A certificate of title (also known as a certificate on title) is a particular species of report on title.
When solicitors are instructed to investigate title to land (for instance, when land is being acquired or offered up as security), they will write a report on title for their client, which sets out the findings of the investigation. Those findings will include, for example, details of any rights of which the land has the benefit and any charges, easements or other third-party interests or potential interests that burden the land.
The process of title investigation is also known as legal due diligence. See Real estate in corporate transactions—overview for further information.
On occasions, solicitors will be instructed by their client to write a report on title for someone other than the client itself, for instance for a mortgage lender or a buyer of shares in a company that owns the land, or in connection with a company flotation or a tender transaction where there are a number of bidders.