Metes-and-Bounds

In Illinois: Metes-and-bounds descriptions are used in Illinois when describing irregular tracts, portions of a recorded lot, or fractions of a section. Such descriptions always incorporate the rectangular survey method and refer to the section, township, range, and principal meridian of the land.

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Method relies on property's physical features to determine the boundaries and measuraments of a parcel.

A metes-and-bounds description always starts at a designated place on the parcel called the point of beginning (POB) From there, the surveyor proceeds around the property's boundaries. The boundaries are recorded by referring to linear measurements, natural and arti cial landmarks (called monuments), and directions. A metes-and-bounds description always ends back at the POB so that the tract being described is completely enclosed.

Monuments are fixed objects used to identify the POB, the ends of boundary segments, or the location of intersecting boundaries.

A monument may be a natural object, such as a large tree, lake, or stream. It may also be a man-made object, such as a street, highway, fence, canal, or markers (iron pins or concrete posts) placed by surveyors.

What does mete mean, and what does bounds mean?

Mete means distance, bounds means compass directions or angles

monuments takes precedence over any linear measurements in the description.

Metes-and-bounds descriptions can be complex and should be hadnled with extreme car.