What is an instrument that conveys public land to an individual called?

A land patent is an official document that conveys public land from the government to an individual or entity. It serves as a title to the property, indicating that the individual now has the rights to the land. In the context of land transactions, a land patent is particularly significant because it establishes the transfer of ownership from the state, which is critical when dealing with public lands.

Other options like a land deed, land contract, and land title relate to issues of ownership and property transfer but serve different functions. A land deed is a written instrument that transfers ownership of real property between private parties and doesn’t necessarily involve the transfer from public to private ownership. A land contract is an agreement between a buyer and seller where the buyer makes payments to the seller in exchange for the right to occupy and eventually receive title to the property; it does not deal with public land. A land title refers to legal ownership of property and the rights that come with it but, like the deed and contract, does not specifically denote the original transfer from public lands. Therefore, the land patent is the correct answer for conveying public land to an individual, emphasizing the formal transfer from governmental ownership.