How the record works

What is an abstract of title?

An abstract of title is a compiled history of the recorded instruments affecting a tract, usually prepared by an abstract company from its own tract index and brought down to a stated date. Older abstracts summarize each instrument; newer ones may be copies of the instruments themselves.

Abstract, runsheet and title opinion

An abstract is compiled by an abstract company and covers what its index shows to its date.
A runsheet is a landman's list of the instruments, built for a specific question or tract.
A title opinion is an attorney's opinion of ownership, written from an abstract, a runsheet or both.

Using an old abstract in a dispute

An abstract shows what was compiled, as of its date. A landman brings it forward from the county records, reads any instrument it only summarizes, and notes what it left out.

Not the abstract number

In Texas, an abstract number such as A-1187 identifies an original land survey in a county. It is a different thing from an abstract of title.

We are landmen, not attorneys. This page describes the land record in general terms. It is not legal advice, and every matter turns on its own instruments.

Ask a landman about a record question

Tell us the county and a line or two about the matter. A landman on our team reads it and answers by email.

Who reads it

A landman on our team. We read every request and answer by email.

What happens next

We check conflicts, then come back with who fits: a landman on our team, or a landman we know who works that county or that kind of dispute. How it works.

Rather write or call

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