Detailed Answer — How to begin confirming who legally owns a portion of a relative’s land in Alaska
If you need to determine legal ownership of a portion of land that belonged to your grandfather, the single best first step in Alaska is to find and review the recorded documents that describe the property and the chain of title. In plain terms: locate the deed(s) and any probate records or recorded plats that cover the parcel. Those documents show who currently holds legal title or what transfers and claims have been recorded against the property.
Why start with recorded documents?
Recorded deeds, plats, mortgages, liens, and probate filings are the official public records that establish and track ownership. They include the legal description (metes and bounds, lot and block, or state survey description), the names of grantors/grantees, dates, and references to older documents needed to trace title back through the years. Without those records you will be guessing about ownership, boundaries, and whether someone else has a claim.
Where to look first in Alaska
- Local recording office (borough or city recorder): Deeds and most property records are recorded at the recorder’s office for the borough or municipality where the land is located. If the land is in an unorganized area, check the applicable recording district. Contact the recorder or visit their online database to search by the owner’s name, parcel number, or legal description.
- Tax assessor’s office: The assessor’s office maintains parcel maps and tax records that show the current owner on the assessor’s roll and the parcel identification number. Those records often include a current mailing address and a legal description to help find recorded deeds.
- Probate court records: If your grandfather died owning the land, his will, the probate file, or estate distribution documents may show how title passed (to heirs, executors, or purchasers). Check the Alaska court system’s probate records in the district where he lived.
- Plat maps and surveys: Plats (recorded maps) and surveys may be available through the borough recorder, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, or municipal planning departments. Plats help you understand parcel boundaries and subdivision history.
- Title company or abstractor: If public searches are difficult, a licensed title company or licensed land surveyor can run a formal title search and provide a chain of title, showing every recorded transfer affecting the parcel.
Basic steps to perform the initial search
- Gather identifying details: your grandfather’s full legal name(s), approximate address or township, any parcel/tax ID numbers, and the county/borough where the land sits.
- Search the borough/city recorder online or in person for recorded deeds, mortgages, plats, easements, liens, and other instruments referencing your grandfather or the parcel description.
- Check the assessor’s database to confirm the current owner and get the parcel ID and legal description.
- If the property passed through probate, find the probate case number or file to see who inherited or received title.
- Compile copies of the deed(s) showing transfers and the legal description to trace the chain of title back to your grandfather.
If the records are unclear or conflicting
If you find conflicting deeds, missing links in the chain of title, unclear boundaries, or competing claims (for example, someone else claims ownership or you discover an unrecorded document), the next typical steps include:
- Requesting a professional title search from a title company.
- Ordering a boundary survey to confirm where the disputed portion lies on the ground.
- Consulting an attorney about filing a quiet title action to settle ownership rights in court if informal resolution isn’t possible.
Useful Alaska resources
- Alaska Department of Natural Resources: https://dnr.alaska.gov/ — for plats, some survey information, and state-managed land records.
- Alaska Court System: https://courts.alaska.gov/ — for guidance on accessing probate and other court records.
- BLM General Land Office Records: https://glorecords.blm.gov/ — for federal land patents and historical federal land conveyance records that may affect Alaska parcels.
Starting with the recorded documents will usually answer who currently holds title and how the property passed from your grandfather. If the public record trail ends or shows competing interests, gather the documents and consult a real property attorney or a licensed title company to determine the best next step.
Disclaimer: This information is educational only and not legal advice. For advice about your specific situation or to pursue legal action you should consult a licensed Alaska attorney.
Helpful Hints
- Start with the borough or city recorder where the land is located; many offices have searchable online databases.
- Use multiple name variations when searching (middle names, initials, suffixes like Sr./Jr.).
- Collect the parcel/tax ID from the assessor — it speeds up record searches and reduces errors.
- Keep copies of every recorded document you find and note book/page or instrument numbers for cross-referencing.
- If the probate file exists, request the full estate packet; it may include deeds, inventories, and distributions that identify how the land was handled.
- Consider hiring a title company if you hit a dead end — their reports clarify liens, easements, and ownership chains quickly.
- Obtain a boundary survey before relying on fences or neighbors’ claims; legal descriptions control, not visual markers.
- If someone else claims ownership, avoid making changes to the property and speak with a real property attorney about quiet title or ejectment actions.
- Document all communications with record offices, assessors, and potential claimants — dates, names, and what you were told can matter later.