CASE Legal Land Descriptions

FRIDAY, 9/21/12 Objectives: All property is legally defined and recorded based on a standardized regulatory system. Describe parcels of land using the rectangular survey system and the metes and bounds system. Bellwork: With the pieces of land that you claimed yesterday, which was easiest to describe for the land descriptions that you submitted? Why?

Why Legally Define Land? Land is sold as private property in the United States Selling land requires a description of property boundaries and size

US Systems of Land Description Metes and Bounds Uses physical features of geography Used by original colonial states and some others Rectangular Surveys Also known as Public Land Survey System Use meridians and baselines to divide land Lot-and-Block System Plat system Used in town and cities to define small parcels

Metes and Bounds Metes – boundaries defined by measurement, include distance and direction Bounds – general boundary description such as waterways, roads, existing structure, and other physical markers Three major parts are: Starting point Courses Distances

Metes and Bounds Starting points are natural or artificial monuments. Courses are defined as a direction from one point to another and measured in a straight line. Borders can be irregular due to rivers, lakes, or other natural boundaries Starting point Distance

Rectangular Survey Set as the way of defining boundaries in the United States in 1785 Provided for an easily understood description of land that could be used to determine size Divides land into tracts, townships, sections, quarter sections and so on.

Rectangular Survey Townships located with: A north-south line called a principle meridian. An east-west line called a base line. Crossing point is called the initial point. Initial Point Meridian Base Line

Rectangular Survey A tract is 24 square miles Divided into 16 townships. “range” lines – division of base lines “tier” lines – division of meridians Base Line T1N R1W

Rectangular Survey Each township is 6 miles by 6 miles Townships are divided into sections There are 36 sections in a township 1 section = 1 square mile (640 acres) Township T3N, R3E Notice the method of numbering

Sections are divided into plots/parcels of land measured in partial section or acres. ½ section 320 acres W1/2 ¼ section 160 acres A B C D E F G H Can you determine the acreage and legal description for each parcel?

Check for Understanding What are the advantages/disadvantages of the rectangular survey system? What are the disadvantages/advantages of the metes and bounds system?