Where To Find Family Court Records In Alaska?

Family court records in Alaska are managed at the district court, where the case was resolved. The Alaska trial court is divided into four judicial districts that have jurisdiction over domestic-related issues. Requesters can use the Alaska Court Directory to find the court where the case was settled. Afterward, contact the clerk of court via mail or in-person to obtain the records.

The records contained in documents related to family court include both marriage and divorce records. Both types of records contain information that is considered very personal to the parties involved, and it is recommended that those parties maintain these records with care in order to make changes in the future. The personal nature of these records results in both being considerably more difficult to find and obtain when compared to other types of public records. In many cases, these records are not available through either government sources or third party public record websites.

What Is Family Law In Alaska?

In Alaska, family laws are legal statutes involving all domestic-related issues such as marriage, divorce, annulment, domestic violence, adoption, child custody, and child support. The laws serve as a guide for judicial proceedings of family court cases. They are found under Title 25 (Marital And Domestic Relations) of the Alaska Statutes.

• Chapter 05. Alaska Marriage Code
• Chapter 15. Husband and Wife
• Chapter 20. Parent and Child
• Chapter 23. Adoption
• Chapter 24. Divorce and Dissolution of Marriage
• Chapter 25. Uniform Interstate Family Support Act
• Chapter 27. Child Support Services Agency
• Chapter 30. Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act
• Chapter 35. Domestic Violence

What Are Family Court Cases And Records In Alaska?

In Alaska, cases involving persons related by blood and legal union are known as family court cases. These cases are resolved at any of the four district courts in Alaska. Examples of such cases are:

• Validity of marriage
• Divorce
• Child custody or visitation
• Child support or spousal support
• Domestic violence
• Adoption

A plaintiff can begin a family court case by filing a complaint at the court clerk’s office. Also, the clerk of the court is required to document the judicial proceedings of the case. The court maintains these documents as family court records.

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. These websites often make searching simpler, as they are not limited by geographic location, and search engines on these sites may help when starting a search for a specific or multiple records. To begin using such a search engine on a third-party or government website, interested parties usually must provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that the person resides in or was accused of.

Third-party sites are independent from government sources, and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party sites may vary.

Are Family Court Cases Public Records In Alaska?

According to the Alaska Public Records Act, files created by all public agencies should be open to the public for copying or inspection. As such, family court records can be obtained by querying the authorized record custodian. Note that some information contains sensitive details that may not be open to the public. Examples of such information are juvenile records, finance information, psychological reports, etc. Sensitive/confidential documents are only accessible to the record holder, the record holder’s legal representative, or through a court order.

How Do I Find Family Court Records In Alaska?

Generally, family court records are maintained by the clerk of the court where the family case was resolved. Therefore, requesters may obtain the records by submitting only mail, email, fax, or in-person requests to the district court clerk. For instance, residents living in Anchorage, Sand Point, and Saint Paul Island may fill and send a request form to:

Anchorage Address

825 W 4th Ave

Anchorage AK 99501

Phone: (907) 264-0491

Fax: (907) 264 0873

Request form for Fairbank residents should be submitted to:

Fairbank Address

101 Lacey Street

Fairbanks AK 99701

Fax: (907) 452 9330

Email: 4FArecords@akcourts.us

Request form for Palmer residents should be sent to:

Palmer Address

435 South Denali Street

Palmer AK 99645

Fax: (907) 746-4151

Email: 3PACopyRequests@akcourts.us

Requesters living in other areas should locate the district court where the case was heard before submitting their request form. Each requested copy cost $5, while additional copies made at the same time cost $3. Certified copies cost $10, while authenticated/exemplified copies cost $15.

Divorce and marriage records may be available through government sources and organizations, though their availability cannot be guaranteed. This is also true of their availability through third-party websites and companies, as these organizations are not government-sponsored, and record availability may vary further. Finally, marriage and divorce records are considered extremely private due to the information they contain and are often sealed. Bearing these factors in mind, record availability for these types of documents cannot be guaranteed.

How Do I Find Family Court Records Online?

The Alaska court system maintains a central repository for accessing family court records. Interested persons can access the online search platform by using the court case number or essential details of the case. The important details should include the names of involved persons or companies, the case type, case status, and party type.

What Is Alaska Custody Law?

Alaska custody law was established to settle disagreements involving child custody arrangements. The law becomes necessary during the dissolution of a union with children, adoption, child abuse, or violence. In Alaska, sections of law created to resolve custody cases include:

• Sec. 25.24.150: Judgments for custody and supervised visitation
• Sec. 25.20.110: Modification of child custody
• Sec. 25.20.090: Factors for shared custody
• Sec. 25.20.070: Temporary custody of the child
• Sec. 25.20.065: Grandparent’s visitation right
• Sec. 25.20.140: Failing to grant visitation right for a minor
• Sec. 25.30.300: Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA)

The Alaska custody law also serves as a guide for deciding the best interests of the child. According to Sec. 25.24.150, the district court must consider certain factors before the custody is granted. These are:

• The child’s emotional, physical, psychological, social and religious needs;
• The parent’s ability and willingness to meet those needs;
• The personal opinion of a child (provided the child is above the minor age)
• The love and compassion that occurs between each of the parent and the child
• The living condition of the child and its effect over an extended time;
• Any indications of domestic violence, child abuse or child neglect in the established custodial residence or a history of parental violence;

Proof that the misuse of drugs by either parent or other domestic partners directly impacts the child’s mental or physical health;

How To Find Family Court Lawyers In Alaska?

Hiring a lawyer in Alaska is very important in family court cases. A lawyer can offer informed and professional advice. Besides, a legal attorney will do the necessary research of the case, communicate productively with opposing parties, and represent the plaintiff/defendant throughout court proceedings. Involved persons may use the Alaska Lawyer Directory provided by the Alaska Bar Association to find family court lawyers. The association also offers Lawyer Referral Service for divorce, custody, and adoption cases. This service provides users with the names and telephone details of three lawyers who are active in their location. Plaintiffs or defendants who want to represent themselves can find all the necessary information on the Alaska court system’s family self-help web page.