Texas Surveyors Practice Exam

What legal principle governs the presumed ownership of land without description?

1. Adverse possession

2. Strips and Gore Doctrine

3. Land grant law

4. Easement by implication

The correct answer is: Strips and Gore Doctrine

The Strips and Gore Doctrine is the legal principle that addresses the presumed ownership of land that lacks a clear description in property documents, particularly when boundaries are determined by natural features or prior conveyances. This doctrine comes into play often in cases where property lines are ambiguous or unintentionally altered, such as when the ownership of land adjacent to a roadway or waterway changes due to natural erosion or deposition. In this context, the Strips and Gore Doctrine allows for the determination of ownership rights based on the historical use and possession of the land, as well as established boundaries that may not be specifically outlined in legal terminology. This principle ensures that property owners have some measure of security and recognition of their land rights, even when formal descriptions may be lacking. Adverse possession refers to acquiring title to land through continuous and exclusive use over a specified period, which, while relevant in property law, does not pertain to the presumption of land ownership without description. Land grant law focuses on the allocation of land through official grants, typically requiring a description for legal ownership to be established. Easement by implication concerns rights of use over the property that are presumed due to prior circumstances but does not directly address the ownership of land itself.