Current through Register Vol. 24-18, September 15, 2024
An instrument used for the conveyance of real
property should contain a description of the property sufficiently
definite to allow location by a land surveyor without recourse to
oral testimony.
The following guidelines consist of elements which
are recommended for use in the preparation of land descriptions. They
are not intended to be all inclusive and may not be applicable in all
situations:
(1) In a
description of a lot, tract, parcel or portion thereof in a recorded
plat, short plat, or record of survey:
(a) Lot and block number or
designation and addition or subdivision name;
(b) Official recording data and
identification of recording office;
(c) Location by section, township,
and range with respect to the Willamette Meridian, (if
applicable);
(d) Property
location by county and state.
(2) In a description of an
easement, lot, tract, or parcel described by metes and bounds:
(a) Parcel location by the
subdivision(s) of the section; or portion of any other official
subdivisional tract from a GLO or BLM public land survey; or portion
of a recorded plat, short plat, or record of survey;
(b) Section, township, and range
with respect to the Willamette Meridian;
(c) Property location by county and
state;
(d) Direction and
distance to GLO or BLM corners or properly determined section
subdivision corners with description of the physical corners, if
applicable;
(e) A
description of the boundary giving:
(i) Place of beginning and/or
initial point;
(ii) Basis
of bearings or azimuths;
(iii) Bearings, angles or azimuths
in degrees, minutes and seconds;
(iv) Distances in feet and decimals
of feet or record units, where applicable;
(v) Curve data showing the
controlling elements;
(vi) Identification of senior
adjoiners giving recording office and filing reference;
(vii) Calls to existing controlling
monuments, both artificial and natural;
(viii) Calls which indicate if a
course is a section line, subdivisional line, a line of record or
parallel therewith;
(ix)
A bearing and distance for each boundary line of the described parcel
with a closing course returning to the point of beginning, except
where the boundary can be described by a record, physical or natural
feature.
(3) In a description based on a
public land survey subdivision:
(a)
Special segregations such as donation land claims, homestead entry
surveys, townsites, tracts, and Indian or military
reservations;
(b)
Government lot number(s);
(c) Aliquot part
designation;
(d) Section,
township, and range with respect to the Willamette
Meridian;
(e) Property
location by county and state.
(4) Other elements of consideration
for any land description:
(a) Avoid
ambiguities when exceptions to a parcel are stated;
(b) Indicate width of strip
description and its relationship to described centerline or survey
line;
(c) Delineate the
dividing line when designating a fractional portion of a
parcel;
(d) When
designating one-half or other fractional portion of an aliquot part
by government subdivision procedures, follow with "according to U.S.
Government subdivision procedures."
Statutory Authority:
RCW
58.24.040(1).
89-11-028 (Order 561), § 332-130-040, filed 5/11/89; Order 275,
§ 332-130-040, filed
5/2/77.
