Legal Descriptions

Legal Descriptions > Exam relevance: Legal descriptions appear on approximately 7% of the Illinois Real Estate Salesperson (Broker) exam and are tested almost every time — expect 2–4 questions directly on the three description methods, their components, and how to read or compare them. --- ## Why Legal Descriptions Matter A legal description is the precise, legally recognized way of identifying a specific parcel of real property. Unlike a street address (which can change and is not legally sufficient), a legal description uniquely identifies land in a way that is accepted in deeds, contracts, and court proceedings. The Illinois exam tests whether you can identify *which method is being used*, *what its components mean*, and *how to calculate acreage* in the government survey system. --- ## The Three Methods ### 1. Metes and Bounds Metes and bounds is the oldest description method and is used primarily in older states and for irregularly shaped parcels. It describes land by: - Point of Beginning (POB): A fixed, identifiable starting point on the parcel's boundary. - Metes: Distances (measurements) along each boundary line. - Bounds: Directions (compass bearings) and physical monuments (rivers, roads, iron pins). The description always *closes* — it must return to the exact Point of Beginning, enclosing the parcel completely. Example: *"Beginning at the iron pin at the northeast corner of Oak and Elm Streets; thence North 200 feet; thence East 150 feet; thence South 200 feet; thence West 150 feet to the Point of Beginning."* This traces a rectangle back to where it started. If a description doesn't close, it is defective. --- ### 2. Government (Rectangular) Survey System The government survey system — also called the **rectangular…