Free Alaska Mortgage Deed Forms

Alaska Mortgage Deed Overview

Alaska primarily uses deeds of trust rather than mortgage deeds for real property financing, largely because deeds of trust allow non-judicial foreclosure through a power-of-sale clause. That said, mortgage deeds are legally valid in Alaska and are still used in some transactions, particularly those involving private lenders, seller financing, and certain government loan programs. If you are using a mortgage deed rather than a deed of trust, it is worth understanding how that choice affects the lender's remedies if the loan goes into default.

Unlike most states, Alaska does not have counties. Real property recording is handled by Alaska Recording District offices under the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. The recording district is based on property location, not a political subdivision. Recording fees start around $25 for the first page with per-page charges after that. Alaska charges no state real estate transfer tax and no mortgage excise or intangible tax. Notarization by an authorized notary is required; remote online notarization is now permitted under state statute.

Alaska Requirements

Alaska recording requirements are governed by Alaska Statute Title 40. A mortgage deed must be signed by the mortgagor and acknowledged before a notary public before it can be recorded. The document is then filed with the recording district office that covers the property's location. Because Alaska lacks counties, finding the correct recording district is the first step that out-of-state parties sometimes get wrong.

Document Requirements

• Notarization: Must be notarized by an Alaska notary public or authorized notary
• Witnesses: Alaska requires 0 additional witness(es)
• Legal Description: Complete legal description as it appears on the current deed of record
• Parcel Number: Assessor's parcel number or tax ID
• Return Address: Mailing address for returning the recorded document
• Formatting: Standard formatting with adequate margins, black ink, minimum 10-point font

How to File in Alaska

Alaska uses recording districts rather than county recorder offices. Identifying the correct recording district for the property before you begin is essential, since filing in the wrong district will not provide constructive notice and may leave the mortgage unenforceable against third parties.

Alaska Fees & Costs

Typical costs for filing in Alaska. Actual fees may vary by county.

Alaska Tax Implications

Alaska stands out among states for having no state income tax and no state sales tax, and the same taxpayer-friendly posture extends to real property transactions. Alaska levies no state real estate transfer tax and no mortgage excise or intangible tax on the loan amount. This makes recording costs in Alaska among the lowest in the country for equivalent transactions.

Property taxes in Alaska are administered at the borough or municipality level. Alaska has no statewide property tax. Most organized boroughs levy property taxes; however, communities in the Unorganized Borough typically do not have local property tax unless they have separately established a service area that levies one. This wide variation matters particularly for rural Alaskan properties where tax obligations may differ significantly from what buyers expect based on experience in other states.

The Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend, while not a property tax issue, reflects the state's overall fiscal structure. For mortgage purposes, lenders underwriting Alaska loans should be aware that property tax obligations vary considerably by location and that some rural properties have minimal or no annual property tax. Escrow calculations for remote properties should be verified against the applicable borough or municipality records, not assumed based on population density.

Sample Alaska Mortgage Deed

Preview of our Alaska-specific template. Your document will include all fields required for recording in any Alaska county.

Alaska Mortgage Deed FAQ

Common questions about filing in Alaska, including requirements, fees, and tax implications.

Official Alaska Resources

Official state resources for verifying requirements and finding your local recording office.

Important Considerations for Alaska Mortgage Deeds

The choice between a mortgage deed and a deed of trust is more consequential in Alaska than in many states. Most institutional lenders in Alaska use deeds of trust specifically to preserve the non-judicial foreclosure option under AS 34.20.070. If you are using a mortgage deed for a private loan or seller-financing arrangement, the lender should understand that enforcement will require a judicial proceeding through the Alaska Superior Court if the borrower defaults.

Alaska's geography creates practical challenges for mortgage transactions. Remote properties may be in recording districts whose offices are hundreds of miles away. Mail-in and e-recording options exist but not universally. Title searches for rural Alaska properties can be complex due to the history of federal land conveyances, ANCSA corporation land selections, Native allotments, and state land disposals, all of which have overlapping and sometimes incomplete recording histories.

Subsurface mineral rights in Alaska are frequently separated from surface ownership, and a mortgage deed on the surface estate generally does not automatically include mineral rights unless specifically stated. For properties where mineral rights may have value, the mortgage document should address whether the lien covers only the surface or both estates.

Related Documents

Depending on your situation, you may need additional documents alongside this one. Below are commonly related documents that are frequently used together in real estate transactions.

Important Considerations

The choice between a mortgage deed and a deed of trust matters more in Alaska than in most states because of the foreclosure consequences. Most institutional lenders use deeds of trust to preserve non-judicial foreclosure rights. If you are using a mortgage deed for a private or seller-financed transaction, make sure both parties understand that judicial foreclosure through the Alaska Superior Court is the available remedy in the event of default.

Alaska's lack of counties means finding the correct recording district is the first step that trips up out-of-state parties. The Alaska DNR provides an online tool to confirm the recording district for any property parcel. The district designation should appear in both the legal description and the filing instructions on the mortgage deed.

Native allotment and ANCSA corporation land restrictions create complications that standard mortgage deed forms cannot address on their own. If there is any question about the land status of the property, a title commitment from an Alaska-licensed title company will disclose these issues before closing. Do not proceed with recording a mortgage on restricted land without legal guidance.

Keep the recorded mortgage deed in a secure location alongside the loan documents. The Alaska recording system assigns each instrument a unique recording number that can be used to retrieve a copy from the recording district office if the original is lost. When the loan is paid off, verify that the lender has recorded a release or satisfaction of mortgage in the same district. are also recommended as a backup.

Related Documents

Depending on your situation, you may need additional documents alongside this one. Below are commonly related documents that are frequently used together in real estate transactions.