A title search is a study of public documents to establish and confirm legal ownership of a property and determine what claims or liens are on the property. Any real estate transaction must be completed with a clear title. A title search is a procedure by which the ownership and claims on a piece of real estate are reviewed before completing a real estate transaction. Most real estate transactions require that the title be proven clean—that is, free of liens, back taxes, or other claims. Title insurance can be acquired to safeguard against financial loss if a title is defective.