When you purchase real property, you receive a written document called “the deed” which transfers the ownership of the property from the buyer to you as the purchaser.  The deed gives you formal title in exchange usually for a specified amount of money. The transfer of interest in real property is not complete until the deed is delivered to you.  The deed should be recorded immediately with the county clerk in the county where the property is located.  By recording the deed, you give notice to all future potential buyers of that property that you now have an ownership interest in that particular piece of real property.  Recording also tracks the chronological chain of ownership from a series of buyers and sellers. Before you purchase real property, a search is conducted at the county clerk’s recording office to confirm that the seller (as well as all previous sellers) has legal title to the property in question.  Title insurance typically performs this function to determine whether any defects occurred in prior conveyances and transfers.  If so, such defects may then be pointed out and excluded from their coverage.