Legal Definitions - section

Section refers to two distinct concepts in a legal context:

• First, it denotes a distinct, numbered part or division within a written document, particularly legal instruments like statutes, regulations, contracts, or wills. This division helps organize complex information and allows for easy reference to specific provisions.

  • Example 1 (Statute): A new environmental protection law might have a "Section 3" that specifically outlines the penalties for illegal waste disposal. This means that anyone wanting to understand the consequences of such actions would refer directly to that particular part of the law.

    This example illustrates "section" as a specific, identifiable part of a larger legal document (a statute), making it easy to locate and understand particular legal provisions.

  • Example 2 (Contract): In a commercial lease agreement, "Section 7.2" might detail the tenant's responsibilities for property maintenance. Both the landlord and tenant can point to this specific section when discussing who is accountable for repairs or compliance.

    Here, "section" refers to a precise clause within a contract, providing clarity and a common reference point for the parties involved regarding their obligations.

• Second, in real estate, a section of land is a standardized unit of measurement, historically used for surveying public lands in the United States. It represents a square parcel of land measuring exactly 640 acres, or one square mile.

  • Example 1 (Land Purchase): A rancher looking to expand their cattle operation might purchase "Section 16 of Township 3 North, Range 5 West" from the state. This precisely defines a 640-acre parcel of land they now own, based on the Public Land Survey System.

    This example demonstrates "section" as a specific, standardized land unit used in property descriptions and transactions, indicating a precise area of 640 acres.

  • Example 2 (Development Project): A large solar farm developer might acquire multiple adjacent sections of land, perhaps "Sections 22, 23, and 24," to ensure they have enough acreage for their panels and infrastructure. Each section contributes 640 acres to the overall project footprint.

    This illustrates how "sections" are used as fundamental building blocks for large-scale land projects, each representing a distinct 640-acre parcel that can be individually identified and acquired.

  • Related Terms:

    • A half section is a parcel of land containing 320 acres, which is half of a full section.

      For instance, a farmer might own the "north half of Section 10," meaning they possess 320 acres of that specific section, typically divided by an east-west or north-south line.

    • A quarter section is a parcel of land containing 160 acres, which is one-fourth of a full section. This was historically a common size for homestead grants.

      An individual might inherit the "southwest quarter of Section 4," indicating ownership of 160 acres within that section, precisely defined by the survey system.