LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS OF LANDLEGAL DESCRIPTIONS OF LAND

Three Methods Commonly Used:

1. Rectangular Survey

2. Metes and Bounds

3. Recorded Plat

Three Methods Commonly Used:

1. Rectangular Survey

2. Metes and Bounds

3. Recorded Plat

RECTANGULAR SURVEYRECTANGULAR SURVEY

Also known as the Government Survey System.

Established by a land ordinance in 1785 Used in the first public land survey in 1786

in Ohio. Principal method used for land west of the

Ohio and Mississippi rivers and in Florida, Alabama & Mississippi.

East-West lines established for survey are base lines.

Also known as the Government Survey System.

Established by a land ordinance in 1785 Used in the first public land survey in 1786

in Ohio. Principal method used for land west of the

Ohio and Mississippi rivers and in Florida, Alabama & Mississippi.

East-West lines established for survey are base lines.

… … RECTANGULAR SURVEYRECTANGULAR SURVEY

North-South lines are called principal meridians.

Each principal meridian has a unique name and is crossed by its own base line.

North-South lines are called principal meridians.

Each principal meridian has a unique name and is crossed by its own base line.

… … RECTANGULAR SURVEYRECTANGULAR SURVEY

Rectangular survey system is based on a system of north-south lines which are six miles apart and called range lines and by east-west lines six miles apart called township lines.

Rectangles created by these intersecting lines are called townships (6 mi. X 6 mi.)

Rectangular survey system is based on a system of north-south lines which are six miles apart and called range lines and by east-west lines six miles apart called township lines.

Rectangles created by these intersecting lines are called townships (6 mi. X 6 mi.)

METES AND BOUNDSMETES AND BOUNDS

Metes and bounds system was used in the U.S. prior to the development of the rectangular survey system

Metes and bounds system is based on distances (metes) and bearings (bounds) from succeeding reference points around the perimeter of the real estate.

Metes and bounds system was used in the U.S. prior to the development of the rectangular survey system

Metes and bounds system is based on distances (metes) and bearings (bounds) from succeeding reference points around the perimeter of the real estate.

METES AND BOUNDSMETES AND BOUNDS

Describes the property using natural and man-made objects as reference points.

Start at the point of beginning (POB) and move through several intermediate reference points before finally returning to POB.

Points are survey reference points and may refer to marked stones, trees, a creek or corner of another property. Modern metes and bounds includes monuments at these points.

Describes the property using natural and man-made objects as reference points.

Start at the point of beginning (POB) and move through several intermediate reference points before finally returning to POB.

Points are survey reference points and may refer to marked stones, trees, a creek or corner of another property. Modern metes and bounds includes monuments at these points.

……METES AND BOUNDSMETES AND BOUNDS

The courses that one moves from point to point are identified in degrees, minutes and seconds of an angle from the north or south and typically measured linearly in feet.

The courses that one moves from point to point are identified in degrees, minutes and seconds of an angle from the north or south and typically measured linearly in feet.

……METES AND BOUNDSMETES AND BOUNDS

Metes and bound system is the primary method of describing real property in 21 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, parts of Ohio and Oregon, and the District of Columbia.

Metes and bound system is the primary method of describing real property in 21 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, parts of Ohio and Oregon, and the District of Columbia.

……METES AND BOUNDSMETES AND BOUNDS

 Example:

 “Begin at the middle of a large, white pine stump standing in the west side line of Simon Vender Cook’s land and on the south side of the main road that leads to the new city, and there is also a fence that stands a little to the west of Simon Vender Cook’s barn, which said fence if it were to run cross the said field southerly, would run to the middle of said stump; and running thence north 2 degrees east 19 chains and 50 links to a small white oak tree…” and so on, until one gets to the point of beginning.

 Source: LAND: The 1958 Yearbook of Agriculture. The U.S. Department of Agriculture. P.206

 Example:

 “Begin at the middle of a large, white pine stump standing in the west side line of Simon Vender Cook’s land and on the south side of the main road that leads to the new city, and there is also a fence that stands a little to the west of Simon Vender Cook’s barn, which said fence if it were to run cross the said field southerly, would run to the middle of said stump; and running thence north 2 degrees east 19 chains and 50 links to a small white oak tree…” and so on, until one gets to the point of beginning.

 Source: LAND: The 1958 Yearbook of Agriculture. The U.S. Department of Agriculture. P.206

RECORDED PLATRECORDED PLAT

 Also known as lot and block, lot-block-tract, recorded map or recorded survey system

 Developed as an outgrowth of the rectangular survey system

 Used to simplify the locational descriptions of small parcels

Established when land developers subdivided land and assigned lot numbers to individual sites within blocks

Maps of subdivisions are filed with the local government to establish a public record of their precise locations. Each block identified precisely using a ground survey or established monuments.

 Also known as lot and block, lot-block-tract, recorded map or recorded survey system

 Developed as an outgrowth of the rectangular survey system

 Used to simplify the locational descriptions of small parcels

Established when land developers subdivided land and assigned lot numbers to individual sites within blocks

Maps of subdivisions are filed with the local government to establish a public record of their precise locations. Each block identified precisely using a ground survey or established monuments.

… … RECORDED PLATRECORDED PLAT

Each Parcel is assigned a Lot Number -- -- Each Block is assigned a Block Number -- -- The Tract is assigned a name or Number prior to being recorded.

Lot 10 of Woodridge Creek Unit (Block 1), a Subdivision of the Southeast quarter of Section 18 Township 10 North, Range 7 East of the Mt. Diablo Meridian

Each Parcel is assigned a Lot Number -- -- Each Block is assigned a Block Number -- -- The Tract is assigned a name or Number prior to being recorded.

Lot 10 of Woodridge Creek Unit (Block 1), a Subdivision of the Southeast quarter of Section 18 Township 10 North, Range 7 East of the Mt. Diablo Meridian