Dictionary
chain of title
the documented history of the ownership of a piece of real estate
The chain of title of some properties in Lower Manhattan reflects the history of immigration to the eastern seaboard of the United States.
Phrase Bank
- The chain of title establishes the Plaintiff's entitlement to sue (=take legal action against someone).
- There was an unbroken chain of title all the way from the initial owner of the property.
- There was a gap in the chain of title.
- The documents demonstrated the chain of title to the Trade Marks.
Additional Notes
- This is a colourful metaphor that describes that various periods of ownership of the property as links in a historical chain. Legal English contains some similar expressions, including chain of custody which refers to the unbroken trail of handling physical evidence in a criminal case by investigators.