Glossary of Terms
A legal description is a formal, standardized written identification of a property's exact boundaries and location, used in deeds, contracts and other official documents to distinguish it from every other parcel of land. It carries legal authority that a street address alone cannot provide.
Common formats include metes and bounds, which traces boundary lines using directions and distances; lot and block, which references a recorded subdivision plat; and the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), used primarily in rural and western U.S. markets. The appropriate format depends on location and how the land was originally surveyed and recorded.
In transactions, an accurate legal description is essential to a clean title transfer and is required on all mortgage documents. Appraisers reference the legal description to confirm they are valuing the correct parcel, particularly on properties with multiple lots or irregular boundaries. Discrepancies between the legal description and physical property characteristics should be resolved before closing.