What is a title certificate (or title opinion)?
A title certificate is simply a written opinion provided by someone (typically an attorney) that is competent to search the applicable public records (or to review title reports obtained from a third-party such of the public records). In contrast to a title report, a title opinion (as the name implies) does contain assurances about ownership and outstanding encumbrances (or the absence thereof). Therefore, the party to whom the report is addressed (typically a lender, or purchaser, or both), may have recourse against the preparer for any errors or omissions.
