A metes and bounds description must contain which of the following?

• A. A point from which the description begins and ends (based on landmarks or monuments)
• B. A street address
• C. A plat map reference
• D. A legal lot number

Answer: (A)

Metes and bounds describe property by starting at a point of beginning and then tracing the boundary with directions, distances, and landmarks or monuments as reference points. The essential element is that the description begins at a point of beginning and returns to that same point, so the parcel can be located and the boundary can be reestablished on the ground. This close-together starting and ending point, often tied to a landmark like a tree, rock, or monument, is what makes the description legally usable for identifying the exact perimeter.

A street address isn’t enough for a legal boundary because it’s not a fixed, precise measurement and can change or be ambiguous. A plat map reference applies only when the parcel is part of a platted subdivision; metes and bounds are typically used for irregular parcels not described by a lot-and-block system. A legal lot number comes from a recorded plat, which isn’t necessary or applicable for a metes and bounds description that describes boundaries by lines, directions, and distances rather than by a recorded lot.