Legal Descriptions

Question 0

What 3 basic methods can be used to describe real estate?

Answer 0

Metes and Bounds
Rectangular (or government) survey
Lot and Block (recorded plat)

Question 1

Legal Description?

Answer 1

A detailed way of describing a parcel of land for documents (like deeds and mortgages) that will be accepted in a court of law. The description is based on information collected through survey.

Question 2

**Metes and Bounds?

Answer 2

The oldest legal description of land; a system of measuring land through the use of measurements (METES) and linear directions (BOUNDS). This method relies on a property’s physical features and uses natural or man made fixed objects (MONUMENTS) to delineate boundaries. A metes and bounds description always starts and ends at the PLACE OF BEGINNING.

Question 3

Monuments

Answer 3

Natural or man made fixed objects (stone, lake, pins and posts, etc.) used to delineate boundaries in METES AND BOUNDS measurement.

Question 4

Lot and Block (recorded plat)?

Answer 4

Legal real estate descriptions referring to the numerical designation of any parcel (LOT) and to the subdivision name (BLOCK) under which it is recorded on the plat map. This measurement is performed in two steps: 1) survey by METES AND BOUNDS or RECTANGULAR METHOD; 2) break up of land into small parcels

Question 5

**Rectangular (or Government) Survey?

Answer 5

Established in 1785 to standardize the description of lands acquired by the U.S. Government, a system of intersecting lines (PRINCIPAL MERIDIANS and BASE LINES) to describe the rectangle in which land is located. This method is not used in PA.

Question 6

Principal Meridians and Base Lines?

Answer 6

The sets of north/south (PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN) and east/west (BASE LINES) intersecting lines that form the RECTANGULAR SURVEY METHOD. Both sets of lines are located by reference to degrees of longitude and latitude. There are 37 PRINCIPAL MERIDIANS in the U.S.

Question 7

Township and Section?

Answer 7

Are land units formed by the RECTANGULAR SURVEY METHOD. A TOWNSHIP is 36 square miles comprised of 36, 1 square mile (640 acre) SECTIONS.

Question 8

**Survey vs. Survey Sketch vs. Spot Survey

Answer 8

A SURVEY states the property’s legal description

A SURVEY SKETCH shows the location and dimensions of the parcel

A SPOT SURVEY also shows location, size and shape of buildings on the lot