Absolute ownership of real property that is enforceable in a court of law. Legal title to real property is evidenced by a deed that is recorded in the public records in the county where the property is located.

In states that secure loans on real property with deeds of trust rather than mortgages, legal title is transferred from a borrower to a third-party trustee. The borrower holds equitable title to the property until the loan is fully repaid to the lender, at which time legal title to the real property is transferred back to the borrower.