A property abstract is a collection of legal documents which chronicles activities associated with a particular parcel of land. Generally included are references to deeds, mortgages, wills, probate records, court litigations and tax sales.  Basically, any essential legal documents that affect the property. The abstract will also show the names of all property owners and how long a particular holder owned it for as well as showing the price the land was exchanged for when it changed owners.

Types of Records found in an Abstract of Title can include:
WD = Warranty Deed: Deed conveying the seller's interest in real property to the buyer. The seller, also known as the grantor, certifies that the title on property being conveyed is free and clear of defects, liens, and encumbrances. If a third party claim is not exempted specifically, the buyer (the grantee) may sue the seller for the damages caused by the defective title.

QC = Quit Claim: A quit claim deed, more commonly spelled "quitclaim," enables the deed holder of a piece of property to "quit" his claim on the property. He releases it to another party.  Use a quitclaim deed to relinquish partial interest in a property, such as in the case of a divorce,  an inheritance, or in a real estate transaction if the seller can't locate an actual deed or grant for his property.

Patent = Land Patent: A land patent is evidence of right, title, and/or interest to a tract of land, usually granted by a central, federal or state government to an individual or private company.

Estate = Wills and Probate Records

Tax = Tax records for a noted period of time

Bureau of Land Management general land descriptions

Donation Land Claims

Note: The following records were found in boxes in an old barn in Marion County and were donated to me by the owner.  No one knows how they came to be stored there.  There are numerous Estate Records found in these files.