Bethel Borough Recorder Information

The State Recorder's Office is part of the Department of Natural Resources and administers the statewide recording system. It consists of 34 separate recording districts serviced by a total of 5 separate offices located throughout Alaska.

Bethel is a census area and split into two recording districts, Kuskokwim in the east and Bethel in the west, which also includes Wade Hampton census area to the north of Bethel.

Starting August 1st, 2015, Fairbanks will be the Recording Office for Bethel and Kuskokwim Recording Districts.

Nunivak and St. Matthews Island belong to Cape Nome District and have already been recording at the Fairbanks Office. The same holds true for a small area along the eastern edge of Bethel that is part of Mt. McKinley District.

District boundaries do not always correspond to those of the boroughs. Check the list of communities on the website of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources to determine where to record.

These government fees are separate from any Deeds.com service fees. Confirm current charges with the recorder's office.

Make checks payable to Department of Natural Resources.

For recording all documents: first page* or fraction thereof : $20.00
Each additional page or fraction thereof (same instrument): $5.00

For indexing each name or claim name over six: $2.00

Non-standard document fee: $50.00

For recording plats or surveys:
First sheet: $20.00
Each additional sheet same plat (affidavits, tax status, etc. submitted with initial filing of plat-no charge): $5.00

Certification fee, per document: $5.00

For conforming a copy of any recorded instrument at time of recording**: $2.00

For copying any document by photocopy process:
First page or fraction thereof: $1.25
Each additional page or fraction thereof (same instrument): $0.25

Copy of plats, full scale on paper, each sheet: $3.00
Copy of plats, full scale on mylar, each sheet: $10.00

*Reference to "page" means one side of sheet; double sided sheets are two pages.
**At the time of recording, a conformed copy is $2.00. Any copy made after that time will be charged $1.25 for the first page and $0.25 for each additional page of same document.

Confirm current requirements with the recorder's office before submitting documents.

1. The document must contain original signatures, unless it is a copy that is authorized to be recorded by other law.

2. It must be legible or capable of being converted into a legible form by machines or devices used in recording offices. It must also be capable of being copied by the method used in the recording office.

3. In order to be legible, the text must be of consistent clarity---no broken characters or severe light and dark zones. This is to ensure that the camera can measure a strong light and dark contrast between the text and the background. Type size should not be smaller than 10 point font.

4. Use opaque white paper that is no larger than 8.5 x 14 inches.

5. There must be a 2-inch margin at the top of the first page and 1-inch margins on all remaining sides and on all subsequent sides of each page of the same document. If these requirements cannot be met, a $50 non-standard recording fee can be paid, in addition to regular recording fees due. Taping, gluing, or stapling one page onto a bigger page to meet margin requirements is not acceptable. Doing this will result in the non-standard recording fee. Additionally, it is not acceptable to submit a document that has two-hole punches at the top of any page. Documents submitted in this fashion will also be charged the non-standard fee.

6. Include a title that reflects the overall intent of the document. If a title contains multiple functions, it is indexed only under the first function listed, unless it is requested to be recorded for multiple purposes. This will result in additional fees.

7. Specific information is needed so that the real estate deed can be indexed correctly. On the document, clearly identify the parties (and legal description, if applicable) to be indexed.

8. On a document where a legal description is present, the legal description must be complete enough that a particular parcel can be geographically located and identified. A legal description will be suitable for recording purposes if it contains a section, township, range, and meridian designation. In the case of subdivided property, the lot, block, subdivision name or plat number of the parcel can be provided.

9. A document must name the recording district in which it is to be recorded. For example, a document brought to the Bethel Recording District should state "Bethel Recording District."

10. Return information should be stated on the document. This must contain the name and complete mailing address of the person to whom the document is to be returned after recording. If this information is provided in a cover letter, the letter may be recorded with the document, which will cause the cover letter to become public record. If return address information is not clearly identified, the document may be rejected. This information should not be contained in document margins.

11. Deeds must contain the complete mailing address of all persons who are granting or acquiring an interest in property.

12. If a document is amending, correcting, extending, modifying, assigning or releasing a previously recorded document, it must contain the book and page or serial number reference of the prior recording.