PA Specific

Real Estate

4.23

Legal Descriptions, Title Insurance, and Surveys in Pennsylvania Real Estate Transactions

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
New York CLE Approved 7 Total
Pennsylvania CLE Approved 6 Total
OnDemand
5 hours 59 minutes
Jeffrey Morris
Rebecca Bowman
D. Robert Davidson
With Jeffrey T. Morris from The Law Offices of Jeffrey T. Morris + 2 others
Recorded August 29, 2024
Product ID 98588

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Overview

Identify and Fix Discrepancies That Arise During Real Estate Transactions

Inaccurate descriptions, inconsistent and conflicting surveys, convoluted plat map designations, confusing historical record issues, and unrecorded easements can pop up at any time during real estate transactions. Are you prepared? In this online seminar, you'll gain real-world insight from veteran attorneys who have worked in the field, have hands-on experience, and know what challenges you'll face. Filled with examples and sample documents, faculty will teach you how to review, analyze and interpret surveys, maps, records, and descriptions in plain English. Gain the technical skills you need to catch errors and handle them before they spiral out of control - register today!

  • Dig into state and ALTA/NSPS land title survey standards and compliance.
  • Discover exactly what you need to be looking for in maps and survey reports.
  • Gain insight on how to reconstruct events from a century ago.
  • Walk through title insurance commitment exclusions, exceptions, and endorsements.
  • Spot and resolve legal descriptions that don't close.
  • Confidently cross-read the survey and title commitment.
  • Learn how to prove/disprove non-recorded easements.

Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Surveying Skills for the Real Estate Attorney
  2. The Art and Science of Reconstructing Events from a Century Ago
  3. Title Insurance Dissection - Real-World Examples
  4. Cross-Reading Title Reports and Surveys; Title Objections
  5. Handling Complex Boundary, Easement, and Encroachment Issues
  6. Legal Descriptions That Don't Close
  7. Legal Ethics

Related Topics

Product ID 98588

Credit Details

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
New York CLE Approved 7 Total
Pennsylvania CLE Approved 6 Total
Select Jurisdiction
CLE

Agenda

All times are shown in

  1. Surveying Skills for the Real Estate Attorney

    1. State Surveying Standards
    2. ALTA/NSPS Survey Standards and Compliance
    3. Types of Surveys and How to Read Them
    4. Preparation of the Boundary Survey
    5. Survey Review, Issues, and the Impact on Title
    6. Inaccurate/Incomplete and Conflicting Surveys and Surveyor Reports
    7. Meander Lines and Related Boundaries
    8. Compensating/Adjusting Missing Markers and References That Don't Match
    9. Changed Physical Feature Issues
    10. Zoning Restrictions
    11. Environmental Issues on Surveys

  2. The Art and Science of Reconstructing Events from a Century Ago

    1. Obtaining Historical Maps, Records, and Documents
    2. Working With Vague, Ancient Documents
      1. Land Patents
      2. Survey Plats and Field Notes
      3. Land Status Records (Master Title Plats, Use Plats, Historical Indices, and Supplemental Plats)
      4. Complex and Confusing Historical Land Records (With Examples)

  3. Title Insurance Dissection - Real-World Examples

    1. Title Standards
    2. Marketable Title vs. Insurable Title
    3. The Title Insurance Commitment and Policy
    4. Insurance Coverage Expectations
    5. Title Insurance Exclusions and Exceptions
    6. Title Endorsements
    7. Recognizing and Curing Title Defects
    8. Effect of Warranty Deed

  4. Cross-Reading Title Reports and Surveys; Title Objections

    1. Survey Coverage, and the Relationship Between Title Insurance and Survey Coverage
    2. Cross-Reading Surveys, Legal Descriptions, and Title Commitments
    3. Title Objections: When They Should and Shouldn't be Made
    4. Title and Survey Objection Letters (With Sample)

  5. Handling Complex Boundary, Easement, and Encroachment Issues

    1. Encroachment and Adverse Possession Issues
    2. What to do When Buildings and Fences are not Right
    3. How to Prove/Disprove Non-Recorded Easements
    4. Implied, Prescriptive, and Easements by Estoppel
    5. Terminating Existing Easements
    6. Boundary Line Adjustments and Agreements

