Land Boundaries and Property Law Flashcards
6 cards from real FUNDAMENTAL SURVEYING practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Land Boundaries and Property Law flashcards as text
In the US Public Land Survey System (PLSS), what is the standard size of a township?
Answer: 6 miles × 6 miles
A standard PLSS township is 6 miles square, containing 36 sections of 1 mile square each.
In the PLSS, sections are numbered starting from which corner of the township?
Answer: Northeast corner
PLSS sections are numbered 1–36 starting in the northeast corner and proceeding in a boustrophedon (back-and-forth) pattern.
Which type of boundary description is most commonly used to describe irregular land parcels in the US?
Answer: Metes and bounds
Metes and bounds descriptions use bearings, distances, and natural or artificial monuments to describe irregular parcel boundaries.
In order of priority, which type of monument takes precedence in resolving boundary conflicts?
Answer: Natural monuments over artificial monuments over record distances
The general hierarchy is: original monuments (natural, then artificial) > record bearings/distances > calculated positions.
What is a 'senior rights' doctrine in land boundary law?
Answer: The earlier (senior) deed takes priority over a later (junior) deed for the same land
Senior rights doctrine means the earlier conveyance has legal priority; a grantor cannot convey more land than they own, so later deeds (junior) yield to earlier ones (senior).
What is the legal doctrine of 'acquiescence' in boundary law?
Answer: Long-term mutual recognition and acceptance of a boundary line by adjoining owners can establish it legally
Acquiescence holds that if adjoining landowners have mutually recognized and accepted a boundary line for a sufficient period, that line may be legally binding.