Aleutians East Borough Public Records

Public records in the Aleutians East Borough are held by state agencies, the Borough Clerk, and the Alaska Court System, covering court cases, property documents, law enforcement reports, and vital records for Sand Point, King Cove, Akutan, False Pass, and Nelson Lagoon. You can search many of these records online or send a written request to the right office to get what you need.

Aleutians East Borough Public Records Access

The Aleutians East Borough is an organized borough in Southwest Alaska. The Borough Clerk serves as the official custodian of borough records including assembly meeting minutes, ordinances, resolutions, and official correspondence. Public records requests for these documents go to the Clerk's Office. Under the Alaska Public Records Act (AS 40.25.100), all public records are open to inspection unless a specific exemption applies.

Requests should be submitted in writing, naming the records you want. The Aleutians East Borough follows the standard APRA timeline, which requires an initial response within 10 working days. The borough may request an extension for large or complex requests. Property assessment records are maintained by the Borough Assessor's Office. The borough handles property taxes within its boundaries but does not function as a land recording district.

The Alaska Court System directory shows the Sand Point Magistrate Court as the local court serving this borough. You can access case records through CourtView, the Alaska Court System's online case search tool. CourtView allows you to search by party name, case number, or citation number for cases filed in Sand Point and across the state.

For major felony cases or civil matters beyond the magistrate court's jurisdiction, proceedings move to the Kodiak Superior Court. The Sand Point court handles misdemeanor cases, small claims up to $10,000, preliminary felony hearings, and traffic violations. Records from before 1990 may only exist as paper index cards, so contact the court clerk directly for older cases.

The Alaska Court System's website shows the court directory for all locations. The screenshot below is from that directory, which is where you find contact information for the Sand Point court and other locations serving the Aleutians East area.

The Alaska Court System court directory lists all trial courts, including the Sand Point Magistrate Court that serves Aleutians East Borough residents.

This page from the Alaska Court System lists court locations and contact details. Use it to find the right court for your records request.

Copy fees set by the Alaska Court System apply to all locations. Certified copies cost $10 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy of the same document. Plain copies are $5 for the first document and $3 for each additional one. If you need a research fee, the rate is $30 per hour. You can use form TF-311 ANCH for records requests from the Sand Point court and the Anchorage-area courts, since Sand Point falls under that form category.

Property Records in Aleutians East Borough

Real property records for the Aleutians East Borough are maintained by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources' Recorder's Office. The borough falls within the Kodiak Recording District (Recording District 26). Deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other land documents are recorded here. You can reach the Anchorage Recorder's Office at 550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 108, Anchorage, AK 99501, phone 907-269-8875.

Statewide land records are searchable online through the Alaska DNR's Land Records system. You can search by grantor or grantee name, document number, date range, or legal description. Records from 1970 to present are in the digital system. For older records, you need to search historic books, and staff have limited capacity for in-depth historical research due to staffing.

The Alaska DNR Recorder's Office page explains how to search and record documents statewide, including the Kodiak Recording District that covers the Aleutians East area.

The DNR Recorder's Office handles all property documents for the Aleutians East area. Use the online search to find deeds and other recorded instruments before visiting in person.

Recording fees follow the statewide schedule under AS 40.17.030. The fee is $20 for the first page of a document and $5 for each additional page. Certified copies cost $5 per document plus copy fees. You can submit documents for recording by mail or visit one of the two main recorder offices in Anchorage or Fairbanks. The Alaska Mapper tool gives interactive access to state land records and is free to use for research.

Aleutians East Borough Official Resources

The official Aleutians East Borough website provides access to government information including contact details for the Borough Clerk, assembly meeting records, and local ordinances. For public records that are specific to the borough government, the Clerk's Office is your starting point.

The borough's official website is the place to start for local government records, assembly minutes, and contact information for borough offices in Sand Point.

Borough records are subject to APRA under AS 40.25.110, which says every person has the right to inspect a public record in the state. If you believe your request was denied improperly, you can appeal to the agency head within 60 working days. You can also seek injunctive relief under AS 40.25.125.

Law Enforcement Records

The Alaska State Troopers provide primary law enforcement for the Aleutians East Borough. The Unalaska Post covers the Aleutian Islands region, including Aleutians East communities. Arrest records and incident reports from the borough are maintained by the Troopers. Requests for public law enforcement records go to the DPS Criminal Records and Identification Bureau, 5700 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99507, phone 907-269-5511.

Some law enforcement records are exempt from disclosure under AS 40.25.120(a). Active investigation files, juvenile records, and certain confidential information may be withheld or redacted. The Troopers also coordinate with village public safety officers (VPSOs) in some communities. For incidents handled by VPSOs, you may need to direct requests to both the Troopers and the relevant tribal or local organization.

Criminal history background checks are processed through the Alaska Public Safety Information Network (APSIN). You can request a name-based check online at the DPS Self Service Request Portal. The fee is $20 for the initial report and $5 for each additional copy.

Vital Records for Aleutians East Residents

Vital records for events occurring in the Aleutians East Borough are held by the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics. This includes birth, death, marriage, and divorce records. There are no local vital records offices in the borough. All requests must go to the state office.

You can order certified copies three ways. The fastest is online at VitalChek.com, which takes 2-3 weeks plus shipping. Mail or fax orders take 2-3 months. Walk-in service is available at the Anchorage office at 3901 Old Seward Highway, Suite 101, Anchorage, AK 99503, phone 907-269-0991, or at the Juneau office. Fees are $30 for the first certified copy and $25 for each additional copy of the same record.

Access to vital records is restricted. Under state policy, records are not publicly available until 100 years after birth and 50 years after marriage, death, or divorce. Only people listed on a record or their authorized representatives may order non-historical copies. Contact the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics with questions. For special services including corrections or amendments, email BVSSpecialServices@alaska.gov.

Cities in Aleutians East Borough

The Aleutians East Borough includes several remote communities scattered along the Aleutian Islands chain. None of these communities have dedicated city pages on this site. Key communities include Sand Point (the borough seat), King Cove, Akutan, False Pass, and Nelson Lagoon. Court filings for residents of these communities go through the Sand Point Magistrate Court or the Kodiak Superior Court depending on case type.

Nearby Boroughs and Census Areas

These neighboring areas are served by similar state-level records systems. Check the right location based on where the records were created.