  6. Legal Descriptions That Don't Close

    1. Types and Review - Metes and Bounds
    2. Bad Descriptions; Missing Calls; Typos that Get Passed from Deed to Deed; Typographical Errors; Vague and Inaccurate Documents
    3. Resolving Conflicting Legal Descriptions
    4. Discrepancies Between Legal Description in Mortgage and as Assessed by the Municipality
    5. The Inappropriate Use of Tax Parcels as Legal Descriptions
    6. Legal Descriptions in Foreclosure Proceedings and Defects as They Affect Bankruptcy
    7. Scrivener's Affidavit or Corrective Deed?

  7. Legal Ethics

    1. Conflicts of Interest
    2. Disclosure of Defects in Property
    3. Liability in Title Examinations
    4. Attorneys' Fees

Who Should Attend

This basic-to-intermediate level online seminar will benefit:

  • Attorneys
  • Real Estate Professionals
  • Surveyors
  • Zoning, Land Use, and Planning Professionals
  • Title Agents and Underwriters
  • Property Appraisers and Assessors
  • Bankers and Loan Officers
  • Paralegals

Speakers

Jeffrey T Morris
Jeffrey T.
Morris
The Law Offices of Jeffrey T. Morris
Rebecca A Bowman
Rebecca A.
Bowman
Rebecca A. Bowman, P.E.
D. Robert Davidson
D. Robert
Davidson
Hummel, Lewis & Davidson, LLP
Speaker bio
Jeffrey T Morris

Jeffrey T. Morris

The Law Offices of Jeffrey T. Morris
Jeffrey Morris

is an attorney with The Law Offices of Jeffrey T. Morris, where he practices in the areas of zoning, construction, and business and commercial litigation matters. He represents lenders in state, federal and bankruptcy courts, as well as corporate, transactional and construction litigation matters. Mr. Morris is a member of the Pennsylvania, Allegheny (member, Construction Dispute Resolution Group) and American bar associations, as well as the American Arbitration Association (Commercial Arbitration Panel). He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Mr. Morris earned his B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Pittsburgh and his J.D. degree, cum laude, from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

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Speaker bio
Rebecca A Bowman

Rebecca A. Bowman

Rebecca A. Bowman, P.E.
Rebecca Bowman

ESQ., P.E., D.F.E is the principal of Rebecca A. Bowman, P.E. She focuses her practice in estate planning and administration, guardianship and conservatorship, as well as real estate. Mrs. Bowman is a certified arbitrator and mediator, and a registered professional engineer. She is a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, American Arbitration Association, and the American Bar Association; and is a long-time columnist on risk management for the PE Reporter. Mrs. Bowman earned her B.S. degree in civil structural of engineering degree from the University of North Dakota, her M.B.A. degree from Oklahoma University and her J.D. degree from Duquesne University School of Law. She was recently named the senior director for Ethics and Professional Responsibility for the National Society of Professional Engineers.

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Speaker bio
D. Robert Davidson

D. Robert Davidson

Hummel, Lewis & Davidson, LLP
D. Robert Davidson

is an attorney with Hummel, Lewis & Davidson, LLP, where his practice emphasizes real estate, boundary disputes and land use. He served as corporate counsel for AgChoice Farm Credit, an Agricultural Credit Association where he provided legal support to Pennsylvania's largest agricultural lender. Mr. Davidson served as special assistant to the Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture, and chief of land use and natural resources for the Department of Agriculture where he worked with the permitting of agricultural facilities, Right to Farm and ACRE laws, and the state's Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program. He represented the department on the State Planning Board, Transportation Advisory Committee, Interagency Land Use Committee and Statewide Water Resources Committee. Prior to joining the department, Mr. Davidson worked in zoning, planning and code enforcement for rural local government, and as a surveyor and project manager for a civil engineering firm. He is a Pennsylvania resident title insurance agent, Pennsylvania sewage enforcement officer (SEO) and Pennsylvania licensed land surveyor (PLS). Mr. Davidson earned his B.A. degree in land use planning from Bloomsburg University and his J.D. degree from Widener University School of Law.

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