8 Legal Descriptions

Question 0

Metes and Bounds

Answer 0

Oldest legal description. Always starts and ends at a POB. Monuments are used as points of reference.

Question 1

Legal Description

Answer 1

Formal way of describing and locating a specific property.

Metes and Bounds
Gov’t rectangular system
Lot and Block

Question 2

Rectangular Survey System

Answer 2

1785. Used in a majority of states. Describes land using 2 sets of lines that intersect and create squares called townships. The intersection is the monument.

Question 3

Principle Meridian

Answer 3

Run north and south.

Question 4

Baseline

Answer 4

Run east and west.

Question 5

Range Lines

Answer 5

Run north and south, parallel to the principle meridian.

Question 6

Township Lines

Answer 6

Run east and west, and are parallel to the baseline.

Question 7

Tiers

Answer 7

Horizontal row of townships.

Question 8

Ranges

Answer 8

Vertical row of townships.

Question 9

Sections

Answer 9

Smaller squares that are inside the township square. Each section is 1 square mile. 36 sections in a township. Section 16 is always a school.

Question 10

Correction Lines

Answer 10

Every 4th township line is a correction line, and every 4th range line is called a guide meridian.

Question 11

Fractional Sections

Answer 11

Under or over sized sections are classified as fractional sections which can be caused by irregularities in the earth. 1-7, 18, 19, 30, 31.

Question 12

Government Lots

Answer 12

Areas smaller than full quarter sections are designated as government lots and are numbered and placed in the fractional sections.

Question 13

Lot and Block

Answer 13

Best legal description. Always used in conjunction with the other two. Lot and block numbers appear on a plat map which is always recorded in the county where the subject is located.

Question 14

Air Lots

Answer 14

Condo conveyance would be identified as an air lot parcel.

Question 15

Datum

Answer 15

A point or surface for measuring elevation.

Question 16

Benchmarks

Answer 16

A permanent reference mark affixed to an object, such as an iron post used to indicate elevation above sea level.

Question 17

Monuments

Answer 17

Physical surface markers that are used as points of reference.

Question 18

Plat maps

Answer 18

A map that is drawn to scale showing the divisions of a piece of land.

Question 19

Survey

Answer 19

The process by which boundaries are measured and land areas determined.

Question 20

Spot survey

Answer 20

Shows the boundaries of the parcel plus the location of buildings.