I also seem to remember some surveyor getting into trouble by showing some document that was not in the Title Comm. But he didn't find something else that affected the property, but showed the first additional information he found. Seem to remember the judge said "if you researched this yourself, why didn't you show the missing document" The prsumption was that he should have found it.
I know it crazy, but anything can happen in court.
Survey,
In Texas, we have to perform all kinds of research that goes way beyond the Title Commitment. For example, the first rule of Boundary Construction (663.16) in our "General Rules of Procedures and Practices" mandates we "respect junior/senior rights..."
I never get a Title Commitment that lists the deeds that created the junior/senior rights for each line of the project tract(s). I usually do that myself or hire someone if it is a large tract with more that 3 or 4 adjoiners. This always seems to be the most costly part of all research.
With the exception of ALTA's, we tend to focus on the boundaries and only the boundaries. I understand that in different places different things are normally shown on most surveys. That's great. It must help run up some very nice invoices for services rendered. There is nothing wrong with that.
I was at a program listening to Knud H. once upon a time and he started showing examples of proper surveys. Pretty much everyone in the room looked around at one another and asked "Have you ever added the detail that the mail box post for your property existed, let alone note that it was encroaching on the county road right-of-way AND on the other side of the section line?" Given a choice, everyone would put it within arm's reach of the most commonly used door in the house, but, the USPS doesn't give you a choice in the matter. You put it where they tell you to put it.
