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.
The fundamental components of the metes and bounds system are
a. parallels, base lines, and meridians.
b. boundaries, distances, and a base line.
c. reference points, angles, and distances.
d. lot numbers, sections, and ranges.
c
A legal description in the rectangular survey system will also include a metes and bounds or lot and block description if the property
a. falls within two townships.
b .is more than six miles from a standard parallel.
c. has been surveyed since 1790.
d. is irregular in shape.
d
Which of the following best describes a meridian?
a. An east-west line that corresponds to a latitude on a rectangular survey grid.
b. An east-west latitudinal line 6 miles in length used to describe a township’s north or south border.
c. A north-south longitudinal line on a rectangular survey grid.
d. A north-south longitudinal line 6 miles in length used to describe a township’s east or west border.
c
What is the purpose of a principal meridian and base parallel?
a. Used to divide townships into sections.
b. Identifying townships in the jurisdiction.
c. To establish the distance between all meridians and parallels.
d. To differentiate a tier from a range.
b
How far apart are parallels?
a. Six miles.
b. One mile.
c. Twenty-four miles.
d. Thirty-six miles.
a
Which of the following is true?
a. A township is the area enclosed by principal meridians and base parallels
b. A township’s sections are six miles apart.
c. There are 36 townships in a section.
d. There are 36 sections in a township.
c
A range is defined by
a. two consecutive parallels.
b. two consecutive meridians.
c. the distance between a principal meridian and a base parallel.
d. a parallel and a meridian.
b
A tier is defined by
a. two consecutive township strips.
b. two consecutive meridians.
c. two consecutive parallels.
d. a parallel and a meridian.
c
What are the dimensions of a township?
a. A square with one mile on each side.
b. A square with six miles on each side.
c. A square with thrity-six miles on each side.
d. The north and south boundaries are one mile apart; the east and west boundaries are indeterminate.
b
Sections of a township are numbered in which of the following directions?
a. From the northeast corner toward the west and on to the southeast corner, alternating direction in each row.
b. From the northwest corner toward the east and on to the southwest corner, alternating direction in each row.
c. North to south from left to right in each row, starting in the northwest corner.
d. Clockwise in a spiral beginning in the northeast corner.
a
What portion of a section is ten acres?
a. 1/8.
b. 1/16.
c. 1/32.
d. 1/64.
d
A tract of land is 1/32nd of a section. How many acres does this tract consist of?
a.10 acres.
b. 20 acres.
c. 40 acres.
d. 80 acres.
b
The lot and block system of description is used for
a. rural properties.
b. any property in an incorporated area.
c. rectangular properties.
d. properties in a subdivision.
d
A datum is a reference point used for legal descriptions of
a. agricultural and ranch properties.
b. properties that straddle state boundaries.
c. properties located above or below the earth’s surface.
d. irregularly-shaped properties
c
The legal description of a parcel in a subdivision that has been recorded with lot and block numbers on a plat of survey is
a. the lot and block number, with section, township and meridian references.
b. the standard rectangular survey description.
c. the subdivision plat map.
d. the lot and block number.
a
If a parcel does not have a lot and block number and is too irregular to be described as a fraction of a section, the legal description
a. is the street address.
b. will include a metes and bounds description.
c. will use an estimate of the sectional fraction.
d. will create a special reference number.
b
A section contains how many acres?
a. 640
b. 320
c. 160
d. 40
a
What is the principal purpose underlying legal descriptions of real property?
a. To create a consistent, unchanging standard for locating the property.
b. To eliminate all possible boundary disputes.
c. To comply with federal laws.
d. To eliminate cumbersome metes and bounds descriptions.
a. To create a consistent, unchanging standard for locating the property.
Which of the following is a distinctive feature of metes and bounds descriptions?
a. They use meridians and base lines.
b. They identify an enclosed area, beginning and ending at the same point.
c. They use lot and block numbers.as the street address.
d. They incorporate elevation into the descriptions.
b. They identify an enclosed area, beginning and ending at the same point.
A certain legal description contains the phrase,”…southeasterly along Happ Road to the stone landmark…” What kind of description is this?
a. Plat survey plat of survey is
b. Government grid
c. Metes and bounds
d. Rectangular survey
c. Metes and bounds
The abbreviation POB stands for
a. point of beginning.
b. point of bounds.
c. plat of boundary.
d. perimeters of boundaries
a. point of beginning.
What are the approximate dimensions of a township in the rectangular survey system?
a. Thirty-six miles on a side
b. Twenty-five square miles.
c. Depends on the state.
d. Six miles by six miles
Six miles by six miles
The area running north and south between meridians
is a
a. range.
b. township.
c. strip.
d. tier.
a. range.
The area running east and west between base lines is a
a. range.
b. tier.
c. parameter.
d. parallel.
b. tier.
How many sections are there in a township?
a. One
b. Six
c. Twelve
d. Thirty-six
d. Thirty-six
A section contains how many acres?
a. 640
b. 320
c. 160
d. 40
a. 640
How many acres are there in the S 1/2 of the NW ¼ of Section 3?
a. 20 acres
b. 40 acres
c. 80 acres
d. 160 acres
c. 80 acres
If a parcel does not have a lot and block number and is too irregular to be described as a fraction of a section, the legal description
a. is the street address.
b. will include a metes and bounds description.
c. will use an estimate of the sectional fraction.
d. will create a special reference number.
b. will include a metes and bounds description.
The legal description of a parcel in a subdivision that has been recorded with lot and block numbers on a plat of survey is
a. the lot and block number, with section, township and meridian references.
b. the standard rectangular survey description.
c. the subdivision plat map.
d. the lot and block number.
a. the lot and block number, with section, township and meridian references.
A datum is a reference point used for legal descriptions of
a. agricultural and ranch properties.
b. properties that straddle state boundaries.
c. properties located above or below the earth’s surface.
d. irregularly-shaped properties.
c. properties located above or below the earth’s surface.
