How to Find a Land Patent

Find a land patent online.

To successfully find a land patent, a titled parcel of land formerly owned by the U.S. government that was awarded to individuals for military service, you must collect relevant information before beginning your search.

The National Archives and Records Administration holds over 10 million land transactions recorded between the United States and individuals in 30 public land states. State archives hold the remaining 20 states' land patent records.

Documented land records provide important information about family history, ancestors, birth records, land usage, citizenship, economic status, military history, literacy, pension records, court and census information.

Instructions

1. Write down the complete name of the patentee person, the specific state for which the patent was awarded and any other geographic information available to clarify the search. The state containing the land involved in the transaction determines which archive holds the records for that particular land patent.

2. Navigate to the National Archives and Records Administration website to begin your search with the name of patentee and any information previously gathered.

3. View the states listed on the land records' page to determine which organization houses that state's land patent information. Narrow the search down to National Archives for Western states or Bureau of Land Management for Eastern states. Click on the appropriate link listed to continue the proper search.

4. Search the Bureau of Land Management for patented or unpatented transactions prior to July 1908. Obtain these necessary four pieces of information: name and state of patentee, land office of entry, type of entry and final file number or certificate. Search the National Archives' Eastern or Western tract books for the official land patent with this information.

5. Access the National Archives' tract book index map, with the name and state of patentee, for hard-to-find transactions after July 1908. Read the map to find the land surveys of that state, and locate the appropriate numbered township indicating the Western or Eastern tract book volume number needed for the final search.

6. Search that specific tract book by state and volume number, then locate the recorded land entry. Find the numbered section, township and range listed on the left side of the page. Extract the land patent information needed, and examine the case file.

Tips & Warnings

• Access to the National Archives and Records Administration is provided for disabled people.

References

• National Archives and Records Administration: Land Records
• Nationa Archives and Records Administration: Research in the Land Entry Files of the General Land Office

Resources

• National Archives and Records Administration: Land Records
• Bureau of Land Management: General Land Office Records
• National Archives and Records Administration: Access for Persons With Disabilities