Ketchikan Gateway Borough Quitclaim Deed Form

Alaska's quitclaim deed operates under Title 34 of the Alaska Statutes, and the state's unique recording district system — rather than county-based recording — shapes how these conveyances are executed, submitted, and indexed. Unlike most states where deeds go to a county recorder, Alaska transfers are filed with one of the state's regional recording districts administered by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. That distinction alone affects where you send the deed, what indexing information is required, and what supplemental documents a particular district may demand before accepting the instrument. A quitclaim deed in Alaska conveys whatever interest the grantor holds in the property at the time of transfer — no warranty of title, no representation that the interest is free of encumbrances — making it a practical tool for transfers between family members, clearing a cloud on title, or conveying property where the parties have a prior relationship and title insurance will handle the rest.

When an Alaska Quitclaim Deed Is Used

An Alaska quitclaim deed is commonly used to transfer property between family members, to add or remove a spouse or partner from title, to distribute real property out of a trust or estate, or to resolve a gap in the chain of title where a prior conveyance was defective. Because the grantor makes no covenants about the quality of title, this form is well-suited to situations where the parties know each other and have agreed on the nature of the interest being transferred, or where the sole purpose is to correct a prior deed's description or vesting language.

Alaska Statutory Requirements

Alaska quitclaim deeds must satisfy the content and execution requirements set out in Alaska Stat. § 34.15.010 and related provisions. A valid deed includes:

• A title that accurately reflects the document's overall purpose
• The full legal names and mailing addresses of both the grantor and grantee
• The recording district in which the property is located
• A complete legal description of the property
• A reference to the prior recorded deed by book and page number or serial number — Alaska requires this chain-of-title reference, which is not required in most states
• The consideration paid for the transfer
• The name and return address of the individual to whom the recorded document should be mailed after recording
• The grantor's original signature, or the signature of an authorized agent acting on the grantor's behalf
• A notarized acknowledgment, signed and dated by a notary public or another official authorized under Alaska law to certify signatures

The grantor must be of legal age or act through an authorized agent. If an agent signs on the grantor's behalf, the authority for that agent — typically a recorded power of attorney — must be clearly established.

Execution: Signatures, Witnesses, and Notarization

Alaska does not require witnesses for a quitclaim deed — the notarized acknowledgment of the grantor's signature is sufficient. The grantor signs before a notary public or other officer authorized to administer oaths, and the notary completes and seals the acknowledgment block. Alaska does not impose a separate witness requirement alongside notarization, which distinguishes it from states like Florida or Georgia that require two witnesses in addition to notarization. If the deed is executed outside Alaska, the acknowledgment may be taken before a notary or other officer authorized to perform such acts in the jurisdiction where the signing takes place.

Alaska-Specific Traps

Homestead Spousal Assent

If the property being conveyed is the grantor's homestead, the grantor's spouse must also sign the quitclaim deed — even if the spouse holds no ownership interest in the property. This requirement applies specifically to homestead property and exists to protect a non-owning spouse's homestead rights. The spouse's signature does not create or convey any property interest; it operates solely as an assent to the transfer of the homestead. Omitting the spousal signature on a homestead conveyance is one of the most common causes of a rejected or legally defective Alaska deed.

Prior Deed Reference Requirement

Alaska requires that the deed include a book and page reference or serial number from the prior recorded instrument in the chain of title. This is a state-specific requirement not found in most jurisdictions and is frequently overlooked by parties using generic deed forms from other states. A deed that omits this reference may be accepted for recording in some districts but creates a gap in the searchable chain of title that can complicate future transactions or title insurance.

Recording District, Not County

Alaska has no counties. Real property is recorded in one of the state's recording districts — administered by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mining, Land and Water. The deed must identify the correct recording district, and it must be submitted to that district's office. Different districts may impose their own formatting preferences, specific indexing information, or additional documentation requirements before accepting a deed for recording. What passes without comment in one district may be rejected in another, so confirming local requirements before submission is critical.

Marital Status Recital

Including the grantor's marital status in the deed is a best practice in Alaska, and many recording districts will flag or question a deed that omits it, particularly where homestead assent may be at issue. Stating whether the grantor is married, single, or divorced — and identifying the spouse by name if the homestead signature requirement applies — avoids delays at recording and helps subsequent examiners confirm the chain of title.

Transfer Taxes and Additional Forms

Alaska does not impose a statewide real estate transfer tax on deed recordings, which distinguishes it from many other states. However, individual recording districts set their own fees, and the applicable fee must accompany the deed at submission. If the deed is being recorded for more than one purpose, a separate fee applies to each purpose. Confirm the current fee schedule with the relevant recording district before submitting.

Recording in Alaska

Alaska follows a race-notice recording statute (Alaska Stat. § 40.17.080). An unrecorded quitclaim deed is valid between the grantor and grantee, but it provides no protection against a subsequent purchaser who records first without notice of the earlier transfer. If the same property is conveyed twice and the second grantee records without actual knowledge of the prior deed, the second grantee prevails — the first grantee loses the property regardless of which conveyance came first in time. Recording promptly after execution is the only way to establish priority and provide constructive notice to the world. The executed deed must be submitted to the recording district local to the property, accompanied by the applicable recording fee.

Vesting and Co-Ownership in Alaska

When the grantee line names more than one person, how title is vested determines what happens to the property if one co-owner dies. Alaska recognizes tenancy in common and joint tenancy with right of survivorship. In a tenancy in common, each owner holds a divisible share that passes through their estate at death. In a joint tenancy, the surviving co-owner takes the deceased co-owner's interest automatically by operation of law, outside of probate. Alaska does not automatically presume survivorship from language like "to A and B jointly" — the deed must expressly state that the grantees take as joint tenants with right of survivorship, or the tenancy in common default applies. Alaska also recognizes tenancy by the entirety for married couples, which provides survivorship and creditor protections specific to marital ownership. The vesting language in the deed controls; imprecise language can result in an ownership structure the parties did not intend.

What's Included in the Download Package

The Alaska Quitclaim Deed package from Deeds.com includes the deed form itself, formatted to meet Alaska recording requirements, along with a completed example showing how the form should be filled out and a guide explaining each field. The forms are prepared by Deeds.com's forms development team and are specific to Alaska's statutory requirements and recording district standards. The package is available as an instant download after purchase — no waiting, no shipping.