Everything You Need to Know About Deed Descriptions in Land Surveying

Everything You Need to Know About Deed Descriptions in Land Surveying

There are many types of legal descriptions that a licensed surveyor uses when they complete land surveys. These descriptions describe a property’s boundaries in detail.

What is a Deed Description?

A deed description is an important part of a property conveyance. It provides accurate and consistent information over time, helps prevent boundary disputes, and serves as an essential reference for title insurance. There are several types of land descriptions in the United States. One is the recorded subdivision lot (also known as a “recorded plat”), which refers to specific parcels of land identified by a lot number or letter and block number. It is an easy-to-read format that makes it much easier for surveyors to conduct their work. This type of legal description also includes recording information for the subdivision plat at the recorder’s office, making it easy for surveyors to determine adjoining properties. Another common type of legal description is the metes and bounds description. This type of description defines the distance and direction of a property line. It is the oldest form of describing property lines and is primarily used in states along the east coast of the U.S.

What are Metes and Bounds?

Metes and Bounds are a system of identifying property boundaries. They rely on natural landmarks like trees, boulders and streams. They were a reliable way to delineate land in the early years of America. In some parts of the United States, this system is still in use today. The original thirteen colonies and most of the land east of the Mississippi and south of the Ohio River were surveyed by this method, though it has its shortcomings. Surveyors used to measure boundary lines by carrying chains (66 feet long) or poles (16.5 feet high), and then running them from landmark to landmark in a series of sequences, referred to as courses. This system is often used to define land parcels on a recorded plat or other legal description. It’s also a valuable reference for resolving disputes about property limits. In addition, it may reveal common neighbors who are known to have abutting land. This information can be important in land research and determining if the same amount of property was sold as was purchased.

What are Legal Descriptions?

Legal descriptions are an essential part of land surveying. They appear in sales contracts, deeds, mortgage documents, and other real estate paperwork and are vital for ensuring that title is clear. They also provide critical information to lenders, who want to make sure that a property is legally and properly described so that they can secure a loan. They also help resolve boundary disputes, identify and prevent title problems, and ensure that the correct plot of land is transferred to a new owner. A legal description must be accurate enough to be binding on a property or else it can cause title problems, encroachments by other properties, and a host of other problems. That’s why it’s important for both surveyors and GIS staff to work together to create accurate and consistent descriptions of land.

What is a Plat?

Plats are official scaled-down maps that demarcate the boundaries of various parcels of land. They are often created by surveyors and used to create legal documents for property ownership, such as real estate deeds. They are also frequently used in other fields, such as by oil and gas companies for their own development purposes. They can be a very important tool in determining the boundaries of a piece of land and identifying any easements that may be present on it. When you see a plat map, each plot of land has its own number that represents the street it sits on. It also has a builder’s lot number that goes back as far as the subdivision was created. The directional orientation of the lots is outlined on the map with an arrow. You can also find information about public and private roads that are in the area. This will allow you to determine whether the streets are accessible by car or bike, and what utilities are available for use on the property.

Categorised in: Deed Descriptions, Land Surveying