Legal Description
The formal written description of a parcel of land that uniquely identifies its location and boundaries for legal purposes.
Detailed Definition
A legal description is the formal method of describing and identifying a parcel of land for legal documents, including deeds, mining claims, and mineral leases. It must be precise enough to locate the property without ambiguity.
Types of legal descriptions
PLSS Description: - Township, Range, Section, and Aliquot Parts - Example: "NW/4 of Section 15, T3N, R5W, Boise Meridian" - Used throughout western United States - Standard for mining claims on federal lands
Metes and Bounds: - Describes boundaries using bearings and distances - Starts from a known point of beginning - Follows property lines around perimeter - Common in eastern states and irregular parcels
Lot and Block: - References recorded subdivision plats - Example: "Lot 5, Block 3, Mountain View Subdivision" - Common for urban and developed areas
Requirements for mining claims: - Must adequately describe claim location - Reference to PLSS is standard - Coordinates (latitude/longitude) increasingly used - Must match field monuments
Importance: Accurate legal descriptions are essential for: - Recording mining claims - Title examination and chain of title - Resolving boundary disputes - Conveying mineral rights
Related Terms
PLSS
The Public Land Survey System, a method of subdividing and describing land in the United States using townships, ranges, and sections.
Township, Range, and Section
The hierarchical land description system within PLSS, identifying land by its position relative to principal meridians and base lines.
Mineral Title
The legal ownership rights to minerals beneath the surface of a property, which can be separate from surface ownership.