A boundary is every separation, natural or artificial, which marks the confines or line of division of two contiguous parcels of land.

The boundaries of any property are generally established by:

• The boundaries of adjoiners.
  
  
• Metes and bounds.
  
  
• Natural objects or monuments.
  
  
• Artificial objects or monuments.
  
  
• Reference to recorded subdivision map or recorded plat.
  
  
• Reference to recorded instruments.
  
  
• Street address.

Note: We generally do not rely on the street address as an adequate basis for insuring purposes. The Short Form Mortgagee Policy T-2R adopted for use 4-4-02 does not use a legal description of the land, but insures the property address as shown on the deed of trust and provided by the lender.

As a basis for insurable legal descriptions

In this respect, the boundaries of the property must be:

• Definite
  
  
• Identifiable
  
  
• Locatable

As a reminder that certain exceptions need to be shown in regard to the quality or location of said boundaries:

The following boundary issues require additional treatment and are discussed elsewhere in this manual. For detailed discussion reference:

• Alleys
  
  
• Boundaries established by recorded agreements
  
  
• Cemeteries established by recorded agreements
  
  
• Highways, roads, and streets
  
  
• Monuments: Natural and artificial
  
  
• Party walls
  
  
• Plats of subdivisions
  
  
• Railroad rights-of-way
  
  
• Vacated alleys and streets
  
  
• Water boundaries:
  
  
  • Bayous
    
    
  • Bays
    
    
  • Lakes (private)
    
    
  • Lakes (public)
    
    
  • Oceans
    
    
  • Rivers (navigable)
    
    
  • Rivers (nonnavigable)
    
    
  • Sloughs

As a source of additional title insurance problems in connection with:

• Access
  
  
• Accretions
  
  
• Avulsions
  
  
• Boundary line disputes
  
  
• Contiguity Insurance (survey required)
  
  
• Encroachments
  
  
• Gaps
  
  
• Overlaps
  
  
• Relictions