Alabama § 40-7-16 - How Real Estate May Be Described.

§ 40-7-16. How Real Estate May Be Described.

The description of real estate may be as follows:

(1) If it is an entire section, it may be described by the number of the section, township, and range.

(2) If it is a subdivision of a section authorized by the United States for the sale of public lands, it may be described by a designation of such subdivision, with the number of section, township, and range.

(3) If it is less or other than a subdivision, it may be described by metes and bounds, or in some way by which it may be known; provided, that such description shall be sufficient without more to definitely locate and identify the property so listed and shall give the acreage included therein as nearly as known.

(4) If it is in a city, town, or village, surveyed and laid off, and a plat thereof is recorded in the office of the judge of probate of the county, or if a plat is accessible and if it is as a whole lot or block, it shall be described by the designation of the number thereof.

(5) If it is in a part of a whole lot or block, it may be described by metes and bounds, or in some other way by which it may be known; provided, that such description shall be sufficient without more to definitely locate and identify the property so listed and shall show the quantity of such land so listed.

(6) If it is a tract of which the subdivision is not known to the assessor it may be described by metes and bounds, or in some way by which it may be known; provided, that such description shall be sufficient without more to definitely locate and identify the property so listed and shall show the quantity of such land so listed.

(7) It shall be sufficient to describe lands to be assessed or sold for taxes by initials, abbreviations, and figures.

(8) Mineral, coal, oil, gas, timber, and turpentine interests, when they have been so severed in ownership from the soil, or trees, by sale, or otherwise, shall be separately returned for assessment, which return shall show the land in or on which said mineral, coal, oil, gas, timber, and turpentine, interest is located.

(9) If the surface right only is assessed for taxation, the description of the land may be preceded or followed by the letters S.R., and if the mineral interest only is assessed, the description of the land may be preceded or followed by the letters M.R., or other notation showing the nature of the interest assessed and giving the acreage in or on which such right or rights is or are located.