Examinations of title in the United States, which are usually prepared by professional examiners, do not, as a rule, disclose, except inferentially, any matter or thing affecting title save what appears of record, and searches are mainly restricted to the public records of the county. Ordinarily this is sufficient, and a careful search will reveal all that is necessary to a correct estimate of title, and fully protect intending purchasers.

An examination, upon its face, purports to show the course of title from a definite date to another definite date, and the fair and reasonable import of the undertaking is, that the examiner has made a full and true search relative to the title during that period, and has noted on the abstract every transfer, or other matter, affecting the same, actually made and entered of record between those dates.

Sometimes the examiner may present a synopsis of deeds simply for the purpose of showing, like the English abstract, the present title of some specified person. In such case the chain usually commences at some given point as the root. In a case of this kind unusual care is required, lest a prior conveyance operating by way of estoppel, may not defeat the title shown. It is customary, in an examination of this kind, to commence with a deed showing title in the person proposed or his grantor, and thence continuing down to the date of the certificate. There is not wanting authority to support an examination of this character, and it has been held that a deed recorded before the grantor has any record title may be safely disregarded in examination of title, under the system of registration and notice adopted in the different States of the Union; that such a deed would not be constructive notice to any innocent purchaser; and further, that a purchaser finding an apparently valid title of record is not expected to look behind it. The rule, however, is unsafe and does not prevail generally. If the examiner is directed to commence his search at a given period, or with a specific event in the devolution of title, he will, of course, discharge his whole duty by a true showing of what has transpired since that time or event, but a purchaser will thereby assume a risk.

In some localities it is, or has been customary to dispense with a formal abstract, and in its stead the examiner merely "certifies the title" to be vested in an individual named, basing his certificate upon a personal examination of the records. This is merely an opinion of title, and its worth depends wholly on the learning, skill, and financial responsibility of the person rendering it.