Certificate of Location
The formal written document that records the essential details of a mining claim, posted at the discovery monument and filed with authorities.
Detailed Definition
A certificate of location is the formal written document that records the essential details of a mining claim. It is posted at the discovery monument on the claim and recorded with the county and BLM to establish and perfect the locator's rights.
Required information: - Name of the claim - Name(s) of the locator(s) - Date of location - Type of claim (lode, placer, mill site, or tunnel site) - Legal description (PLSS, metes and bounds, or coordinates) - Number of acres claimed - Description of the discovery or mineral found - Description of the claim boundaries and monuments
Filing requirements: - Posted at the discovery monument on the claim - Recorded with the county recorder's office (typically within 90 days) - Filed with the BLM state office (within 90 days) - BLM location fee paid ($50 per claim as of 2025)
Distinction from location notice: While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, the certificate of location is typically the more formal recorded document, while the location notice is the document physically posted at the claim site. Some states distinguish between the two; others treat them as the same document.
Amendments: If claim boundaries, ownership, or other details change, an amended certificate of location may be filed to update the record.
Related Terms
Claim Staking
The physical and legal process of establishing a mining claim, including monumentation, posting notices, and filing with authorities.
Location Notice
The official document posted at a mining claim and filed with authorities to establish claim rights.
Paper
The act of posting and affixing the certificate of location (location notice) to the discovery monument on a mining claim.
Amended Location
A revision to an existing mining claim's boundaries, description, or other details filed with the recording office and BLM.