UNIT 4: Legal Description Flashcards
identify the 3 methods of describing land, describe how a survey is prepared, explain how to read a lot-and-block and a metes-and-bounds description, and distinguish between the various units of land measurements.
Air Lot
A designated airspace over a piece of land. An air lot, like surface property, may be transferred
Base Line
The main imaginary line 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 rectangular (government) system of legal description
Benchmark
A permanent reference mark or point established for use by surveyors in measuring differences in elevation.
Datum
A horizontal plane from which heights and depths are measured
Legal Description
A description of a specific parcel of real estate complete enough for an independent surveyor to locate and identify it
Lot-and-Block (recorded plat) Description
A method of describing real property that identifies a parcel of land by reference to lot and block numbers within a subdivision as specified on a recorded subdivision plat.
Metes-and-Bounds
The metes-and-bounds description is the oldest type of legal description. Metes means to measure, and bounds means linear directions. The method relies on a property’s physical features to determine the boundaries and measurements of the parcel. A metes-and-bounds description starts at a designated place on the parcel, called the point of beginning (POB) . The POB is also the point of ending (POE), but often only the POB is used in describing the property. From there, the surveyor proceeds around the property’s boundaries. The boundaries are recorded by referring to linear measurements, natural and artificial landmarks (called monuments), and directions. A metes-and-bounds description always ends back at the POB so that the tract being described is completely enclosed.
Monuments
Fixed natural or artificial objects used to establish real estate boundaries for a metes-and-bounds description
Plat Map
A map of a town, section, or subdivision indicating the location and boundaries of individual properties
Point of Beginning (POB)
In a metes-and-bounds legal description, the starting point of the survey, situated in one corner of the parcel; all metes-and-bounds descriptions must follow the boundaries of the parcel back to the POB
Principal Meridian
The Imaginary line running north and south and crossing a base line at a definite point, used by surveyors for reference in locating and description land under the rectangular (government) survey system of legal description
Rectangular Survey System
A system established in 1785 by the federal government, providing for surveying and describing land by reference to principal meridians and base lines
Section
A portion of township under the rectangular (government) survey system. A township is divided into 36 sections, numbered 1 through 36. A section is a square with mile-long sides and an area of one square mile or 640 acres
Township
The principal unit of the rectangular (government) survey system. A township is a square with six-mile sides and an area of 36 square miles.
