Unit 10: Legal Descriptions

Question 1

A series of boundary lines on the earth’s surface.

Answer 1

Legal Description

Question 2

The procedure used to measure and describe a specific tract of real property for the purpose of determining exact boundaries and the area contained therein.

Answer 2

Survey

Question 3

True/False A survey of real property is a questionnaire about the property’s location.

Answer 3

False. A survey is a drawing of a parcel of land showing its boundary lines and includes the legal description of the property.

Question 4

True/False To reduce errors and potential liability, real estate licensees should refer to a reliable document for a full and accurate legal description when inserting the legal description into sale contracts.

Answer 4

True

Question 5

True/False The purpose of a legal description is to specify a particular parcel of land with sufficient detail so that it will be accepted by a court of law.

Answer 5

True

Question 6

A method of legal description that identifies a property by specifying the shape and boundary dimensions of the parcel. A metes-and-bounds description starts at the point of beginning and follows the boundaries of the land by compass direction and linear measurements and returns to the point of beginning.

Answer 6

Metes-and-bounds Description

Question 7

The starting (and ending) place in a land survey using the metes-and-bounds method of property description.

Answer 7

Point Of Beginning (POB)

Question 8

Man-made or natural object used to establish boundaries of land.

Answer 8

Monument

Question 9

True/False The opposite of N 15⁰ 25′ 20″ W is N 45⁰ 25′ 20″ E.

Answer 9

False. The opposite of N 15⁰ 25′ 20″ W is S 15⁰ 25′ 20″ E. The number of degrees does not change, only the compass directions.

Question 10

True/False In a metes-and-bound description, metes refers to distance.

Answer 10

True

Question 11

True/False North 15 degrees 25 minutes 20 seconds West is written in symbols as N 15⁰ 25′ 20″ W.

Answer 11

True

Question 12

A type of land description, developed by the federal government for subdividing lands using surveying lines.

Answer 12

Government Survey System

Question 13

Imaginary lines running north and south and crossing a base line at a definite point; used by surveyors for reference in locating and describing land under the government survey system.

Answer 13

Principal Meridian

Question 14

Imaginary lines running east and west and crossing a principal meridian at a definite point; used by surveyors for reference in locating and describing land under the government survey system.

Answer 14

Base Line

Question 15

In the government survey system of land description, a vertical strip of land six miles wide located between two consecutive submeridians or range lines.

Answer 15

Range

Question 16

The east-west survey lines located every six miles north and south of the primary base line. Also called a subbaseline.

Answer 16

Township Line

Question 17

An east-west row of townships (as used in the government survey method of land description).

Answer 17

Tier

Question 18

A square tract of land measuring six miles on each side and including 36 sections (formed by the crossing of range and township lines).

Answer 18

Township

Question 19

True/False Range lines run north and south (vertical lines) six miles apart.

Answer 19

True

Question 20

True/False Township T3S, R2E is located in the second tier south of the base line and the third range east of the principal meridian.

Answer 20

False. Township T3S, R2E is located in the third tier south of the base line and the second range east of the principal meridian.

Question 21

True/False Each township measures 36 miles on each side.

Answer 21

False. Each 36-square-mile township measures six miles on each side.

Question 22

One of the primary units of measurement in the government survey system of land description. A section is one mile square and contains 640 acres.

Answer 22

Section

Question 23

True/False A check is a square six miles on each side.

Answer 23

False. A check is a square 24 miles on each side.

Question 24

True/False The section immediately south of Section 2 in a given township is Section 10.

Answer 24

False. The section immediately south of Section 2 is Section 11.

Question 25

True/False A section contains 640 acres.

Answer 25

True

Question 26

True/False A property costs $26,136 per acre. Therefore, the property costs $0.75 per square foot.

Answer 26

False. $26,136 ÷ 43,560 = $0.60 per square foot.

Question 27

True/False There are 130,680 square feet in 3 acres.

Answer 27

True. 43,560 square feet × 3 acres = 130,680 square feet.

Question 28

True/False There are 20 acres in the legal description S 1/2 of the SE 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of section 10.

