An abstract of title—also known as a title examination, examination of title, title abstract, or title abstraction—is the legal history or chronology of a certain piece of real property. For example, an abstract of title includes a history of all the property’s owners, the period during which each owner held the title to the property, and all liens and encumbrances that affect title to the property.

An abstract of title is usually prepared for a mortgagee (bank or lender) or a purchaser of the property and is sometimes used to market the property to a potential buyer. An abstract of title is generally designed to identify and eliminate any clouds (claims) on the title. In contrast, a title report is merely used to facilitate the purchase of title insurance and is sometimes not as complete or reliable as an abstract of title.

In Kentucky, an abstract of title is a comprehensive document that outlines the history of a piece of real estate. This includes a record of past owners, the duration of their ownership, and any liens or encumbrances that may affect the property's title. The purpose of an abstract of title is to provide a clear picture of the legal status of the property and to identify any potential issues ('clouds') that could affect the transfer of title. It is often required by a mortgagee or potential purchaser to ensure that the title is free of any defects before proceeding with a loan or purchase. Kentucky does not have a specific statute governing the preparation of abstracts of title, but the process is typically conducted by an attorney or a title company experienced in real estate law. The abstract of title is more detailed than a title report, which is primarily used to obtain title insurance and may not provide as thorough a history of the property.