heir overlooked  in the distribution of an estate (partial interests in properties may get down to very small fractions.)

Perfecting title - the elimination of all claims made against a title to real estate.

Restriction - A limitation placed upon the use of real estate. Some common restrictions are set-back lines prohibiting the erection of any part of a building less than a specified number of feet from the street line; an ordinance restricting land to residential use, etc.

Special Warranty Deed - A  deed containing a covenant whereby the grantor agrees to protect the grantee against any claims created by the grantor.

Title - the sum of all the facts on which ownership is founded or by which ownership is proved. Possession, the right of possession and the right of property form a complete title.

Title defect - Any circumstance that adversely affects the right of the whole ownership of property by the owner of record.

Title failure - Any circumstance that defeats the right of whole ownership of property by the owner of record.

Title search - The examination of all the records comprising a history of the title to real estate (see "abstract of title").