A chain of title is best described as

A chain of title is the sequence of recorded conveyances showing how title passed from one owner to the next over time. It is not simply an attorney’s opinion, although an attorney or title examiner may review the chain and give conclusions about marketability. It is not merely a history of liens, because liens are encumbrances, not conveyances of ownership. It is also not the grantor/grantee index itself; the index is a search tool used to locate recorded instruments. In title insurance, establishing the chain of title is critical because gaps, incorrect names, missing deeds, probate issues, or defective conveyances may create title defects. Pennsylvania’s title outline expressly includes title searching techniques, chain sheets, hard-copy and computer indexes, and public-record conveyances.