What Is "Equitable Title"?

Equitable title refers to the right to obtain full ownership of property (legal title), usually after fulfilling conditions like paying off a mortgage or contract.

• You usually hold equitable title if:




• You’re buying property on contract (installment land contract)

• You have a beneficial interest in a trust

• You’re a buyer under a mortgage or deed of trust

So if there’s a lien on your equitable interest, it’s a claim against your beneficial interest, not necessarily against full legal title (though the two are closely related in practice).