Answer 28

True. 640 ÷ 2 ÷ 4 ÷ 4 = 20 acres.

Question 29

There are 20 acres in the legal description S 1/2 of the SE 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of section 10.

Answer 29

True. An acre contains 44,575 square feet.

Question 30

A type of legal description of land.

Answer 30

Lot And Block

Question 31

A numerical ID assigned to each parcel of land within a tax district used to prepare tax maps.

Answer 31

Assessor’s Parcel Number

Question 32

True/False Each parcel of land on a tax map is assigned an assessor's parcel number.

Answer 32

True

Question 33

True/False Description of lot and block numbers is a type of legal description.

Answer 33

True

Question 34

Tax maps are based on legal descriptions in recorded deeds.

Answer 34

False. Tax maps are based on recorded plat maps.

Question 35

Which partial description describes a vertical strip of land six miles wide that touches where the principal meridian and base line intersect? A) Range 2 West B) Township 1 East C) Township 1 West D) Range 1 East

Answer 35

D) Range 1 East Townships are north or south of the intersecting point; ranges are east or west of the intersecting point. Range 1 East is the first vertical strip of land east of the principal meridian and touches the intersecting point.

Question 36

What term is used to describe fractional pieces of land less than a full quarter section located along the banks of lakes and streams? A) Check B) Government section C) Partial section D) Government lot

Answer 36

D) Government lot A government lot is composed of fractional pieces of land less than a full quarter section located along the banks of lakes and streams.

Question 37

Which section is located directly south of section 1? A) 6 B) 12 C) 16 D) 2

Answer 37

B) 12 Section 12 is located directly south (below) section 1.

Question 38

Which description BEST fits if one were to shade in sections 14, 15, 16, and 17 of a township? A) Square B) Vertical line C) Diagonal line D) Rectangle

Answer 38

D) Rectangle The sections are contiguous and form a horizontal strip that is longer on two sides, forming a rectangle.

Question 39

Which description BEST fits if one were to shade in sections 14, 15, 16, and 17 of a township? A) Square B) Vertical line C) Diagonal line D) Rectangle

Answer 39

D) Rectangle

Question 40

A property costs $34,848 per acre. What is the cost per square foot of the property? A) $0.75 B) $0.50 C) $0.80 D) $0.35

Answer 40

C) $0.80 $34,848 ÷ 43,560 square feet in an acre = $0.80.

Question 41

Which direction describes a range? A) Horizontal B) Vertical C)Diagonal D) Square

Answer 41

B) Vertical

Question 42

How many acres are in a parcel described as the SW¼ of the NE¼ of the SE¼? A) 10 B) 20 C) 40 D) 5

Answer 42

A) 10 640 ÷ 4 ÷ 4 ÷ 4 = 10 acres.

Question 43

How many acres are in a parcel described as the SW¼ of the NE¼ and the SE¼ of the S½? A) 2.5 B) 5 C) 120 D) 80

Answer 43

C) 120 640 ÷ 4 ÷ 4 = 40 acres; 640 ÷ 4 ÷ 2 = 80 acres; 40 + 80 = 120 acres.

Question 44

Which government office assigns parcel ID numbers to land within a tax district? A) Property appraiser B) Tax collector C) City commission D) County clerk

Answer 44

A) Property appraiser

Question 45

Which method of legal description is used in subdivisions and is contained in recorded plat maps? A) Lot and block B) Monuments C) Government survey D) Metes-and-bounds

Answer 45

A) Lot and block

Question 46

Which range is farthest from the intersection of the principal meridian and the base line? A) R10W B) R1E C) R22W D) R12E

Answer 46

C) R22W The farther from the principal meridian, the larger the number of the range.

Question 47

A line pointed in the direction opposite North 20 degrees East is A) South 40 degrees East. B) West 20 degrees South. C) North 20 degrees West. D) South 20 degrees West.

Answer 47

D) South 20 degrees West. The line opposite North 20 degrees East is South 20 degrees West. The number of degrees does not change, only the compass directions.