Current through Register Vol. 24-24, December 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.
