Property Descriptions

Meridians

The State of Louisiana is divided by two (2) and they run North and South: The St. Helena Meridian (east of the Mississippi River), and the Louisiana Meridian (west of the river).

Meridians and Bases

Every state has its own; This is the Rectangular System (Public Land Survey System) established by the Bureau of Land Management.

Principal Meridian Lines

Lines extending in a true north-south direction passing through the initial point along which townships were established. There are 2 in Louisiana.

Base Line

Lines extending in an east-west direction along a line of true latitude passing through the initial point along which ranges were established. There is one in Louisiana.

Initial Point

The intersection of the Principal Meridian Line and the Base Line; The point of origin for the public survey of lands within a given area. There are only 2 in Louisiana

Township

A rectangular unit being 36 square miles - 6 miles on each side.; Runs North and South; subdivided into 36 sections - 1 mile each side - 640 acres in each.

Section

A square area 1 mile on each side - 640 acres.

Tier

A group of sections.

Range

A vertical column of Townships, running north-to-south.

Range Lines

Lines parallel to each meridian, running north-south at 6 mile intervals.

Township Lines

Lines parallel to each baseline, running east-west at 6-mile intervals.

Aliquot Parts

Divisions of a section.

Aversionem

A property sale which is made from boundary to boundary; there are no specific measurements; The property is described as a certain and distinct body, and is sold for a lump price.

Metes and Bounds

A property referenced by course and distance around the tract or by natural and recorded monuments; This is the oldest known method of describing land.

Metes

Distances.

Bounds

Boundaries.

Course

A bearing (degrees, minutes, seconds heading north, south, east, or west) or compass directions.

Point of Beginning

A survey with metes and bounds typically starts with a primary landmark.

Minute

1/60 of a degree.

Commencing Point

To use metes and bounds, there must be a place to start (not necessarily on the property itself, but often on the property description), usually a physical feature.

Point of beginning (POB)

Should be a corner on the property that is easily accessible and identifiable; It is the same as the commencing point if the feature is on the property too.

Description of the Land

Starts and ends at the same point, the Point of Beginning (POB), and must travel in a clockwise direction; must be a complete enclosure.

Survey

Plat.

Plat Map

A subdivision map; shows the detailed size and boundaries of each lot, easement, location of utilities, and streets; Each lot (parcel) has a lot number, a block number.

Block

Generally a group of contiguous lots bounded by streets.

Lot

An individual piece of land which is intended to be conveyed in its entirety to a buyer.

Boundary

The separation between contiguous lands.

Boundary Marker

A natural or artificial object that marks on the ground the line of separation of contiguous lands.

Compromise

If the boundary is fixed by agreement (extrajudicially).

Acre

208.7 feet by 208.7 feet or 43,560 square feet

Mile

5,280 feet