section 9 Legal Descriptions Flashcards
A description of a parcel of property which accurately locates and identifies the boundaries of the subject parcel to a degree acceptable by local courts of law.
Legal Description:
A method of legally describing property which utilizes physical boundary markers and compass directions for describing the perimeter boundaries of a parcel.
Metes and Bounds:
(POB) The origination and termination point in a metes and bounds legal description.
Point of Beginning:
A fixed, artificial or natural landmark used as a reference point in a metes and bounds legal description.
Monument
Fixed reference points, or monuments and landmarks, may be natural and artificial. Natural landmarks include trees, rocks, rivers, and lakes. Artificial landmarks are typically surveyor stakes.
Landmark:
A method of legally describing real property which uses longitude and latitude lines to identify ranges, tiers, and townships.
Also called government survey system.
Rectangular Survey:
A north-south line used in the rectangular survey system of legal descriptions.
Meridian
An imaginary latitude line within the rectangular survey system that is designated in relation to a principal meridian for purposes of identifying townships.
Parallel:
A north-south area bounded by consecutive meridians.
Range:
An area between consecutive parallels, as defined in the rectangular survey system.
Tier:
An area six miles square, bounded by two consecutive parallels and two consecutive meridians in the rectangular survey system. Contains 36 sections.
Township:
An area defined by the rectangular survey system and consisting of 1/36th of a township, or one square mile.
Section:
A method for legally describing property in a subdivision where lots are identified by block and number. A recorded metes and bounds or rectangular survey description of the subdivision underlies the lot and block system.
Lot and Block:
A map of one or more properties indicating each parcel’s lot and block number, boundaries, and dimensions.
Plat of Survey:
A standard elevation reference point used by surveyors to measure elevations of property in an area.
Datum:
A registered marker denoting an official elevation above sea level; used by surveyors to identify other elevations in the area.
Benchmark:
A legal description of a property is one which
a. accurately locates and identifies the boundaries of the property and distinguishes it from all other properties.
b. accurately identifies the boundaries of the property and describes the location and dimensions of any improvements on the property
c. is accepted by a licensed surveyor as suitable for inclusion in a survey of the property.
d. written by an attorney licensed to practice real estate law in the state in which the property is located.
a
What method of legal description was the first one used in America?
a. Rectangular survey system.
b. Metes and bounds system.
c. Recorded plat system.
d. Range and tier system.
b
A certain property has the following general features (see image below)…
Which of the following statements would provide a (partial) metes and bounds description of the property?
Commencing at A, thence south 0 degrees east to B, thence north 45 degrees west to C, thence north 0 degrees west to D, thence north 90 degrees east to the point of beginning.