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Anchorage, AK Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Alaska Superior Court at the Anchorage court |
| Courthouse address | Nesbett Courthouse, 825 W 4th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501. The Boney Courthouse is at 303 K Street, Anchorage, AK 99501. Check any hearing notice for the building and room. |
| Mailing address | 825 W 4th Ave, Anchorage AK 99501 |
| Probate line | (907) 264-0433 |
| Customer service | (907) 264-0514 |
| Fax | (907) 264-0873, labeled by the court for RECORD REQUESTS ONLY with TF-311 ANCH. The Anchorage email and fax filing directory separately lists [email protected] and fax (907) 264-0598 for probate filings in already open cases, excluding wills, subject to Civil Rule 5.1. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Court offices are closed on state-observed holidays. |
| Filing fee | $250 to open a probate of estates case, effective May 1, 2023, under Administrative Rule 9. Use TF-920 to ask for a fee waiver. |
| Local forms | Anchorage publishes no local probate form set. Use the statewide P-series forms and TF-311 ANCH for Anchorage case-file copy requests. |
| E-filing status | TrueFiling exists statewide, but estates, trusts and wills are still listed as paper-file case types that cannot be submitted through TrueFiling. Check courts.alaska.gov/eFile/index.htm before filing because the court system says probate is planned to transition by the end of 2026. |
| Case search | CourtView Public Access at records.courts.alaska.gov. Anchorage probate case numbers use 3AN and the PR suffix. |
| Remote appearance | Telephonic, video or internet participation is not automatic. The court may allow it under Civil Rule 99, and the meeting ID comes from the court or the hearing notice. |
| Website | https://courts.alaska.gov/courtdir/3an.htm |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose an Anchorage probate form, list what the person owned, how each asset was titled, and what debts may need to be handled. A co-owned home, a payable-on-death account, retirement benefits, or Native corporation stock can change what belongs in the estate settlement (AS 13.16.705).
Sunset helps families start with that asset picture. Sunset searches roughly 2,300 financial institutions, organizes the results, and uses them to build a local estate settlement plan before you file at the Anchorage court.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate in Anchorage is organized around an Alaska Court System court location, not a civil subdivision. Anchorage sits in the Municipality of Anchorage, a unified home-rule municipality. Alaska's civil subdivisions are boroughs, unified municipalities and census areas, and more than half the state lies in the Unorganized Borough; probate venue follows none of them, it follows the judicial district.
Venue for the first informal probate or formal probate proceeding lies in the judicial district where the person who died was domiciled, or in an Alaska judicial district tied to property or a fiduciary if the person was not domiciled in Alaska (AS 13.16.055). The Anchorage court is in the Third Judicial District, and probate is heard in the superior court, Alaska's trial court of general jurisdiction (AS 22.10.020).
An Anchorage probate case number usually begins with 3AN and ends in PR, for example 3AN-26-01234PR. A deposited will uses the WI suffix, and the court system says wills deposited with Alaska courts can be searched by name in CourtView at records.courts.alaska.gov.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the estate assets, debts, title documents, beneficiary designations, and the original will if there is one. Use that information to decide whether Anchorage probate is needed and which statewide route fits the estate.
- Choose the opening packet. For informal probate with a will, the statewide forms include P-315, P-316, and P-335, with informal probate governed by AS 13.16.080 and letters testamentary issued as the authority document under AS 13.16.015. For no-will informal probate, use the corresponding P-325, P-326, and P-336 forms, with letters of administration under AS 13.16.015. For formal probate, use the statewide formal request forms, including P-320 when there is a will, under AS 13.16.145.
- Sign the request and acceptance before a notary or clerk. The Alaska Court System says notary services are free at state court offices.
- File the paper packet at the Nesbett Courthouse, 825 W 4th Avenue, during the Anchorage court's published hours, or mail it to 825 W 4th Ave, Anchorage AK 99501. Estates, trusts and wills cannot be submitted through TrueFiling as of the court system's current e-filing page, courts.alaska.gov/eFile/index.htm.
- Pay the $250 filing fee, effective May 1, 2023, under Administrative Rule 9, or include TF-920 to ask for a fee waiver.
- Give the court the original will if there is one. The original will must reach the court on paper, and Anchorage's probate email and fax filing directory excludes wills.
- Wait for the court to act on the request and issue the appropriate letters. Ask the Anchorage probate line at (907) 264-0433 whether signed letters are ready and ask for enough certified copies for banks, title work, and other estate settlement tasks.
- After appointment, publish notice to creditors as required in the judicial district under AS 13.16.450, handle claims under AS 13.16.460, collect assets, pay valid expenses, and distribute property according to the governing route.
- If a hearing is set, read the hearing notice for the building, room, and meeting information. Telephonic, video or internet participation may be allowed by the court under Civil Rule 99, but it is not automatic.
