OC: Land-Ownership, Titles, Deeds and Descriptions

Comprehensive education in one’s chosen field is a necessity for all professionals. Continuing education and training are the backbone of professionalism as they allow the practitioner to refresh those areas of knowledge not utilized on a regular basis and to become familiar with new developments and advancements within their chosen field. Professional land surveyors are frequently required to express their professional opinion and render decisions on which land titles rights and the location of property boundaries are the central issue. In these situations, as with all aspects of surveying, the process of gathering and examining information, formulating, and rendering an opinion, then presenting the evidence in a clear and defensible manner is vital. As these decisions may result in litigation and involve judicial review, surveyors must look to statutes and case law for guidance. The materials in this course are designed to assist you, the professional surveyor, in the development of a thorough and knowledgeable approach to exercising your professional judgment.
To properly express professional judgment, in both public and private practice, the land surveyor must be familiar with the rules and regulations governing the practice of surveying in the area in which they are working, and also the legal principles, responsibilities and standards by which they and their work will ultimately be judged. These materials are intended to assist in this endeavor but should not be considered a substitute for sound research, peer review, and/or consultation with other professionals in a particular situation.
In this course we will examine the elements of ownership and conveyance of land, titles, deeds, descriptions and will touch briefly on easements and encumbrances.