SUR 4403 Cadastral Principles Homework

Title: Describing Geometry

Goal – This homework is intended to cover methods of writing legal or land descriptions for complex geometric
shapes. After this homework, you should be able to better understand how to prepare legal descriptions.
Assignment:
WRITE A DEED DESCRIPTION – Prepare a deed description for the following situation

1. Watch the video lectures, read two documents about writing descriptions on WebCT: Metes And Bounds
Descriptions.doc -- this explains how to describe various curve geometries. Words and Phrases.doc -- this
explains the proper use of various words and phrases in legal descriptions.

2. Download the WestPalmSketch.jpg. (But do not follow all the directions on that sketch, just the geometry) You
are to write a metes and bounds description of this parcel The missing data is:
Bearing of the last course: N 16d 20m 40s W Distance of the last course: 26.25 ft
Delta angle of the last curve: 29d 02m 01.9s Area of parcel: 11.763 acres

3. Scenario: A description is needed to partition the new parcel from the larger parent parcel to the north. Only
the north line is a "new" boundary line. The east, south, and westerly lines go along existing road rights of way.
You can make up names for these road rights-of-way such as "to the west right-of-way line of Palm Avenue", etc.
You are to write it so that the intent is clear – to go along the north line at its geometric location as shown, to go
along the senior record right of way lines. Put the legal priority of the senior record lines above bearings and
distances and by wording such as : " thence easterly and southeasterly along the south right-of-way line of Palm
Street through a central angle of 45 degrees an arc length of 300 feet."

3. Write a description in standard form. You are to make up suitable info for your description if it is not given.
A. Preamble paragraph: Describe the general location of the parcel.
B. Point of beginning reference: describe a point of commencing which must not be on the parcel boundary, and
then how to get from the POC to the POB. Make up this information if you need to.
C. Body of Description: from the POB, proceed in a consistent direction around the courses calling for (1)
mathematical data such as bearings distances and curve data, (2) along record lines such as section lines, r/w
lines, adjoiner deed lines, etc, (3) terminus points following the word "to" such as monuments, intersecting
record lines. (4) do not abbreviate except for the N, S, E, W in bearings. (5) do not capitalize except for N, S, E,
W in bearings, references to the POB, street names, Sect, Twp, Range., (6) separate parts of the description with
semi colons.
D. Closing Clauses. Add inclusions – things included in the parcel, exclusions – things excluded, and area.
"containing 23.45 acres, and subject to an easement for access purposes over the west 30 ft of the above described
parcel."

A sample description looks like:

Land Description:
A parcel of land in Section ___, Township ___, Range ___, __________________ County, State of Florida
being more particularly described as follows:
From the Northwest corner of Section ___, proceed N 89d22m33s 335.56 feet along the north line of Section __
to the Point of Beginning of the herein described parcel, said point being the intersection of said section line with
the west right-of-way line of State Road 325; from said Point of Beginning, thence along the north line of Section
___, N 89d22m33s, 500.00 feet to the west right-of-way line of Pine Street said line being a non-tangent curve
concave to the west of radius 1000 feet at a place where the tangent to said curve bears S 20d40m E; thence
southerly along said west line of Pine Street on a curve to the right through a central angle of 20 degrees an arc
length of 523.34 feet to a point of tangency; thence continue on said right-of-way on a tangent line S 18d44m33s
W, 440 feet to ---------------------------etc; thence, (bearing), (distance) to the Point of Beginning; containing 23.45
acres, and subject to an easement for access purposes over the west 30 ft of the above described parcel.

SUBMIT: (1) your description as a DOC file, (2) a text summary of the issues you found and observations.