In real estate law, a Government Patent is a deed that conveys title to land from the government to a private individual or entity. It represents the original transfer of ownership from the government and establishes the first private title to the property.
Government patents are most commonly associated with the distribution of public lands and are the foundation of ownership for many properties in the United States. Once issued, the patent becomes part of the property’s chain of title and is recognized as the highest evidence of ownership.
