Cloud on title
When a title search finds a claim on a property
Before you buy a house, a title company requires a title search to prove that the seller really owns the property you are about to buy. It can happen that the search catches a problem or "cloud" on the title.
Some clouds that result from poor record keeping can be easy to clear. But, others, as in the case of contested wills, can turn into a storm and take a long time to clear.