Which of the following is an example of a metes and bounds description?

A metes and bounds description is a method of describing land by setting forth all the boundary lines with their terminal points and angles. It starts at a specific "point of beginning" (POB), often marked by a monument (e.g., an iron pin, a tree), and then describes the perimeter of the parcel using distances ("metes") and directions ("bounds") from one point to the next, ultimately returning to the POB. Option B clearly illustrates this by starting at a monument ("iron pin"), referencing another monument ("brook"), and using a direction ("Southwesterly").

A. This is a street address, which is an informal locator but not a legally sufficient description for transferring title to real property.

C. This is an example of a lot and block (or recorded plat) description, which identifies property by its lot and block number on a publicly recorded subdivision map.

D. This is a description from the Rectangular (Government) Survey System, which describes land by reference to a grid of sections, townships, and ranges.

1. Kurtz, S. F., & Hovenkamp, H. (2021). Moynihan's Introduction to the Law of Real Property (6th ed.). West Academic Publishing. Chapter 11, Section 3, "The Land to be Conveyed," discusses the various methods of land description, defining metes and bounds as a sequence of directed distances that trace the boundary of a parcel.

2. Maryland Code, Real Property Article, § 3-101 ("Requisites of a deed"). This statute requires that a deed contain a description of the property sufficient to identify it with reasonable certainty. The metes and bounds system is a primary method used in Maryland to satisfy this requirement for irregularly shaped parcels.

3. Sprankling, J. G. (2021). Understanding Property Law (5th ed.). Carolina Academic Press. Chapter 21, Section B.2, "Land Description," explains the three main systems, noting that the metes and bounds system is the oldest and is used to describe irregularly shaped parcels, often referencing monuments, courses (directions), and distances.