Unit 7-4: Legal land descriptions

Question 1

Undivided land

Answer 1

based on grid system
started in 1871
meridian - range - township - section - quarter section - legal subdivision (LSD)

Question 2

Meridians

Answer 2

long lines north-south
AB has 4, 5, 6th meridians
described as “west of the # meridian”
correction lines used every 24 miles to correct for curvature of earth

Question 3

Ranges

Answer 3

Long lines
six miles apart and run btwn meridians; numbered moving west from each meridian

Question 4

Townships

Answer 4

East and west lines 6 miles apart
when crosses a range line squares are called townships; numbered 1 at southern AB border to 126 at northern border

Question 5

Sections

Answer 5

Townships divided into sections
36 square miles of a township (6x6 north-south) further divided into 36 sections, 1 mile square (640 acres)

Question 6

Quarter sections

Answer 6

sections divided into quarter sections
describes NW, NE, SW, SE quarter etc. Each quarter is 160 acres

Question 7

Legal subdivision

Answer 7

specific quarter of quarter section; is 40 acres numbered from SE to NE corner in a S zigzag (bottom left up to top left)

Question 8

Legal land description

Answer 8

LSD1-17-42-1-W5

Legal subdivision 1 of section 17, township 42, range 1, west of the 5th meridian

Question 9

SE1/4-14-42-1-W5

Answer 9

SE quarter of section 14, township 42, range 1, west of 5th meridian

Question 10

Subdivided land

Answer 10

Described by plan (drawing) rather than words (metes and bounds)

Question 11

Survey plan

Answer 11

Uses Plan, block, lot number instead
Condo also uses unit number

Question 12

RPR

Answer 12

Doc illustrating boundaries of property and improvements

NOT plan or survey certificate

Could be required as condition and/or for mortgage

Only prepared by a registered AB land surveyor

Question 13

Plot plan

Answer 13

diagram showing where proposed buildings and right of ways are compared to boundaries; before construction can begin

created by architect or designer

Question 14

Subdivision plan

Answer 14

diagram of boundaries of a lot plus roads, reserves, utilities; goes with application for subdivision

Question 15

Survey cert.

Answer 15

used as RPR before 1987
greater detail is in RPR

Question 16

If compliance cannot be obtained

Answer 16

get title insurance
add clause saying seller will pay out of closing costs
delete compliance clauses

Question 17

Title insurance

Answer 17

Policies for lenders w/ mortgages
Policies for owners

Question 18

Lender policy

Answer 18

for mortgage lender
title insurance protects against priority, validity, enforceability of mtg
No-fault basis

Question 19

Owner policy

Answer 19

property owner
mortgage fraud, forgery
cost of inappropriate building demolitions or partial removals