Chugach Census Area Public Records

Public records in the Chugach Census Area are managed entirely by state agencies since this unorganized area has no local borough government, with court records held by the Alaska Court System at Cordova and Valdez, property records at the Alaska DNR Recorder's Office, law enforcement records with the Alaska State Troopers, and vital records with the state Bureau of Vital Statistics. Searching public records here starts with the right state agency for your record type.

Chugach Census Area Court Records

The Chugach Census Area is part of the Third Judicial District. Court services are provided through two main locations: the Cordova Magistrate Court and the Valdez Trial Courts. The Cordova Court handles misdemeanor cases, small claims, preliminary felony hearings, and traffic violations for communities in the western portion of the census area. The Valdez Court serves communities in the eastern portion, including Valdez and the surrounding region.

You can search public records for Chugach Census Area cases online using CourtView, the Alaska Court System's statewide case search portal. Searches work by party name, case number, or citation. The system includes civil (CI), criminal (CR), small claims (SC), probate (PR), and minor offense (MO) case types. CourtView covers cases from all Alaska trial courts and is available at no charge for public searching.

For certified copies of court records from Cordova or Valdez, contact the court clerk at the appropriate location. Contact information for both courts is in the Alaska Court System's court directory. The Alaska Court System court directory provides addresses, phone numbers, and email contacts for all court locations in Alaska.

The screenshot below shows the Alaska Court System directory page, which lists all court locations including those serving the Chugach Census Area.

This directory page is your reference for finding correct court contacts in Cordova and Valdez, the two court locations that handle most Chugach Census Area cases.

Major felony cases from the Chugach area are transferred to the Anchorage or Palmer Superior Courts for trial. Copy fees are statewide: certified copies cost $10 for the first document and $3 for each additional copy of the same document. Plain copies are $5 for the first and $3 each additional. Use form TF-311 for all non-Anchorage locations including Cordova and Valdez. Under AS 40.25.122, records used in court proceedings remain public unless sealed by a specific court order.

Not all records are available online. Cases designated as confidential or sealed, juvenile cases, and cases removed under Administrative Rule 40(a) do not appear in CourtView. For older cases before 1990, records may exist only as paper index cards. Contact the court clerk in Cordova or Valdez for those older requests.

Property Records in the Chugach Area

As an unorganized census area, the Chugach region has no borough-level property office. All real property records are maintained by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources Recorder's Office. The Valdez Recording District covers much of this census area. Recorded documents include deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, subdivision plats, and UCC financing statements. The Anchorage Recorder's Office handles recording for this district: 550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 108, Anchorage, AK 99501, phone 907-269-8875.

The DNR's Alaska Land Records Information System provides online access to search recorded documents. You can search by grantor or grantee name, document number, recording date, or legal description. Digital records cover 1970 to present. Older documents may require searching physical historic books. The system is free to search, and digital images of documents are viewable online.

Recording fees follow the statewide schedule under AS 40.17.030: $20 for the first page of any document and $5 for each additional page. Certified copies cost $5 per document plus copy charges. Documents can be submitted by mail to the Anchorage office or in person at either the Anchorage or Fairbanks recorder offices. Appointments for large volumes of 100 or more documents can be arranged outside normal office hours by calling 907-269-8875.

For land status research and geographic mapping, the Alaska Mapper provides a free interactive tool showing state land ownership, survey plats, and land use designations for the Chugach area. This is particularly useful for the Chugach region, which includes substantial state, federal, and Alaska Native corporation lands. It is a graphic illustration tool only; the source documents at the DNR remain the official record.

Law Enforcement Records

The Alaska State Troopers provide primary law enforcement for all communities in the Chugach Census Area. The Cordova Post serves the Cordova area and surrounding communities. The Valdez Post covers the eastern portion of the census area. Arrest records and incident reports from both areas are maintained by the Troopers.

For public records requests, contact the DPS Criminal Records and Identification Bureau at 5700 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99507, phone 907-269-5511. You can also submit requests to the relevant Trooper post. The Alaska Public Records Act (AS 40.25.120(a)) exempts certain law enforcement records from disclosure, including active investigation files, juvenile records, and confidential matters. Requests that are denied can be appealed to the agency head within 60 working days.

In some Chugach area communities, local public safety officers handle incidents. For events handled by local officers rather than the Troopers, requests may need to go to both the Troopers and the sponsoring organization. Criminal history background checks are available online through the Alaska DPS Self Service Request Portal at $20 per report. Fingerprint-based checks are also available for a more complete criminal history search.

Vital Records for Chugach Area Residents

Vital records for the Chugach Census Area are maintained by the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics. There are no local vital records offices in this unorganized area. All requests for birth, death, marriage, and divorce records go to the state office. You can order certified copies online through VitalChek.com, by mail using downloadable forms, or in person at the Anchorage office at 3901 Old Seward Highway, Suite 101, or the Juneau walk-in office.

Fees are $30 for the first certified copy and $25 for each additional copy of the same record. Online orders through VitalChek take 2-3 weeks. Mail and fax orders take 2-3 months. Access to non-historical records is restricted to the person listed on the record or their authorized representative. Records become historical and publicly available 100 years after birth and 50 years after death, marriage, or divorce. Contact the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics or email BVSOffice@alaska.gov with questions.

For special services including corrections to existing records, delayed birth registrations, or adoption-related matters, email BVSSpecialServices@alaska.gov. Note that only records for events occurring in Alaska can be ordered through this office. If a vital event happened in another state, contact that state's vital records office instead.

Public Records Rights Under APRA

Residents of the Chugach Census Area have the same public records rights as all Alaska residents under the Alaska Public Records Act (AS 40.25.100-40.25.295). Every person has the right to inspect a public record under AS 40.25.110. State agencies serving this area must respond to requests within 10 working days. Extensions may apply for large or complex requests under 2 AAC 96.325.

If a request takes more than five person-hours in a calendar month to fulfill, the agency can charge an hourly rate based on staff salary and benefits. Agencies may require advance payment before starting work on extensive requests. Fee waivers are available for requesters who can show that disclosure would significantly contribute to public understanding of government operations. Agencies must still provide a written reason for any denial, and appeals go to the agency head within 60 working days.

The Alaska Department of Law maintains guidance on APRA requests on its website. Under AS 40.25.115, agencies can charge for electronic services and database queries that require significant computer work to fulfill. The regulation at 2 AAC 96.355 governs the form of production, meaning agencies must provide records in the format requested when they already maintain them in that form or can easily convert them.

Cities in the Chugach Census Area

Valdez is a qualifying city with its own public records page.

Other communities in the Chugach Census Area include Cordova and various small settlements along Prince William Sound. Court filings for residents of Cordova go to the Cordova Magistrate Court. Valdez residents file at the Valdez Trial Court. Major cases from both areas transfer to Anchorage or Palmer Superior Courts.

Nearby Boroughs and Census Areas

These neighboring areas are served by similar state records systems. Pick the right area based on where the records were created.