From Legal Description to
CAD & GIS Linework
A complete walkthrough of Legal-Plot — from uploading your first description to downloading finished deliverables.
- 01
Sign in & open the Workspace
Create a free account or sign in with Google
Go to legal-plot.com and sign in. Once logged in, navigate to the Workspace from the top navigation bar. Every new session starts on the Input tab.
- Credits never expire — buy once, use whenever you need.
- Your credit balance works across all three products in the suite (legal-plot, alta-plot, glofieldnotes).
- 02
Enter your legal description
Paste text or upload a PDF, DOCX, or TXT file
You have two options on the Input tab. Paste the description text directly into the text area, or drop a document file onto the upload zone. For complex multi-page title documents, use the AI Document Processor — it runs OCR, classifies the document, and extracts all plottable descriptions automatically.
AI Document ProcessorHandles OCR → Classification → Extraction automatically. A status dialog shows live progress through each stage.
- Plain text or copy-paste from Word works great for single descriptions.
- For scanned PDFs or title packages with multiple descriptions, use the AI Document Processor (purple panel) — it handles OCR automatically.
- The system recognizes PARCEL 1, TRACT A, EXHIBIT A, LOT 1 headers and will plot each independently.
- 03
Click Analyze & Plot
The engine parses calls and computes the traverse
Hit the blue Analyze & Plot button. The parser reads every bearing, distance, curve, and PLSS reference from your description text. It computes the COGO traverse, calculates misclosure, and builds the polygon geometry.
- The parser handles both N 45°30'00" E and N45-30-00E notation styles.
- Curves are supported — radius, delta angle, and chord bearing.
- Auto-POB: the app reads the PLSS corner named at the start of the description and looks it up in the BLM GCDB database to geo-locate the parcel automatically.
Parse bearings & distancesDetect PLSS cornersCompute traversePlace Point of Beginning - 04
Review the Map
Your parcel plotted on a real-world basemap
Switch to the Map tab to see the plotted parcel overlaid on a satellite or topo basemap. The Point of Beginning is marked, and the traverse is drawn to scale. You can drag the POB to manually reposition the parcel if the automatic georeferencing needs adjustment.
- The map uses real PLSS corner coordinates from BLM's GCDB database — not estimated positions.
- For multi-description plots, each parcel is shown in a different color.
- Use the drag handle on the POB pin to manually correct the position when needed.
Satellite & topo basemapsPOB marker — drag to repositionMulti-parcel overlaysAuto-georeferenced to PLSS - 05
Check the Results
Closure analysis, area, and precision ratio
The Results tab gives you the full closure analysis: misclosure distance and bearing, precision ratio, perimeter, and computed area. A well-written legal description should close to 1:10,000 or better.
- A precision of 1:5,000 or better is typical for deed descriptions. Survey-grade is 1:20,000+.
- Large misclosure usually means a typo in a bearing or distance — use the Edit tab to compare calls.
- Area is computed from the adjusted traverse, not the raw calls.
Misclosure distance & bearingPrecision ratio (e.g., 1:50,000)Perimeter & area (acres / sq ft)Per-call table with adjusted coords - 06
Download your deliverables
DXF, KML, GeoJSON, and PDF closure sheet
The Download tab gives you every output format in one click. DXF works directly in AutoCAD, Civil 3D, or MicroStation. KML opens in Google Earth. GeoJSON works in QGIS, ArcGIS, and any web GIS platform. The PDF closure sheet is formatted for filing or client delivery.
DXF (AutoCAD R12 & Paper Space)Linework with layer names, bearings, distances
KMLOpens in Google Earth, ArcGIS Online
GeoJSONFor QGIS, web maps, any GIS platform
PDF Closure SheetFormatted report with traverse table and closure summary
- The DXF includes both a line-table version and a paper-space version with title block.
- KML and GeoJSON use WGS84 (EPSG:4326) coordinates.
- The PDF closure sheet is formatted to match standard survey report conventions.
Starter Pack ($25) gives 25 credits — one credit per description. All output formats included.
Output Deliverables
Every credit includes all four output formats.
R12 line file with bearing & distance labels, plus a paper-space layout with title block. Opens in any CAD platform.
Polygon and linework in WGS84. Drag and drop into Google Earth or upload to ArcGIS Online.
Standard GeoJSON with parcel metadata. Compatible with QGIS, Mapbox, Leaflet, and any modern GIS platform.
Formatted closure report with traverse table, misclosure summary, area, and precision ratio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from surveyors, attorneys, and title professionals.
Metes and bounds descriptions with bearings and distances, including curves (radius + delta or radius + arc length). Township-Range-Section aliquot part descriptions (e.g., NW¼ of SW¼) are identified as PLSS context but not independently plotted as polygon descriptions.
The parser reads the PLSS corner named at the very beginning of the description (e.g., "the NW corner of Section 14, T2N, R3E") and looks up its actual coordinates in the BLM GCDB (Geographic Coordinate Data Base). That point becomes the Point of Beginning, automatically placing your parcel in real-world space.
Legal-Plot falls back to a hierarchy: it tries BLM GCDB lookup, then arithmetic from adjacent PLSS corners, then polygon centroid of the section. If none of those work, you can drag the POB pin on the Map tab to manually position the parcel.
Yes. Upload a multi-description PDF through the AI Document Processor. It extracts each description (Parcel 1, Parcel 2, Easement A, etc.) and plots them as independent overlapping polygons with separate closure sheets.
One credit per legal description processed. Credits never expire. Starter Pack is $25 for 25 credits ($1.00 each). Pro Pack is $100 for 200 credits ($0.50 each). All output formats (DXF, KML, GeoJSON, PDF) are included in the single credit cost.