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Although part of nearly all real estate transactions, the land survey is one of the least understood elements. Bringing together experts in commercial real estate law, title insurance, surveying, civil engineering, and lending, this is a clearly written explanation of all aspects of land surveys.
List of contents
Table of Contents Biographies
TheEditor
TheAuthors
Preface
PART I ¿ Land Surveys: An Introduction Chapter1: What Every Lawyer Should Know About Title Surveys
Chapter2: What to Look for When Examining a Survey Map
Chapter3: Advanced Survey Examination Issues
PART II ¿ Certifications and Codes ofPractice Chapter4: Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for ALTA/ACSM Land Title Surveys
Chapter5: The 2011 ALTA/ACSM Land Title Survey Standards
Chapter6: The Annotated Surveyor's Certificate
Chapter7: Certification from a Surveyor's Point of View
Chapter8: A Code for Title Insurers
Chapter9: Surveys and Title Insurance
Chapter10: The Surveyor as Expert Witness
Chapter11: The Surveyor's Role in Boundary Disputes
Chapter12: Surveying's Legal Body of Knowledge
Chapter13: Surveying Services
Chapter14: Coordinating Land Surveys in Multiple Jurisdictions
Chapter15: Reading, Interpreting, and Writing Land Descriptions
Chapter16: A Guide to Gaps and Overlaps in Legal Descriptions
Chapter17: Center of Section¿Center of Controversy?
Chapter18: Record Research: Paper versus Ground Truth
Chapter19: Locating Utility Easements in New York State: A Detailed Analysis
Chapter20: Uncertainties in Boundary Locations
Chapter21: Aerial Photography in the Land Development Process: Understanding
Chapter22: National Flood Insurance Program: Floodplain Management and RegulatoryBasics for Land Development
Chapter23: Licensure and Responsibilities of Land Surveyors
Chapter24: Ethical Considerations for the Professional Surveyor
Chapter25: Possible Surveyor Liability Relating to Tree Encroachments
Chapter27: When Is a Rod Not 16.5 Feet? (More Times than Not)
Index
About the author
Edited by Mitchell G. Williams
Summary
Complete and accurate land surveys are of fundamental importance in nearly all real estate transfers, yet they are one of the least understood elements in the transaction. Land Surveys: A Guide for Lawyers and Other Professionals provides practical guidance from experts in all related fields, including real estate law, title insurance, surveying, civil engineering, and real estate lending.
Well-written and thorough in its coverage, this book discusses the most important aspects of land surveys and how to understand and use them in real estate transactions. It covers all key elements that are critical to the effective and knowledgeable use of surveys, starting with why a survey is needed and progressing to the more complex aspects of selecting a surveyor, understanding the qualification and certification process, and knowing what to expect from the survey and survey certificate. This updated dition of Land Surveys addresses recent critical developments in the area, including ALTA/ACSM Land Title Survey requirements, the 2006 changes to the ALTA forms of title insurance, and the significant advances in surveying technology, particularly in the Global Positioning System (GPS) which allows greater precision in measurement at a lower cost.
Among the thirteen new chapters are an analysis of the 2011 ALTA/ACSM minimum survey standards coauthored by the chairman of the Liaison Committee that drafted them, the role of aerial photography in surveying, the National Flood Insurance Program, and "how-to" articles on reviewing survey maps. Among the areas covered are:
- What is a land survey and what to look for in a survey map
- Minimum standard requirements
- Certification and codes of practice
- The relationship between surveys and title insurance
- The surveyor as expert witness
- Reading, interpreting, and writing land descriptions
- Licensure, responsibilities, and ethical considerations
- Technological change and its impact on surveying and real estate development
