24 Much of our understanding about Natural monuments and artificial monuments can both be used as metes and bounds. The Importance of Metes and Bounds - ASFMRA Pre-test Information In the end, the jury sided with a surveyor who said that although the original survey had unclear borders, it described a set number of acres and that this should be the determining factor in establishing borders. Index, Metes & Bounds These can fall over on their own, or malicious neighbors can intentionally move them. added, the So, next time you're on the road and run across a new deed, you don't have to wait until you get home to plat it out on paper. I feel like its a lifeline. Schorr Law has experience with all types of issues regarding real property boundaries and boundary disputes in Los Angeles. Metes and bounds descriptions are typically used whenever land survey areas are irregularly sized and/or shaped, so that the boundaries of the property can be more clearly defined. It is also used in some states that were previously part of one of the Thirteen Colonies, or where land was allocated before 1785. Since compasses point to magnetic north, rather than true north, surveyors may have corrected their surveys by a particular declination value. furlongs, a furlong would be 40 poles (or rods), and a pole would be 16.5 feet (all this An acre is about the same area as a football Note that the range A corner record is a legal document filed with the county by a licensed land surveyor to document property corners. Land platting experts Patricia Law Hatcher and Mary McCampbell Bell suggest to their students that they underline the lines (including distance, direction, and adjoining owners), circle the corners (including neighbors), and use a wavy line for meanders. flashcard sets. The subdivision's location within a section, a township, a county, and a state. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/metes-bounds-and-meanders-ancestral-land-1420631. subdivision of land is called "metes and bounds." A legal description is read backwards, from right to left; All Rights Reserved. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. There are many methods for describing property, but the three most commonly used systems of land description are: metes and bounds, government survey, and lot and block. Ian is a 3D printing and digital design entrepreneur with over five years of professional experience. The forty in our example (left) lies within section 4, a square roughly one mile by one mile. Create a chart or list of the calls for easy reference as you play, including only the pertinent information or facts. Each corner of the property should be described by a monument or marker, and the description should proceed in a logical, clockwise direction around the property, beginning and ending at the same point to form a closed figure. Powell, Kimberly. While standardization is critical for enabling property to be understood by a larger and more distant set of buyers and creditors, customized property practices built upon localized knowledge serve other important social functions that likewise encourage development. To schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys, you can call us directly at (310) 954-1877, text us at (310) 706-2265, or send us a message here. A metes and bounds survey is used to describe the boundaries of a parcel of land. Look for the words "legal description" or just "description.". Because Texas was an independent republic prior to statehood, its land system is primarily metes and bounds. She apparently did not define a A full legal description in a recorded plat must include. English surveyors carried chains (such as a Gunter's chain) with which to measure lengths, as well as poles, and many older legal descriptions of real estate in the United States are given in chains and poles. If all the markers are still present, you can use modern technology to improve the survey and make it more precise. Metes and Bounds CLIR ends up with a mile of 5,280 feet). It may include references to other adjoining parcels (and their owners), and it, in turn, could also be referred to in later surveys. miles to the north. NW1/4 SE1/4, Sec. The jury, upon being given all three property lines on which to decide, ultimately chose the boundary line that was drawn in the 1982 survey. There are generally two types of legal descriptions: (1) subdivision description or (2) metes and bounds. feet). Powell, Kimberly. To plat a tract of land in metes and bounds bearings -- i.e. Metes & Bounds Descriptions | BLM MLRS - Bureau of Land Management In legal descriptions, metes and bounds are considered as the most accurate description of a piece of land in some jurisdictions. This value is important when trying to fit an old plot on a modern map, as the location of magnetic north is constantly drifting. Such descriptions usually, and in the case of the example you give, refer to the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) in the US. In the United States, its a misdemeanor to intentionally destroy, remove, or deface permanent survey markers. This is the document to which all surveys for State land acquisitions (either fee or easement) must conform, and which any surveys that will involve Green Acres funding or participation must conform, including surveys for local units and non-profit . : "From the intersection of Main Street and John Doe Boulevard, thence north to ABC Drive, thence generally east along the median of ABC Drive to 123rd Street, thence". Not all underwriters require a survey for all closings. 2. The Green Acres Scope of Survey Services includes information about content, format, and final deliverables. ThoughtCo, Apr. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Credits Previous editions of Specifications for Descriptions of Tracts of Land for Use in There was a progression of imprecise definitions of measurement The same process When Europeans came to North America, they brought with Such mapping generally uses streets and their intersections to define the boundaries of election districts, wards, precincts, inter alia. Let's dissect this description. points across the United States. of exactly 16 of these shoes" from "sixteen men, short and tall, one A metes and bounds description should include names of all adjoining property owners. These kinds of problems caused the United States to largely replace this system except in the east. Today, the most familiar terms include "forty", Not every metes and bounds survey ends in a lawsuit, but its easy to see how some do. The metes and bounds legal description is required to transfer real estate to a deed, and is filed with official public records to be used for conveyance when the land transfers ownership. From these points, standard parallels meticulous, others were less so, and a few were downright fraudulent. metes and bounds, limits or boundaries of a tract of land as identified by natural landmarks, such as rivers, or by man-made structures, such as roads, or by stakes or other markers. A metes and bounds description of a parcel of land must define the boundaries of the property in sufficient detail so the property can be easily located on the ground. 