Which takes precedence regarding a property boundary, the title documentation or the location of the property on the ground? Is this even a valid question? The short answer: it depends who you ask, and whether they espouse a perspective based on the law or on the basic principles of land surveying.
In his online article, and with more information on the topic in his recent book, The Pincushion Effect, The Multiple Monument Dilemma in American Land Surveying, author Jeffery N. Lucas differentiates between the legal & surveying aspects of property boundaries. He notes, however, that many in both the legal and surveying professions hold to very different opinions. These opinions often result in having multiple monuments set for a given property corner -- hence the "pincushion effect". This issue potentially impacts every surveyor (regardless of their opinion on the matter) and property owner. Read Jeffery's article here, or visit POB online for other resources.