Texas Surveyors Practice Exam

In private land conveyances, seniority is determined by which factor?

1. Date of survey

2. Date of delivery or conveyance

3. Date of recording

4. Date of purchase agreement

The correct answer is: Date of delivery or conveyance

In private land conveyances, seniority is determined primarily by the date of delivery or conveyance. This emphasizes the importance of the actual transfer of ownership from one party to another. The date when the deed is executed and delivered signifies the official transition of property rights, establishing priority over subsequent transfers or claims. While the date of survey, date of recording, and date of purchase agreement hold significance in various legal contexts, they do not dictate the order of seniority in ownership. The date of survey is related to the mapping and description of the property, and the date of recording refers to when the deed is officially filed with the appropriate government office, which can affect public notice but not necessarily ownership priority. The date of purchase agreement may signify when a buyer and seller reached a consensus, but it does not constitute the actual transfer of property; therefore, it cannot establish seniority. Thus, the date of delivery or conveyance is the key factor in determining seniority, as it reflects when the ownership has formally changed hands.