County Recording
The process of filing a mining claim's location certificate with the county recorder's office where the claim is situated.
Detailed Definition
County recording is the process of filing a mining claim's location certificate (or location notice) with the county recorder's office in the county where the claim is located. It is a required step in perfecting a valid mining claim, in addition to filing with the BLM.
Requirements: - File the certificate of location with the county recorder in the county where the claim is situated - Filing must occur within the timeframe specified by state law (typically 90 days from the date of location) - Pay the applicable county recording fees - If a claim spans multiple counties, file in each county
Recorded documents: - Location certificates for new claims - Amended location certificates - Quitclaim deeds and other transfer documents - Affidavits of assessment work - Proof of annual labor - Notices of intent to hold
Importance of county recording: - Provides constructive notice to the public of the claim's existence - Establishes a public record of the claim boundaries, locator, and location date - Preserves the claim against subsequent locators - Required to maintain the claim's validity under most state laws
Relationship to BLM filing: Both county recording and BLM filing are required to perfect a valid mining claim: - County recording provides notice under state law - BLM filing satisfies federal requirements under FLPMA - Both must be completed within the applicable deadlines - Failure to record with either authority may invalidate the claim
Research value: County records provide important information not always available in BLM records, including detailed claim descriptions, transfer documents, and local filing histories.
Related Terms
Mining Claim
A parcel of land for which a claimant has asserted a right of possession and the right to develop and extract mineral resources.
BLM
The Bureau of Land Management, the federal agency that administers public lands including mining claim filings and maintenance.
Claim Staking
The physical and legal process of establishing a mining claim, including monumentation, posting notices, and filing with authorities.
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.