Wrangell City and Borough Deed Records

Deed records for the City and Borough of Wrangell are processed through the Alaska DNR Wrangell Recording District. Recording functions follow Alaska Statute 40.17, and the Anchorage DNR Office administers the Wrangell Recording District. All deed recording for Wrangell is handled at the state level through the Anchorage DNR Office. Search the Wrangell Recording District for free at dnr.alaska.gov/ssd/recoff to find deed records by party name or document number. The City and Borough Clerk also maintains local municipal records and can assist with research.

Where Deed Records Are Filed

Real property documents for the City and Borough of Wrangell are recorded with the Alaska DNR Recorder's Office through the Wrangell Recording District. The Anchorage DNR Office at 550 West 7th Ave., Suite 108, Anchorage, AK 99501, phone (907) 269-8876, processes recordings for this district.

Warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, liens, easements, and subdivision plats affecting Wrangell property are all indexed in the statewide DNR system. The City and Borough Clerk at 205 Brueger Street, Wrangell, AK 99929, phone (907) 874-2381, handles municipal records but deed recording is a state function.

Wrangell deed records are indexed in the Alaska DNR statewide system under the Wrangell Recording District. The Anchorage DNR Office administers this district for Southeast Alaska communities including Wrangell.

How to Search Wrangell Deed Records

Use the Alaska DNR free online index to search deed records for Wrangell. The grantor-grantee database covers 1970 to present. Visit dnr.alaska.gov/ssd/recoff, select the Wrangell Recording District, and search by grantor or grantee name. You can also search by document number or date range.

Results show the document type, recording date, book and page, and the parties involved. To get a copy of the document itself, use the online ordering system or contact the Anchorage DNR Office at (907) 269-8876. In-person visits to the Anchorage office are also an option for researchers who need to review documents directly.

The Alaska Mapper GIS at mapper.dnr.alaska.gov provides parcel boundary maps for Wrangell properties and can help identify legal descriptions. The City and Borough Clerk at (907) 874-2381 can help with municipal records, zoning questions, and subdivision information but does not maintain the deed index.

Types of Deed Records

The Wrangell Recording District accepts and indexes the same document types as all Alaska recording districts. These include warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, liens, lien releases, easements, and subdivision plats. Recording fees are set by Alaska Statute 40.17 and apply uniformly across all districts.

Wrangell is a relatively small borough, so the volume of recorded instruments is modest compared to larger areas. This makes name-based searches in the DNR index particularly effective. If you're doing title research on a Wrangell property, a straightforward grantor-grantee search in the DNR online system will usually surface the key documents without much filtering.

Recording Fees

Alaska recording fees for the Wrangell Recording District are governed by AS 40.17.030. The standard fee is $20 for the first page and $5 for each additional page. Documents that don't meet state formatting requirements carry an additional $50 non-standard document fee.

Document copies are $1.25 for the first page and $0.25 per additional page. Certified copies add $5. Requests can be submitted in person, by mail to the Anchorage DNR Office, or through the online records portal. E-recording through authorized vendors is available for title companies and legal professionals who need to submit documents on a regular basis.

Document Requirements

Documents recorded in the Wrangell Recording District must follow Alaska's standard formatting rules. White 8.5 x 11 inch paper is required. The first page must have a 3-inch top margin for the recording stamp. Font size must be at least 10 points. A title identifying the document type must appear at the top of the first page.

Deeds must include the full names of grantor and grantee, the property's legal description, the consideration amount, and a notarized grantor signature. A return mailing address for the recorded original must be on the first page. Documents not meeting these standards are still accepted but assessed the $50 non-standard fee. See the DNR document guide at dnr.alaska.gov/ssd/recoff/PreparingDocs.

Chain of Title Research for Wrangell

Wrangell is one of the oldest cities in Alaska and has a property history that predates statehood. The Wrangell Recording District holds deed records from 1970 forward in the online DNR system. For older records, contact the Anchorage DNR directly at (907) 269-8876. Properties in downtown Wrangell and near the harbor may have title histories going back to the territorial and Russian eras, though those pre-statehood records may require research through federal and state archives.

To trace ownership for a Wrangell property, search the DNR grantor-grantee index at dnr.alaska.gov/ssd/recoff under the Wrangell Recording District. Start with the current owner name and work backward through each prior deed. Because Wrangell is a small borough, the volume of records in the district is manageable, and name-based searches tend to be highly targeted. The City and Borough Clerk at (907) 874-2381 can assist with any municipal conveyance records and city ordinances that may be relevant to property research. The Alaska Mapper GIS at mapper.dnr.alaska.gov shows current parcel boundaries for Wrangell properties.

Nearby Boroughs and Census Areas

These areas in Southeast Alaska also use the DNR recording district system for deed records.