132 miles (22 x 6) west of the initial point. 1 Land maps 2 Property descriptions 2.1 US rectangular system 3 Metes and bounds descriptions 4 Sectionalized descriptions 5 Lot and block descriptions 6 Offshore descriptions 7 See also 8 References 9 External links Land maps To begin, the surveyor must locate three of the sections certified corners. Each section is identified with a number based on its position. These intersections are called closing corners. Using the legal description tells us exactly where the property is at by locating those certain permanent reference points, or monument points, to find the property. METES AND BOUNDS. The three main types of legal descriptions include. Corrections? For example, landmarks decay or change over the course of time, and compass directions may change as magnetic north shifts. "Metes" refers to a mathematical description of the property lines constituting the perimeter of a property, and the term "bounds" states what each line is bounded (or bordered) by. Metes and Bounds - Definition, Examples, Cases, Processes A metes and bounds legal description starts from a point of beginning, then traces the outline of the propertys boundary lines until there is closure in the legal description. north (not magnetic north). One of the best ways to study local history in general, and your family in particular, is to create a map of your ancestor's land(s) and its relationship to the surrounding community. In Canada, metes and bounds are frequently used to officially define the territory of electoral districts, particularly in urban areas where the districts may subdivide municipalities or otherwise not conform to municipal boundaries. All rights reserved. These include West Virginia, Kentucky, Maine, Tennessee and Vermont. This type of survey is the simplest to understand of the three most common survey types and are most often associated with planned subdivisions. A legal description is a written description of a real estate that is specific enough to uniquely identify it as distinct from all other properties. assuming they can get to the lake without trespassing. The objectives of this module are to help you: define the types of monuments and measurements used in metes-and-bounds descriptions, compare and contrast natural vs. artificial boundaries, and identify the primary writing parts of descriptions of land for metes-and-bounds types. The simplest way to read a USPLSS legal description is to proceedbackwards from the end the description to locate the appropriateState, County and Principal Meridian to determine the generalvicinity. The northeasternmost section is 1. Metes and Bounds: Uses bearings and distances to measure the circumference of the property described in the legal . (administered by a government agency). Metes measures the distance in a straight line between two points, regardless of the terrain. Each section is divided further into quarters and so on. Legal Descriptions Flashcards | Quizlet Metes can also be found by determining a plot of lands direction. and about one half a rod more from the stump of the big hemlock tree where Philo Blake killed Land Survey - Map & Compass As a result, an outdated survey may mean that an issue with the legal description goes undiscovered. Metes and bounds have historical significance, and in some jurisdictions, metes and bounds are considered the most accurate description of parcel boundaries due to the geographical features used to identify precise locations. When we read today's plat books, we are looking at decades From these corners, range 4min read Read your property deed Townships in property descriptions Including subdivision plats Using metes and bounds Supplemental property information The metes component designates the property line using a directional call (north, south, east, or west), an angle (described in degrees, minutes, and seconds), and a distance (usually noted in feet). a plat book, then the lake is usually public water. However, this does not mean that all conveyances that contain a metes and bounds description are unlawful. Bounds are identifiable lines following features like a river or a road. The description gives important instructions to the surveyor to follow in order to make this determination. To schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys, you can call us directly at (310) 954-1877, text us at (310) 706-2265, or send us a message here. Boundary Descriptions - details on natural features found along the property boundaries, such as creeks and trees. The ambiguous descriptions of the past are the boundary disputes of the future. From each initial point, a prime Bounds are less specific. Highlight the calls - lines and corners. This was accepted practice before more precise instruments and methods were developedindeed, the original 13 U.S. states were Read More died, disappeared, or changed re-establishing them was nearly impossible. Ranges measure east or west from the meridian. In 1942, when a piece of land was sold to Byrd Patton, the legal description of that land did not contain metes and bounds. descriptions of what they encountered. How Do I Stop My Neighbor from Tearing Down My Fence if the Courts Are Closed? This means that metes can be described as north, south, east, or west. which is a single square mile, or one mile on each of four sides of a square, more or less any survey Every settlement agent worth their salt understands how important the legal description is in a real estate transaction. The homesteading and timber rush in the 1800s overwhelmed GLO offices to Where watercourses form part of the bounds their meander is generally taken as a straight line between the established corners and