A condensed history of the ownership of a property is called a/an:

• A. Abstract of title
• B. Certificate of occupancy
• C. Lien certificate
• D. Chain of title

Answer: (A)

A condensed history of who owns the property and what encumbrances affect it is called an abstract of title. This document distills the information found in public records into a concise summary, showing the sequence of owners and any liens, judgments, or other issues that could impact title. It helps a buyer, lender, or attorney quickly assess whether the title is marketable and what risks exist. A certificate of occupancy is a building department-issued permit that approves occupancy and is not about ownership history. A lien certificate lists outstanding liens but does not trace ownership. The chain of title describes the actual sequence of owners over time, but the abstract of title provides the compact, evaluative summary of that history and related title issues.