Understanding Your T-47 Survey

The T-47 Residential Real Property Affidavit is a document you may need to sign during the closing process. It is not complicated, but there are a few things you need to understand about it — especially the part about the notary.

Here is what the T-47 is, why it matters, and exactly how to handle it.

What the T-47 Is

The T-47 is used when the buyer or title company wants to rely on an existing survey of the property rather than ordering a brand-new one. Surveys show the property boundaries, the location of the home and other structures on the lot, easements, and encroachments. They are an important part of how title insurance is issued.

A new survey can cost several hundred dollars and take weeks to schedule. If there is already a survey on file — from when you purchased the home, for example — the T-47 allows the title company to use that existing survey instead.

How It Works

The T-47 works together with the existing survey. By signing it, you are affirming that the survey still accurately represents the property — that no major changes have been made since the survey was completed. The title company uses this affidavit alongside the survey to issue title insurance to the buyer.

The Survey Date Matters

When a T-47 is involved, the most important detail is the date of the existing survey. You want to use the most recent survey available. If you have had the property surveyed more than once — when you bought it and again during a refinance, for example — use the newer one. A more recent survey is easier to rely on because there has been less time for changes to occur.

What You Are Confirming

When you sign the T-47, you are confirming that since the date of the existing survey:

• No new structures have been added to the property (additions, sheds, pools, fences)
• No changes have been made to the boundaries or property lines
• No new easements have been granted
• The property is essentially the same as what the survey shows

If you have made changes — added a fence, built a shed, put in a pool — those may not be reflected on the existing survey, and a new survey might be needed instead.

The Notary Requirement

This is the part people trip up on. The T-47 must be signed in front of a notary public. That means you cannot sign it ahead of time and hand it over. Do not sign it at your kitchen table and bring it to closing already completed. If you do, it will not be valid and you will need to redo it.

The notary needs to witness your signature in person. Typically, this happens at the closing table — the title company will have a notary present. If you are signing documents remotely or in advance for any reason, coordinate with the title company to make sure a notary is available when you sign the T-47.

Why It Saves Time and Money

A new survey can cost anywhere from $400 to $800 or more, depending on the property, and scheduling one can add weeks to the closing timeline. The T-47, combined with a valid existing survey, lets everyone skip that cost and delay. It is a straightforward way to keep the transaction moving efficiently — as long as no major changes have been made to the property.

Bottom Line

The T-47 is a simple but important document. Find your most recent survey, confirm nothing major has changed, and sign it in front of a notary — not before. If you are unsure whether your existing survey still applies, ask your title company. They deal with these every day and can tell you quickly whether a new survey is needed.