Title is a legal term often used to describe ownership of property. The term began with transfers of land. A history of the ownership of land is called a chain of title.
The term title can be used to describe the way an owner obtains lawful possession of property. In addition, it often refers to a legal document that describes the interest of the owner. Such documents include deeds to real property, a title to an automobile, the patent for an invention, or the copyright held by an author.
Title to property may be acquired in many ways. If a person buys property from another person, or receives it as a gift or through a will, the title is derivative. A title is original if the property is not obtained from someone else. For example, trappers may capture wild animals and make them their property. Title by adverse possession is a title acquired against the consent of the owner. It is obtained by wrongful entry and continuous possession for a time fixed by state law. Suppose, for example, that Jones farms Smith’s land in a particular state for more than 10 years without Smith’s permission, but Smith does not take legal action against Jones for using the land. If the state’s laws require a period of 10 years for adverse possession, Jones has obtained title to the land.
Title to land can also be acquired by letters patent. This term refers to a title transferred from the United States government to a private citizen.
