What is the primary purpose of a retracement survey?

The primary purpose of a retracement survey is to trace previous property lines. This type of survey is essential when determining the original boundaries of a parcel of land. A retracement survey involves reviewing existing records, historical data, and previous deeds to accurately relocate the original boundaries established during earlier surveys. This process helps to clarify existing disputes, verify the correctness of current property lines, and ensure that landowners have a clear understanding of their property’s limits.

In the context of land surveying, accurately retracing property lines is crucial for resolving boundary disputes and establishing legal rights to land. This function is not to create new boundaries or change existing ones, but rather to reinforce and confirm the previously established lines that delineate property ownership. The findings of a retracement survey can serve as a foundation for any future boundary negotiations or modifications and provide valuable insight into the legal standing of a property.

While creating legal descriptions of land and assessing land value are important aspects of surveying, they are not the primary focus of a retracement survey, which is specifically concerned with reiterating previously established boundaries.