Legal descriptions and records0 answersAI answer
Need a quick refresher on how to weigh monuments, distances and bearings.
Asked October 25, 2026
AI answer · not yet verified by a surveyor
A common general order of priority is below, though it varies by state and court decisions [1]:
- Rights of possession and senior rights.
- Natural monuments: rivers, ridges, trees.
- Artificial monuments: pins, stones, marked lines.
- Adjoiners: calls to neighboring parcels.
- Bearings or directions, and distances, with jurisdictions differing on which comes first.
- Area, usually given the least weight.
Important caveats:
- These are guides to finding the original intent, not rigid rules.
- Courts can depart from the order when the evidence shows clear intent.
- PLSS states have specific rules for restoring lost and obliterated corners.
When the stakes are high, document how you weighed the evidence, and consult your state's case law and board rules.
General information only. Answers here are not a survey or legal advice, and no one here can tell you where your boundary is. For your property, hire a licensed land surveyor in your state; for legal questions, a real-estate attorney.