What is the function of a Title in real estate records?

• A. To record ownership of a newly created legal description.
• B. To transfer ownership from one owner to another.
• C. To determine property taxes owed.
• D. To identify zoning restrictions.

Answer: (A)

The title in real estate records is the official evidence of who owns a parcel of property, tied to the property's legal description. Its main function is to record and prove ownership, and to show who holds title at any given time, along with any registered encumbrances that affect the property. When ownership changes, a deed transfers that ownership and the title is updated to reflect the new owner; the title itself does not perform the transfer, it simply records it. Taxes are determined by the tax authority based on assessed value and rates, not by the title. Zoning restrictions come from municipal planning rules and bylaws, not from the title itself (though some title records may note certain restrictions or covenants). So the title’s function is to record ownership of the property and link it to its legal description.