Disclaimer: This is educational information only and is not legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed Idaho attorney or a licensed Idaho land surveyor.
What a property survey does and when you need one
A survey establishes the physical location of property lines, corners, easements, and improvements relative to the legal description. For co-owned property, a current survey can prevent or resolve disputes, support a sale or refinance, guide a lot split or improvement, and supply the accurate legal descriptions needed by title companies and county recorders.
Step-by-step: Arrange a survey for property you co-own with a sibling
- Collect ownership and title documents. Gather the deed(s), current property tax parcel number, any previous surveys or plats, the title insurance commitment (if available), and the legal description. These give the surveyor the starting legal description and show recorded easements or restrictions.
- Talk with your co-owner and agree scope and cost-sharing. Discuss the purpose (boundary line, mortgage/ALTA, lot split, topographic) and who will pay. Put the agreement in writing (email or short contract) so the surveyor knows who to invoice and who may authorize access.
- Choose the right type of survey.
- Boundary survey — identifies property corners and lines. Typical for clarifying boundaries between co-owners.
- ALTA/NSPS survey — more detailed; often required by lenders and title companies for commercial or mortgage transactions.
- Topographic survey — shows elevations and physical features; useful for building or site design.
- Lot split or subdivision survey — required if you plan to divide the parcel into separate legal lots.
- Find and hire a licensed Idaho land surveyor. Idaho law requires licensed surveyors to perform and certify surveys. Use the Idaho Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors to verify licensure and find practitioners: https://ibol.idaho.gov/. Ask for references, proof of insurance, a sample plat, and a written estimate with scope and timeline.
- Grant access and prepare the property. Surveyors may need access to the entire parcel and to adjoining corners. Get written consent from your sibling allowing the surveyor and their crew to enter the land. If the property is fenced or gated, provide instructions for access.
- Sign a clear contract. The contract should state the survey type, deliverables (electronic and paper copies, stamped plat), cost or fee structure, timeline, and who is responsible for recording the final plat if recording is required.
- Receive and review the survey plat. The surveyor will mark corners in the field and provide a signed/sealed plat showing measurements, monuments, easements, and improvements. Review it with your co-owner and the surveyor to confirm accuracy and ask questions before anyone records it.
- Record or share the survey as needed. If you plan to change the legal description or split the lot, the plat will usually be recorded with the county recorder. If the survey only documents existing boundaries, you may still record it to place the information in the chain of title. Confirm recording procedures with the county recorder’s office.
What if your sibling disagrees or refuses access?
If your co-owner refuses to cooperate, options include mediation or negotiation to reach agreement on a survey. If you cannot reach agreement, Idaho law allows private parties to resolve title and boundary disputes through the courts. In many cases, a court can order a survey or resolve ownership through a partition action. Before filing suit, talk to an Idaho attorney who handles real property to review costs and probable outcomes.
Practical expectations: cost and timeline
Survey cost varies by location, property size, terrain, required scope, and whether corners are found or must be re-established. Expect a simple boundary survey for a small lot to start in the low hundreds to low thousands of dollars; more complex or rural surveys often cost more. Timelines typically range from a few days of fieldwork to a few weeks for research and drafting, but busy seasons or complex title histories can extend that. Ask your surveyor for a firm estimate.
Where to get local help and official resources in Idaho
- Idaho Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors (licensure, search for a surveyor): https://ibol.idaho.gov/
- Idaho statutes and resources about real property (general statutory reference): https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/
- Your county recorder and assessor — for plats, deeds, and parcel data (search your county’s official website for exact procedures).
Helpful Hints
- Start by talking to your sibling calmly. A cooperative process saves time and money.
- Provide any old surveys, title commitments, or plats to the surveyor up front — they speed research and reduce surprises.
- Agree in writing who will pay and how to split costs. If one owner pays, document reimbursement terms.
- Ask the surveyor whether they will stake corners (mark them physically) and whether they will record the plat for you.
- If improvements encroach on the neighbor’s side, get the survey before making decisions about moving fences, sheds, or driveways.
- If the sibling refuses and the stakes are high (sale, mortgage, significant improvements), consult a real property attorney about partition, quiet title, or court-ordered surveys.
- Keep copies of all survey documents with your deed paperwork and provide them to future buyers or title companies.
Arranging a survey for co-owned property is usually straightforward when owners cooperate: gather documents, agree on scope and payment, hire a licensed Idaho surveyor, and record or preserve the resulting plat. When cooperation breaks down, seek counsel to understand legal remedies available under Idaho law.