Nome Census Area Deed Records
Deed records for the Nome Census Area are maintained by the Alaska DNR Recorder's Office through the Cape Nome Recording District. The Fairbanks DNR Office handles recordings for this part of western Alaska. Nome deed records are filed in the Cape Nome Recording District. Search the DNR online index at dnr.alaska.gov/ssd/recoff and select the Cape Nome Recording District to find deeds by party name or date. For records before 1970 or certified copies, contact the Fairbanks DNR Office at (907) 452-3521.
Nome Census Area Overview
Where Deed Records Are Filed
The Nome Census Area is an unorganized borough, so there is no county or borough government handling land records. All deed recording for this area goes through the state's DNR system. The Cape Nome Recording District falls under the jurisdiction of the Fairbanks DNR Office.
Deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other real property documents affecting land in the Nome Census Area are submitted to and processed by the Fairbanks Recorder's Office. The grantor-grantee index provides online access to recorded documents going back to 1970.
| Recording Office | Alaska DNR - Fairbanks Recorder's Office |
|---|---|
| Recording District | Cape Nome Recording District |
| Address | 3700 Airport Way Fairbanks, AK 99709 |
| Phone | (907) 452-3521 |
| Website | dnr.alaska.gov/ssd/recoff/info/fairbanks |
The Fairbanks DNR Recorder's Office administers the Cape Nome Recording District. This is where all deed records for the Nome Census Area are filed and indexed.
How to Search Nome Census Area Deed Records
The Alaska DNR grantor-grantee index is the main tool for finding deed records in the Nome Census Area. The free online database covers 1970 to the present. To search, visit the DNR recorder site at dnr.alaska.gov/ssd/recoff and select the Cape Nome Recording District.
You can search by grantor name, grantee name, document type, or recording date. Results include the document number, recording date, book and page reference, and grantor/grantee names. Once you find the document, you can order a copy through the portal or contact the Fairbanks DNR Office directly at (907) 452-3521.
The Alaska Mapper GIS tool at mapper.dnr.alaska.gov shows parcel boundaries and can help you identify the legal description of a property before you search the index. Land records in remote parts of the Nome Census Area may include Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Land Management records as well, since much of this area involves federal and Native land.
Note: The Nome Census Area has no organized borough government, so there is no local assessor or clerk office for land records -- all recording is handled at the state level through the Fairbanks DNR Office.
Types of Documents Recorded
Real property documents in the Cape Nome Recording District follow the same categories as the rest of Alaska. Common deed records include warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, satisfactions, releases, liens, easements, and subdivision plats. All are indexed in the grantor-grantee system under the Cape Nome Recording District.
Land ownership in the Nome area has a complex history involving gold rush-era claims, federal land patents, and Native land selections under ANCSA. Researchers doing title work in this area often need to look beyond standard deed records and into federal land records at the Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Indian Affairs records. The DNR index is the starting point, but a full chain of title may require additional research.
Recording Fees
Recording fees are set by Alaska law under AS 40.17.030. The standard fee is $20 for the first page and $5 for each additional page. Non-standard documents carry an additional $50 fee. These rates apply to all documents filed in the Cape Nome Recording District.
Copies of recorded documents cost $1.25 for the first page and $0.25 for each additional page. Certified copies require a $5 certification fee added to the per-page cost. Requests can be made in person at the Fairbanks DNR Office, by mail, or online. E-recording through authorized vendors such as Simplifile, CSC, and ePN is also available.
Document Requirements
All documents recorded with the Cape Nome Recording District must meet state standards. Documents should be printed on 8.5 x 11 inch white paper. The first page must have a 3-inch top margin for the recording stamp. Font must be at least 10 points. Each document needs a title at the top identifying the document type.
Deeds must include the grantor and grantee names, the full legal description of the property, and the consideration amount. Notarization of the grantor's signature is required. The return mailing address for the original document after recording must be on the first page. See the DNR document preparation guide for full requirements before submitting.
Federal and Native Land Records
A significant portion of land in the Nome Census Area involves federal and Alaska Native interests. The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) transferred large tracts to regional and village corporations. Deed records for these transfers may be in both the DNR system and BLM records.
The Bureau of Land Management Alaska State Office maintains federal land records and patent documents. The BLM's General Land Office Records database at glorecords.blm.gov provides free access to federal land patents and survey plats. For property research involving Native corporation land or federal patents, you may need to consult both the DNR index and BLM records for a complete picture.
Nearby Boroughs and Census Areas
These neighboring areas also use the state DNR recording district system for deed records.