In property law, what is a monument?

In property law, a monument refers specifically to a fixed landmark that is used as a reference point in legal descriptions of land. Monuments can be natural or artificial and serve the critical role of providing precise and consistent points of reference when defining property boundaries. They are essential in surveying and property law because they help to identify the corners or boundaries of a property, ensuring clarity and preventing disputes over land ownership.

In terms of legal descriptions, monuments are particularly important because they can often carry more weight than just measurements or descriptions based solely on distance or direction. This significance arises from the principle that defining property lines based on visible, physical markers can reduce ambiguity and enhance the reliability of property descriptions. As a reliable reference point, a monument establishes a tangible link to the physical characteristics of the land surveyed.