Legal descriptions and records0 answersAI answer
Starting research on a rural tract with a long chain of title. What sources do you check?
Asked October 25, 2026
AI answer · not yet verified by a surveyor
Common sources, depending on the state [1]:
- County recorder or register of deeds: deeds, plats, easements and surveys of record.
- County surveyor or engineer: corner records, survey filings and road plans.
- State archives: older field notes, government land office records, and early road and railroad maps.
- BLM General Land Office records, for PLSS states: original township plats and field notes.
- State DOT: right-of-way plans and control.
- Utilities and railroads: right-of-way maps.
- Other surveyors: many firms share or sell historical records. Professional societies can help connect you.
- Title companies: chain-of-title reports.
Keep a research log of sources and dates. It speeds up the field work and supports your conclusions.
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.