- Track the case in CourtView at records.courts.alaska.gov using the name or the 3AN case number, and use TF-311 ANCH when you need copies from the Anchorage case file.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Anchorage
Anchorage uses Alaska's statewide probate forms. The Anchorage court publishes no local probate form set or local probate cover sheet, but it does publish Anchorage-specific records forms, including TF-311 ANCH for case-file copy requests.
| Situation | Forms to start with | Anchorage note |
|---|---|---|
| Informal probate with a will | P-315 Request to Start Informal Probate and Appoint a Personal Representative When There Is a Will, P-316, and P-335 Acceptance of Duties by Personal Representative and Letters Testamentary by Court (AS 13.16.080; AS 13.16.015) | Bring or mail the original will. The original will must reach the court on paper. |
| Informal probate with no will | P-325, P-326, and P-336 Acceptance of Duties by Personal Representative and Letters of Administration by Court (AS 13.16.080; AS 13.16.015) | Use the Anchorage probate line, (907) 264-0433, if you are unsure whether the letters are ready for pickup or mailing. |
| Formal probate with a will | P-320 Request to Start Formal Probate and Appoint a Personal Representative When There Is a Will, with P-321 (AS 13.16.145) | The Anchorage court sets any hearing and the notice controls the building, room, and remote access details. |
| Priority or bond issues | P-306 for nominating a personal representative with equal or lower priority, and P-334 for waiver of bond requirement | Use these only when the facts fit the statewide instructions. |
| Fee waiver | TF-920 Request for Exemption from Payment of Fees | File it with the opening packet if you cannot pay the $250 filing fee, effective May 1, 2023, under Administrative Rule 9. |
| Copies from an Anchorage case file | TF-311 ANCH | The Anchorage fax (907) 264-0873 is labeled RECORD REQUESTS ONLY and is tied to this form. |
Local nuance
Anchorage-specific considerations
| Consideration | What it means in Anchorage |
|---|---|
| Two courthouse buildings | The Nesbett Courthouse at 825 W 4th Avenue is the published filing and mailing address. The Boney Courthouse at 303 K Street holds the Alaska Supreme Court courtroom used for Anchorage oral arguments and the Anchorage Law Library. Check the hearing notice for the building and room. |
| Dedicated probate line | The Anchorage court publishes a probate line, (907) 264-0433, separate from customer service at (907) 264-0514. Use the probate line for estate settlement questions about an Anchorage filing. |
| Standing masters | At Anchorage the court system publishes standing master conference lines. Under Probate Rule 2 the presiding judge may appoint a standing master to conduct decedent estate hearings, and a standing master in probate serves as registrar (Probate Rule 2). Alaska law lets registrar functions be performed by a judge or a person the court designates in writing (AS 13.06.090). A master's report or recommendation is not binding until approved by a superior court judge, and objections are due within 10 days unless the court provides otherwise (Probate Rule 2). |
| Public administrator | The Third Judicial District's public administrator is based at the Anchorage court. The published number is (907) 264-0415. The role applies when administration is required by law and no one else applies within 30 days after the death (AS 22.20.410 through AS 22.20.440). |
| Older Anchorage cases | Anchorage cases went into CourtView on October 20, 2003. An older estate may require a records request through the Anchorage court instead of an online lookup. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Most uncontested Anchorage spouse matters start with the informal probate packet. Gather the death certificate, original will if there is one, P-315, P-316, and P-335 when there is a will, or the no-will equivalents if not. File at 825 W 4th Avenue or by mail, and ask for certified copies of the letters for the bank and title work. How the home is titled decides whether it belongs in the estate settlement. | Sunset finds accounts across roughly 2,300 financial institutions, organizes title and beneficiary questions, and assembles the Anchorage filing packet. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate (AS 13.16.690) | Use mail to send the Anchorage packet to 825 W 4th Ave, Anchorage AK 99501, pay the $250 filing fee effective May 1, 2023, under Administrative Rule 9 or include TF-920, and track the case in CourtView at records.courts.alaska.gov. Call (907) 264-0433 to ask whether letters are ready. Whether the estate qualifies for Alaska's statewide small estate procedure is a state-law question and still starts with an informal case. | Sunset builds the mail-in packet, helps identify the accounts before filing, and gives the out-of-state child one Anchorage phone number and case-search path to use. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | With no will, the opening forms are P-325, P-326, and P-336, and the authority document is letters of administration under AS 13.16.015. A sale makes notice to creditors and claim handling important under AS 13.16.450 and AS 13.16.460. If a hearing is set, the hearing notice controls; a decedent estate hearing may be conducted by a standing master whose recommendation is handled under Probate Rule 2. | Sunset prepares the packet, organizes the asset information a sale depends on, and connects the parent to a vetted Anchorage probate attorney when a contested sale needs legal help. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage court probate line | Questions about Anchorage estate filings, letters, and local handling. | (907) 264-0433 |
