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 every product in the Plot family (legal-plot, corner-plot, alta-plot, fema-plot, pdf-plot, topo-plot, glo-plot).
- 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
Inspect corners in Street View
See each property corner on the ground — with historical imagery
Open the Street View tab. For every geo-located boundary corner, Legal-Plot pulls up Google Street View aimed right at the corner's position, and lets you step back through past imagery dates. Scan for surveyor's lath, flagging, paint marks, fence posts, and visible monuments without leaving your desk.
- Because the corners are geo-located, the camera points straight at each corner position.
- Step through past imagery dates to see how a corner looked over the years.
- Look for orange surveyor's lath, flag tape, paint marks, and fence posts with flagging.
- A badge shows how many corners have Street View coverage; distances are shown in feet.
Street View at every cornerCamera aimed at the cornerMulti-year historical imagerySpot lath, flagging & monuments - 06
Check the Results
Closure analysis, area, and misclosure distance
The Results tab gives you the full closure analysis: misclosure distance in feet and bearing, perimeter, and computed area. A well-written legal description will show a small misclosure — typically under 1 foot for survey-grade descriptions.
- Misclosure is reported in feet — smaller is better. Survey-grade descriptions typically close within a fraction of a foot.
- 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 & bearingClosure check (pass / fail)Perimeter & area (acres / sq ft)Per-call table with adjusted coords - 07
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 — 1 credit for 1–5 descriptions, 2 for 6–10, 3 for 11–20. All output formats included. - 08
Send straight to your CAD drawing
Instant CAD linework and text — no file import
With the free Legal-Plot Bridge plugin loaded in AutoCAD, Civil 3D, or Carlson, the Download tab pushes results directly into your active drawing. Click Send to Drawing to drop the closed boundary into model space at its true State Plane coordinates, and Send Legal Header to place the composed legal description as paper-space text on your sheet — no download, no import dialog.
- A green status dot in the Download tab confirms the bridge is connected.
- Linework lands at real State Plane coordinates — use Zoom Extents to find it.
- The setup guide (PDF) walks through loading the plugin for your CAD version.
Send to Drawing — no file importLinework at true State Plane coordinatesLegal header to paper spaceAutoCAD · Civil 3D · Carlson
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 distance in feet, area, and geolocation summary.
Reading the Status Indicators
Five badges above every result show, at a glance, exactly what the engine resolved.
Point of Beginning anchored to the controlling BLM CadNSDI corner coordinate.
Basis of Bearings aligned to the State Plane Coordinate System grid.
Parcel placed in real-world State Plane coordinates.
The traverse closes within survey tolerance.
Google Street View imagery is available near the parcel corners.
A badge lights up when its check passes; a dim badge means that step did not resolve for the current description.
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.
Yes. After your parcel is geo-located, the Street View tab shows Google Street View aimed at each boundary corner along the perimeter — including past imagery dates. It's built to help you scan for surveyor's lath, flagging, paint marks, fence posts, and visible monuments before scheduling a field visit. A badge shows how many corners have Street View coverage, and distances are shown in feet.
Yes. Install the free Legal-Plot Bridge plugin, then click Send to Drawing on the Download tab. The closed boundary is drawn directly into your active AutoCAD, Civil 3D, or Carlson drawing at its true State Plane coordinates — no file download or import dialog. You can also send the composed legal header to paper space as text.
They summarize what the engine resolved for a description: POB — Point of Beginning anchored to the controlling BLM CadNSDI corner coordinate; BOB — Basis of Bearings aligned to the State Plane grid; GEO — parcel geo-located in State Plane coordinates; CLO — the traverse closes within tolerance; STV — Google Street View imagery is available near the corners. A badge lights up when its check passes.
Credits are charged per upload based on how many descriptions the document contains: 1–5 descriptions costs 1 credit, 6–10 costs 2 credits, 11–20 costs 3 credits. 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.