Detailed Answer
If you and a sibling jointly own land and need the property’s boundaries, easements, or topography established, the usual path is to hire a licensed Ohio land surveyor to perform a boundary or other appropriate survey. A proper survey clarifies property lines, locates corner monuments, identifies encroachments, and produces a legal description and drawing you can record with the county.
Step-by-step: How to arrange the survey
- Agree on the purpose and scope. Decide whether you need a boundary survey (to establish property lines), an ALTA/land-title survey (for lenders or sale), a topographic survey (for building), or a combination. The scope affects cost and time.
- Gather documents and parcel info. Collect deeds, plats, title commitments (if available), the county parcel/tax ID, and any recorded plats or easements. Provide these to the surveyor to speed research.
- Hire a licensed Ohio surveyor. Ohio regulates land surveyors under the Ohio Revised Code. Use a surveyor licensed in Ohio and ask for references and examples of similar work. You can review ORC Chapter 4733 for laws governing surveyors: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/chapter/4733
- Get written proposals. Ask several surveyors for a written scope, timeline, deliverables (digital/printed plats, stamped legal description, monumentation), and total cost. Confirm whether the price includes stake resetting, travel, research time, and recording fees.
- Resolve access and permission. If either co-owner or a neighboring owner objects to access, discuss access routes and written permission to enter adjacent parcels. A surveyor will need to perform fieldwork on and around the property.
- Authorize and schedule the work. Once you and your sibling approve a proposal, sign the engagement and arrange payment. Many surveyors require a deposit with final payment on delivery.
- Receive and record the survey. The surveyor will deliver a stamped and signed plat or drawing and a written description. Review it carefully. If you want the record of corners and description preserved, record the survey or deed amendment with the county recorder.
What if your sibling won’t cooperate?
If one co-owner refuses to participate or pay, you still have options. You can attempt mediation or negotiation. If that fails, Ohio law provides judicial remedies such as a partition action to divide or sell jointly owned property. See Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5307 for partition procedures: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/chapter/5307
A court in a partition case can order a survey or appoint a commissioner to evaluate and divide the property. If the issue is title or boundary uncertainty, a quiet-title or declaratory-judgment action may also be appropriate; an attorney can advise whether those remedies fit your situation.
What to expect: cost and timeline
- Typical cost: Varies widely. Small, simple residential boundary surveys often start in the low hundreds to low thousands; larger parcels, complex research, or ALTA surveys cost more. Ask surveyors for an itemized estimate.
- Typical timeline: Research and fieldwork often take from a few days to several weeks. Complex or rural properties can take longer.
- Deliverables: A stamped survey/plat, legal description, and marked corner monuments (if requested).
Records and authorities to check
- County recorder’s office: for deeds, plats, easements, and recorded surveys.
- County auditor or GIS mapping website: for parcel outlines and tax parcel ID.
- Ohio Revised Code chapters relevant to surveys and remedies: Chapter 4733 (professional surveyor regulation) https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/chapter/4733 and Chapter 5307 (partition actions) https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/chapter/5307
Helpful Hints
- Talk openly with your sibling about purpose and cost splitting before hiring anyone. A written agreement avoids misunderstandings.
- Hire a surveyor licensed in Ohio. Ask for their registration number and professional liability insurance.
- Request copies of all public-record documents the surveyor used (deeds, plats, easements) so both co-owners can review them.
- Ask if the surveyor will mark corners with durable monuments (pins, iron rods, concrete) and whether the quote includes resetting old monuments.
- If you anticipate a dispute, get estimates for both a simple boundary survey and a more detailed ALTA or legal survey used in litigation.
- Retain copies of the final survey with your title documents and consider recording it with the county recorder so future buyers or lenders see the established boundary.
- If cooperation breaks down, consult a real estate attorney early. Ohio’s partition statute (see Chapter 5307) outlines court-supervised options to divide or sell jointly owned land: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/chapter/5307
Disclaimer: This article provides general information about arranging a property survey in Ohio. It is not legal advice. For questions about rights, litigation, or specific disputes with a co-owner, consult a licensed Ohio attorney or a licensed Ohio surveyor.