| Anchorage court customer service | General court questions and routing. | (907) 264-0514 |
| Alaska Court System probate self-help hub | Statewide probate instructions, including informal probate, formal probate, small estates, debts and creditors, wills, intestacy, and glossary pages. | https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/probate/index.htm |
| Statewide probate forms index | The P-series probate forms used in Anchorage and across Alaska. | https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/probate/forms.htm |
| AVA, the Alaska Virtual Assistant | The court system's probate chatbot. | https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/AVA/ava.htm |
| Anchorage Law Library | Law library at 303 K Street, Anchorage AK 99501. Open Monday through Thursday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, and Sunday, 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm, and by appointment in advance. | (907) 264-0585 |
| Alaska Court System law library service | Remote law library help. | (907) 264-0856, toll free (888) 282-2082, [email protected] |
| Alaska Lawyer Referral Service | Alaska Bar Association service that gives names of probate lawyers. | https://alaskabar.org/for-lawyers/lawyer-referral-service/ |
| Alaska Bar Association probate lawyer resources | Estate Planning and Probate Law Section directory and unbundled legal services list for limited-scope help. | https://alaskabar.org/ |
| Alaska Legal Services Corporation, Anchorage office | Alaska's civil legal aid provider. Ask about eligibility and available help. | 1016 West Sixth Avenue, Suite 200, Anchorage AK 99501, (907) 272-9431, toll free 1-888-478-2572, [email protected] |
| alaskalawhelp.org | Plain-language probate presentations linked by the Alaska Court System. | https://alaskalawhelp.org/classroom/the-basics-of-probate |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches roughly 2,300 financial institutions, helps identify accounts and title issues, and gives the family a clearer starting point for Anchorage estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset uses the family information to assemble the statewide Alaska forms used at the Anchorage court, including the right informal probate or formal probate request forms with AS 13.16.080 or AS 13.16.145 context.
Find a local probate attorney. When a sale, dispute, creditor issue, Native corporation question (AS 13.16.705), or hearing makes legal help important, Sunset connects the family with a vetted Anchorage probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset's estate settlement tools help families organize the work before they pay for court fees, certified copies, or professional help.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Anchorage?
File with the Alaska Superior Court at the Anchorage court at the Nesbett Courthouse, 825 W 4th Avenue, or by mail to 825 W 4th Ave, Anchorage AK 99501. Anchorage is in the Third Judicial District, and venue for the first probate proceeding follows the judicial district under AS 13.16.055. The superior court handles probate under AS 22.10.020.
Can I file an Anchorage probate case online?
No. Alaska uses TrueFiling in every court location, but the Alaska Court System lists Estates, Trusts, Wills, and Will Registration as paper-file case types that cannot be submitted through TrueFiling. The court system says probate is planned to transition by the end of 2026, so check courts.alaska.gov/eFile/index.htm before filing.
What does it cost to open an estate case in Anchorage?
The filing fee is $250, effective May 1, 2023, under Administrative Rule 9. If you cannot pay it, file TF-920 with the opening papers to ask for a fee waiver.
Is there a phone number for probate questions at the Anchorage court?
Yes. The Anchorage probate line is (907) 264-0433. Customer service is (907) 264-0514.
Can I take part in an Anchorage probate hearing by phone?
The court may allow telephonic, video or internet participation for good cause and when it will not substantially prejudice another party (Civil Rule 99). Anchorage publishes toll-free conference lines, but the meeting ID comes from the court or your hearing notice.
How do I look up an Anchorage probate case?
Use CourtView Public Access at records.courts.alaska.gov. Anchorage probate case numbers use the 3AN prefix and PR suffix. CourtView is a docket index, not a place to download case-file documents.
Does the Anchorage court have its own probate forms?
Anchorage publishes no local probate form set. Use the Alaska statewide P-series forms at courts.alaska.gov/shc/probate/forms.htm. Use TF-311 ANCH when you need copies from an Anchorage case file.
Do I have to travel to Anchorage to settle the estate?
Not for every step. You can mail the paper opening packet to the Anchorage court, call the probate line about letters, and track the case through CourtView at records.courts.alaska.gov. If a hearing is set, ask the court whether participation by telephone or video is possible under Civil Rule 99.
Which Anchorage courthouse do I go to?
Use the Nesbett Courthouse at 825 W 4th Avenue for filing and mail. The Boney Courthouse at 303 K Street houses the Alaska Supreme Court courtroom used for Anchorage oral arguments and the Anchorage Law Library. For a hearing, follow the hearing notice.
What if nobody will serve as personal representative?
The Third Judicial District's public administrator is based at the Anchorage court, and the published number is (907) 264-0415. The public administrator administers an estate when administration is required by law and no one else applies within 30 days after the death (AS 22.20.410 through AS 22.20.440).
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.