In preparation for a survey, to trace the origin of title for a given parcel of land for purposes of determining junior/senior rights in cases of an overlap or gap between two properties, or to determine the existence of recorded exceptions to a property (easements, rights-of-way, etc.).

Title chains can also be traced back for historical purposes to determine previous conveyance dates, previous owners of properties, previously deeded areas and descriptions of parent parcels or for citations of significant former boundary evidence.