their monuments. Each of these corners are a mile apart, so this means that the surveyor or surveyors must walk this distance with their equipment while following the instructions and measuring until they reach the specified point. One of the challenges in using the metes and bounds system is that compass directions must be adjusted from time to time as magnetic north shifts. Parcels were often defined by formations such as rivers, trees, roads, or other landmarks. This was despite the fact that the property contained both manmade and natural physical boundaries. What you have is a metes and bounds description which locates a point, gives bearing and distance to the next point, and so on all the way around and back to the point of beginning (known as a traverse). Legal descriptions, for the purposes of these guidelines are defined as a worded metes and bounds description of the results of an on the ground survey of real property. These rather odd measurements are rooted in Roman and D All the following are true about a metes-and-bounds legal description EXCEPT a. it is only used in states west of the Mississippi River. Insisting on a new survey for every real estate transaction is the best way to ensure this kind of problem will be avoided. Many of the original thirteen colonies were surveyed using metes and bounds, and the system is still in use in the following states where the land was originally sold or granted under the metes and bounds system: Metes and bounds real estate relies on the use of a known landmark as a beginning point for the survey, after which the surveyor follows a line according to the compass. .". From each standard corner, a line is run true A meander can also be used to describe any line noted in a survey which does not provide both direction and distance - even if there is not any water involved. For instance, a manmade wall, public roadway, or even an existing building can serve as a plot of lands bounds. Bounds are often used to define bigger pieces of property, such as farms, or political subdivisions, including a towns boundaries. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Examples of metes and bounds landmarks include rivers, roads, stakes, or other such natural or manmade markers. Researching Property History - Utah A metes and bounds description ends at the point of beginning. [1] The system has been used in England for many centuries and is still used there in the definition of general boundaries. of Roman armies. Now, it's time to fill in A property description will state that the property is a number of feet above or below the datum it benchmark. While the system is still used today, technology has greatly improved upon its associated tools and measurements. Reimagine a metes and bounds plotter system in a modern way with MapRight. Additionally, be sure to ask the title company thats overseeing your real estate deal if a new survey will be conducted. The concept originates from English common law. Distance is the length of a course measured in some well-known unit, such as feet or chains. There is no easy fix to correct a legal description, and it requires an experienced title professional to resolve the issue. . Rectangular Survey System | Definition, Process & Examples, Legal Description of Property | Overview & Examples. In some areas where land was deeded before 1593, the lengths given predate the changes to the length of the furlong and mile by Queen Elizabeth I. Its ideal for undeveloped land in rural areas. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. Welcome Page C. runs north and south in the eastern part of the state. Metes and bounds was the survey system used to map the original thirteen colonies of the United States and remains part of the legal description of properties in that geographic area. BLM Module 3: Metes-and-Bounds Study Guide Each rod measures 16.5 feet, and in older surveys it may be called a perch or a pole. PDF 3 The Nature of Real Property - Washington PDF Writing Legal Descriptions 2018-01 1 / 88 Flashcards Learn Test Match Created by peppypls Terms in this set (88) Deeds are the primary means of conveying interests in real property. The metes component of the survey uses three identifiers for the property line: When performing a metes and bounds survey, the surveyor begins at a point designated by the legal description. The metes and bounds land survey system relies on several different items to convey a property description: Surveyors in early America used only a few simple tools to measure direction, distance, and acreage of a parcel of land. This line may follow the course of a natural boundary like a stream or river, or an artificial boundary like a road or highway. land area. 24-mile grid growing across the State of Michigan. How the Survey Works . The land boundaries are run out by courses and distances, and monuments, natural or artificial, are fixed at the corners, or angles. They were actual chains made up of 100 links. Metes, Bounds & Meanders. Metes and bounds is the oldest method of land description. Metes describes the perimeter of the property mathematically, noting distances along straight lines from one point to the next, and bounds are identifiable lines along a feature like a river or road. Metes & bounds descriptions are required when describing a lode claim and in certain limited circumstances when describing placer claims (for instance, gulch placer claims or placer claims situated in lots). A metes and bounds legal description should contain a caption, a body, and any necessary clauses. Metes and Bounds - US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute One mile equals 5,280 feet, Real Estate Liens: Overview & Characteristics. COM AT E 1/4 POST OF SEC, TH S 1 DEG 05 E 112.42 FT IN E LINE OF SEC, TH S 66 DEG 08 W 702.70 FT IN CENT OF HWY FOR PL OF BEG, TH S 14 DEG 06 E 850.03 FT, TH S 66 DEG 09 W 244.27 FT, TH N 22 DEG 40 W 542.46 FT, TH N 66 DEG 09 E 843.26 FT IN CENT OF HWY TO THE PL OF BEG, SEC 2, T2S-R7E, 3.62 AC. after turning around in another direction, It employs the use of measurements and markers to draw straight lines from one point to another in order to show the location and shape of a piece of property. Sign up for our upcoming webinar on land surveys to learn more! Worse, when no obvious marker or indicator was present, a pole or stake may have been driven into the ground to mark the boundary.
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