Surveying

Land Surveying in the State of Indiana is regulated by the Board of Registration for Professional Land Surveyors per Title 865 IAC, which defines a specific process for surveyors to follow. Surveys begin with research and evaluations of recorded documents. Surveyors then proceed to the site and perform a reconnaissance of the area for evidence. All surveys are based upon the evidence found either through field determination and research of historical documents. The evidence is gathered and evaluated to locate the boundaries of the property, taking into account all local, state, and federal laws as well as court precedents. Many times extrinsic evidence and testimony is required to ascertain the true location of boundary lines. Boundary lines may differ from the title lines as a result of unwritten title rights such as Adverse Possession, Acquiescence, Estopel, etc.

The final published survey is required to have a plat of survey and a surveyor’s report. The plat depicts those items required per the surveyor’s codes and laws and the client’s specifications for the type or classification of the survey. A surveyor’s report is required to accompany the plat which defines and explains the results and theory of the location of the property. It allows the survey to provide an opinion of the evidence and how it was evaluated and amended to the laws and precedents of the courts.