In most cases, there is no substitute for simply finding the last deed on the property and using the legal description on that deed. This is a simple description of Metes and Bounds. They can be much more complex for irregularly shaped packaging. All legal descriptions indicate county and state, but the way the description is worded will vary. The best place to find a legal description is usually the most recent deed on the property (the deed that transferred the property to the current owner). The legal description is usually included in the main part of the document. Legal descriptions are usually preceded by introductory words, such as “. as described below. This wording indicates that the legal description will begin shortly. The legal description is often double indented or printed in bold to stand out from the rest of the act. For an illustration, see the following examples. Legal descriptions are usually created by a chartered appraiser who is trained and authorized to locate and determine the legal description of a property. Only a licensed reviewer needs to create property descriptions, as inaccuracies can lead to title issues later.
The surveyor prepares 2 documents: a survey containing the description of the property and a survey sketch showing the location and dimensions of the plot. If the location, size and shape of the buildings on the property are also indicated, this is called a sample survey. Today, the accuracy of property descriptions is greatly improved by computers, satellites, lasers and global positioning systems (GPS). The Federal Bureau of Land Management and the USDA Forest Service are developing a National Integrated Land System (NILS) that uses nationally accepted methods based on new technologies and software to record survey data and other information for land registers. A description of Metes and Bounds describes the property by locating it in the public survey system. The boundaries of the property are described by bypassing a parcel of land one by one, starting with a starting point. The starting point could be a milestone or a point described on the basis of the U.S. Public Lands Survey System. Here`s an example of a Metes and Bounds description: In most states, property descriptions often include a reference to a community.
This goes back to a survey plan developed by the federal government in 1785. To see an example of how a legal description of Lot and Block appears on an actual deed, read Sample Deed – Lot and Block. There are several legal ways to give an object description. An address is as our property is commonly called and is determined by the post office, but this is not a legal description. Number one is called the Metes and Bounds description, which gives a physical description of the property. These are usually older or used in rural areas. Here, the description would say, “Go to the well, then 300 feet west of the pole, then 200 feet to the tree.” It uses physical objects to describe the country. In addition to the legal description, you can see other credentials on a country document. This is usually the address and a property tax identification number. The above information is intended to help you understand the legal descriptions of ownership. However, for the purchase or sale of real estate, it is usually not necessary to fully understand the details of land descriptions. It is important that the deed, mortgage or any other country document contains an accurate description of the property.
Measurements are a necessary part of any legal description. Ancient measurements were based on chains and rods, as surveyors used them to measure distances. The following list shows the ratio of common units used to measure distance and area in real estate: All deeds in the chain of ownership must have an identical legal description. It is usually found on the document after a sentence similar to: “the particular play or plot is described as follows”. By carefully reading the legal description of your document and comparing it to the legal description of a previous document, you can ensure that your document contains the appropriate legal description. When creating a legal description, it is important to use the exact legal description that appears on the last deed of ownership. This requires the creator to pay special attention. It is recommended to reread the legal description several times to ensure that each letter and punctuation element is displayed exactly as in the previous document. Regardless of the type of legal description, it is important to understand its effect, as they describe exactly what is included in the purchase and sale of a property. If you have any questions about your legal description, talk to your real estate agent or call your local Pioneer Title office – we`ll be happy to help! Purchase contracts, deeds, mortgages, and trust deeds require a legal description of the property that is legally sufficient to be binding, meaning that the description would allow a competent appraiser to delineate the exact boundaries of the property. The legal description of a property does not include the buildings on it – only the boundaries of the property.
The legal description is also an important determinant in determining the price of real estate. Although the address is necessary to find the property, it is not enough to identify the property. In fact, addresses are often renamed over time and even physical boundaries can change course, like that of a local stream. Since each property is necessarily limited in area, any description of that property must necessarily form a closed area. Such descriptions can become quite complicated, especially if a parcel of land crosses a section or municipal boundary. A second way to give a legal description is called a rectangular or government survey system. This is what was established in our country years ago by Thomas Jefferson, and it mainly covers the whole country. Thomas Jefferson developed a system that draws straight, vertical and horizontal lines, called principal meridians that run from north to south, and main baselines that go east and west.