This publication is intended to introduce the basic principles used in describing real property for title evidence. It is not expected, however, that having studied the contents, you will be qualified to prepare legal descriptions or to determine the sufficiency of descriptions intended as title evidence.
All land within the boundaries of the 13 American Colonies, after the ratification of the United States Constitution, came under the control and jurisdiction of the particular state in which the land was situated. Therefore, there was no federal government or so-called public land within that area.
The perfect description for dividing a lot of any shape into two parcels without possibility of conflict consists of a description of the dividing line extending across the lot with a statement that the portion of the lot described lies easterly (westerly, southerly, northerly, as the case may be) of said dividing line.
A curve is a part of the arc of a circle. It is limited at each end by the radii of the circle which form a central angle at the center of the circle.
The bearing of a line is the angular deviation measured in degrees, minutes and seconds from a known line or direction generally true north or south.
Our consideration is now with the irregular or non-rectangular lot. As long as we deal with rectangular lots, leaving out of consideration the matter of streets, we do not encounter much difficulty in a description of fractional portions. Once out of this class, however, trouble may occur with the first sign of carelessness or lack of knowledge.
When a lot is not rectangular in shape, a description dividing the lot into halves should be carefully analyzed. The example below illustrates the ambiguous nature of a described half of a non-rectangular lot.
A person working with legal descriptions must ascertain the characteristic features of the whole lot before plotting the "part" description. That is, determine whether the whole lot is square or rectangular with lines due north and south, east and west, or if it is odd-shaped with various courses describing the boundary lines.
Some land cannot be described briefly. In these cases, a "metes and bounds" description is required. "Metes," meaning measurements, and "bounds," meaning boundaries, are designated for so many units of measurement along a specified boundary line.
Metric Conversion by Length
Metric Conversion by Volume
Descriptions utilizing monuments also may include, at least partially, a metes and bounds description. A monument may be defined as a landmark that is used for the purpose of indicating a boundary of a parcel of land. It may be either natural or artificial.
All land within the boundaries of the 13 American Colonies, after the ratification of the United States Constitution, came under the control and jurisdiction of the particular state in which the land was situated. Therefore, there was no federal government or so-called public land within that area.
First, consider the rectangular lot. This occurs quite frequently and is the simplest to handle. For practical purposes, the words "rectangular lot" are meant to describe a lot whose interior angles are all at or very near 90°.
Measurements used in land descriptions
This system is used for the survey and description of property that is or may have been subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. Land Office.
