This chapter is about how land is divided up for ownership and how to describe those divisions. This subdivision was developed based on a plat map, and clearly shows how the land has been sectioned off for each home. Chapter 9 Legal Descriptions
2 ©2013 Kaplan, Inc. 9 Legal Descriptions Learning objectives –Identify the three methods used to describe real estate –Describe how a survey is prepared –Explain how to read a rectangular survey description –Distinguish the various units of land measurement
3 ©2013 Kaplan, Inc. 9 Legal Descriptions Definition of a legal description Land units and measurement Methods of describing real estate –Metes-and-bounds –Lot and block –Rectangular (or government) survey
4 ©2013 Kaplan, Inc. 9 Legal Descriptions Georgia Legal Description Concepts –Headrights area –Militia districts –Districts and land lots
5 ©2013 Kaplan, Inc. 9 Legal Descriptions Metes-and-bounds Monuments Point of beginning (POB) Compass bearings (calls of direction) Distance along straight lines
6 ©2013 Kaplan, Inc. 9 Legal Descriptions Georgia’s Metes and Bounds description must contain: State and county District and land lot Section or militia district Point of beginning Compass directions moving to a point of closure
7 ©2013 Kaplan, Inc. 9 Legal Descriptions
8 ©2013 Kaplan, Inc. 9 Legal Descriptions Lot-and-block or recorded plat map –Concepts Plat map Lot Block –Property Identifiers Lot and block numbers Name of the subdivision (book and page) State and county
9 ©2013 Kaplan, Inc. 9 Legal Descriptions
10 ©2013 Kaplan, Inc. 9 Legal Descriptions Measuring elevations –Air lots –Datum –Benchmarks
11 ©2013 Kaplan, Inc. 9 Legal Descriptions Methods of describing real estate –Rectangular (government) survey Not used in Georgia, but used in Alabama and the States west of the Appalachian Mountains Based on a comprehensive government survey Divides state into square grids Baselines (latitude lines) Meridians (longitude lines)
12 ©2013 Kaplan, Inc. 9 Legal Descriptions Land units and measurements –Mile –Square mile –Acre