Legal Definitions - equitable title

Equitable title refers to a beneficial interest in a property that gives the holder the right to acquire formal legal title. It is a type of title that indicates ownership rights without actually holding legal ownership. Before the Statute of Uses in 1536, an equitable title was enforceable only in a court of chancery, not of law.

For example, if John agrees to sell his house to Jane, but the legal title is still in John's name, Jane has an equitable title to the property. She has the right to acquire legal title once the sale is completed.