Abstract of Title
A chronological summary of every recorded document affecting the ownership of a parcel — deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, and easements — from the earliest recorded transaction to the present. It is used to spot any clouds on title before a sale closes.
In Vermont, the records that make up an abstract are pulled from the land records kept by the clerk in the town where the property sits. Vermont title work is often handled by a real estate attorney, who searches those town records as part of closing.