THE HAMILTON MINUTE

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READING AND UNDERSTANDING LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

WHERE CAN YOU GET A LEGAL DESCRIPTION AND HOW CAN YOU UNDERSTAND IT?

YOU CAN GET THEM FROM A TITLE COMPANY, THE RECORDER OF DEEDS OFFICE OR A LAND SURVEYOR.

HOW CAN YOU LOOK UP YOUR OWN LEGAL DESCRIPTION?

YOU CAN USE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO HELP YOU FIND IT; STREET ADDRESS, PLAT BOOK, YOUR TAX PARCEL NUMBER, TAX PARCEL MAP, DEED NUMBER, OR A TITLE COMPANY REPORT.

ALL LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS WILL BE RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY RECORDER OF DEEDS. THE EASIEST WAY TO FIND A LEGAL DESCRIPTION IS FROM YOUR COUNTY TAX BILL WHICH HAS YOUR TAX PARCEL NUMBER LISTED ON IT. YOU CAN ALSO FIND IT AT THE COUNTY CLERKS OFFICE OR THE COUNTY ASSESSORS OFFICE.

WHEN YOU GET YOUR TAX NUMBER IT SHOULD LOOK SOMETHING LIKE THE FOLLOWING: 07-35-400-011. THERE ARE SLIGHT DIFFERENCES FROM COUNTY TO COUNTY.

THE FIRST NUMBER (07) STANDS FOR THE TOWNSHIP AND RANGE NUMBER.

THE SECOND NUMBER (35) STANDS FOR THE SECTION NUMBER.

THE THIRD NUMBER (400) REFERS TO THE BLOCK NUMBER.

THE FOURTH NUMBER (011) REFERS TO ONE PARCEL OF LAND WITHIN THE BLOCK.

THERE ALSO MIGHT BE A FIFTH NUMBER IF YOU LIVE IN A TOWNHOME OR A CONDOMINIUM AND IT IS USUALLY A FOUR DIGIT NUMBER (0001)

THERE ARE 5 BASIC TYPES OF LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS:

  1. A METES AND BOUNDS DESCRIPTION.
  2. A BOUNDS ONLY DESCRIPTION.
  3. A SECTIONALIZED LAND SYSTEM DESCRIPTION.
  4. A LOT IN A BLOCK IN A SUBDIVISION DESCRIPTION.
  5. A STRIP DESCRIPTION OF A PARCEL OF LAND CROSSING VARIOUS PARCELS FOR A COMMON USE. I.E. A RIGHT OF WAY A PIPELINE, A ROADWAY ADDITION OR AN EASEMENT.

I WILL DISCUSS THE SECTIONALIZED LAND SURVEY DESCRIPTION NOW AND FOLLOW UP WITH OTHERS IN ADDITIONAL BLOGS.

A SECTIONALIZED LAND SURVEY DESCRIPTION DESCRIBES ALL OR PARTS OF A SECTION IN THE PUBLIC LAND AREAS.

THESE DESCRIPTIONS CAN BE AS SIMPLE AS THE FOLLOWING: ALL OF SECTION 6 IN TOWNSHIP 40 NORTH, RANGE 10 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL IN DUPAGE COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

THEY CAN ALSO BE MORE COMPLICATED: THE NORTH HALF OF THE EAST HALF OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF SECTION 6 IN TOWNSHIP 36 NORTH, RANGE 10 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN IN WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

BOTH OF THE DESCRIPTIONS DO HAVE POINTS IN COMMON. THEY BOTH REFERENCE THE SECTION NUMBER THE TOWNSHIP AND RANGE NUMBER, AND WHICH PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN THE TOWNSHIP IS REFERENCED. YOU MUST ALSO HAVE A COUNTY REFERENCE.

THE TOWNSHIP AND RANGE NUMBERS REFERENCE THE INTERSECTION OF A BASE LINE AND A PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN. THERE ARE THREE MERIDIANS THAT CONTROL THE LAND IN ILLINOIS: THE SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH MERIDIANS. THE MERIDIANS ARE LINES THAT RUN IN A NORTH SOUTH DIRECTION AND THE BASE LINE RUNS IN AN EAST WEST DIRECTION. THESE BASE LINES AND MERIDIANS WERE ESTABLISHED AND MONUMENTED IN THE 1800’S. THESE ARE SHOWN ON THE NEXT TO LAST EXHIBIT.

LET’S BREAKDOWN THE FOLLOWING TWO DESCRIPTIONS: ALL OF SECTION 6 IN TOWNSHIP 40 NORTH RANGE 10 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN IN DUPAGE COUNTY, ILLINOIS. WORKING BACKWARDS WE WILL STATE WHAT WE KNOW:

  • THE PROPERTY IS IN ILLINOIS.
  • IT IS LOCATED IN DUPAGE COUNTY.
  • IT IS REFERENCED TO THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN.
  • IT IS LOCATED IN TOWNSHIP 40 NORTH, RANGE 10 EAST. (THIS IS CALLED BLOOMINGDALE TOWNSHIP IN NORTHERN DUPAGE COUNTY).
  • IT INCLUDES ALL OF SECTION 6. (THIS IS APPROXIMATELY 640 ACRES IN HANOVER PARK, ILLINOIS).

PLEASE SEE THE ILLUSTRATION ON THE TOP OF THE LAST PAGE.

THE SECOND LEGAL DESCRIPTION: THE NORTH HALF OF THE EAST HALF OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF SECTION 6 IN TOWNSHIP 36 NORTH, RANGE 10 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN IN WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS. AGAIN WE WILL WORK BACKWARDS FROM LARGER TO SMALLER PARTS TO FIND THE PROPERTY:

  • THE PROPERTY IS IN ILLINOIS.
  • IT IS LOCATED IN WILL COUNTY.
  • IT IS REFERENCED TO THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN.
  • IT IS LOCATED IN TOWNSHIP 36 NORTH, RANGE 10 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN. (THIS IS CALLED LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP AND FALLS WITHIN THE CARILLON LAKES DEVELOPMENT).
  • IT FALLS WITHIN SECTION 6 (640 ACRES).
  • IT FALLS IN THE NORTH WEST QUARTER OF SECTION 6. (160 ACRES)
  • IT IS IN THE EAST HALF OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER. (80 ACRES)
  • IT IS IN THE NORTH HALF OF THE EAST HALF OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER. (40 ACRES)

THIS MAY SEEM CONFUSING, BUT THE LOWER ILLUSTRATION ON THE LAST PAGE SHOWS IT GRAPHICALLY.



Lee will share from his extensive knowledge of surveying in future blogs.  If you have questions related to surveying, he can be  reached at our Joliet office.

         

 Lee R. Koehler, PLS