Are you still looking for information on this? I had a contact for a guy in Arizona that is a retired miner that is offering his skills in doing just what you were asking about.

Shane,

It appears you are in Az. so this may not be of help, but Az may have the same thing
In California, you can go to the nearest BLM office and obtain a book "Locating and Patenting of Mining Claims and Mill sights in California"
Bought it in 06 for $15.00 if I remember correctly
Goes into every detail and the hoops you gotta jump through to set up a claim

DO YOUR HOME WORK, CROSS ALL THE T's AND DOT THE I's
The BLM will take your $$$, the claim you just filed with them is void for various reasons, they wont tell you and they wont refund the $$$
In California, it's the county that counts, all has to be cleared and noticed through them, or your just pi$$in in the wind

Good luck and have fun

Bill