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Cordova, AK Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Cordova court information |
|---|---|
| Court | Alaska Superior Court at the Cordova court, Third Judicial District (AS 22.10.020; AS 13.16.055) |
| Courthouse address | 500 Water Street, Cordova, AK 99574 |
| Mailing address | PO Box 898, Cordova, AK 99574 |
| Phone | (907) 424-7312. Cordova publishes this as customer service and does not publish a separate probate line. |
| Fax | (907) 424-7581, published under FILING & RECORD REQUESTS. Fax use for filings is governed by Civil Rule 5.1. |
| [email protected], published under FILING & RECORD REQUESTS. Electronic mail use for filings is governed by Civil Rule 5.1. | |
| Hours | Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am to 12 noon and 12:45 pm to 4:00 pm; Friday, 8:30 am to 11:30 am. Call (907) 424-7312 before going. |
| Filing fee | $250 to open a probate of estates case, set by Administrative Rule 9 and published by the Alaska Court System as effective May 1, 2023. A fee waiver request uses TF-920. |
| Local forms | The Alaska Court System publishes statewide P series probate forms. Cordova does not publish local probate forms of its own. |
| E filing status | TrueFiling exists statewide, but estates, trusts and wills are not on it. The Alaska Court System says those case types still have paper case files as the official court record and cannot be submitted through TrueFiling, with probate planned to transition by the end of 2026. Check before filing: courts.alaska.gov/eFile/index.htm. |
| Case search | CourtView Public Access at records.courts.alaska.gov. A Cordova estate case number begins 3CO and probate cases end PR. |
| Remote appearance | Telephonic, video or internet participation is not automatic. The court may allow it under Civil Rule 99. Cordova's published conference line is 1-888-788-0099 and the Cordova meeting ID is 621 161 1872. |
| Court website | courts.alaska.gov/courtdir/3co.htm |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Cordova, make a practical asset and debt list. Separate assets that already have a joint owner or beneficiary from assets that may need letters testamentary or letters of administration before a bank, title company or buyer will work with you (AS 13.16.015).
Sunset helps families start estate settlement by searching across more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and assets, then organizing what you find into the information a Cordova filing packet needs.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for people who lived in and around Cordova is filed with the Alaska Superior Court at the Cordova court, one of the Alaska Court System's trial court locations in the Third Judicial District. Venue for the first probate proceeding lies in the judicial district where the person who died was domiciled (AS 13.16.055(a)(1); AS 22.10.020).
Cordova sits in the Chugach Census Area, and the Cordova court is the Alaska Court System location that serves it.
Alaska has no separate court for decedents' estates: estate settlement is a case class of the superior court, the state's trial court of general jurisdiction, whose jurisdiction extends over the whole of the state and which sits at court locations grouped into four judicial districts (AS 22.10.010; AS 22.10.020). Papers are filed with the clerk of court at the Cordova court, and venue for the first proceeding lies in the judicial district where the person who died was domiciled (AS 13.16.055). Alaska's other trial court, the district court, is a court of limited jurisdiction and does not hear estates (AS 22.15.010). 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.
The Cordova court is an Alaska Court System location in the Third Judicial District. A magistrate judge presides locally; the superior court judges who handle estate settlement in this judicial district sit at Anchorage, Palmer, Kenai, Kodiak, Homer, Valdez and Dillingham, and the superior court's jurisdiction runs over the whole of the state (AS 22.10.020). Venue for a first probate proceeding is the judicial district where the person who died was domiciled, so a Cordova estate is a Third Judicial District case (AS 13.16.055). Papers and questions go to the Cordova court at the address and number below, and hearings are commonly held by telephone (Civil Rule 99).
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the certified death certificate, the original will if there is one, the asset and debt information, and the names and addresses needed for the statewide Alaska Court System forms. The original will should be delivered or mailed in paper form.
- Choose the correct statewide form set. For informal probate with a will, use P-315, P-316 and P-335 (AS 13.16.080). For informal probate without a will, use P-325, P-326 and P-336 (AS 13.16.080). If the matter needs formal probate, use the appropriate formal request, including P-320 for a will case or P-330 for a no will case (AS 13.16.145).
- File with the clerk of court at the Cordova court, 500 Water Street, Cordova, AK 99574, during the Cordova hours: Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am to 12 noon and 12:45 pm to 4:00 pm; Friday, 8:30 am to 11:30 am. You may also mail the packet to PO Box 898, Cordova, AK 99574.
- If you plan to use the Cordova court's published fax or email, call (907) 424-7312 first. The court publishes (907) 424-7581 and [email protected] under FILING & RECORD REQUESTS, but filing by fax or electronic mail is allowed only as Civil Rule 5.1 permits, and the filer keeps the original document unless the court orders otherwise.
- Pay the $250 probate of estates filing fee, set by Administrative Rule 9 and published as effective May 1, 2023, or submit TF-920 if you are asking for a fee waiver.
- If the filing is formal probate, the court schedules a hearing and notice follows the formal probate process (AS 13.16.145). If the filing is informal probate, the court reviews the request without the same hearing path used for formal probate (AS 13.16.080).
- Ask the court how the hearing will be handled before making travel plans. Telephonic, video or internet participation is not automatic, but the court may allow it for good cause under Civil Rule 99. Cordova's published conference line is 1-888-788-0099 and the Cordova meeting ID is 621 161 1872.
- If the requirements are met, the court issues the statement starting the case and the letters. Letters testamentary are used when there is a will, and letters of administration are used when there is not; administration begins when letters issue (AS 13.16.015).
- Use the letters to collect assets, manage bills, transfer property that belongs in the estate, request extra certified copies while you are at the counter if you need them, and close the case with the proper statewide closing form when administration is complete.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Cordova
The Alaska Court System publishes a statewide set of probate forms, the P series, and the Cordova court does not publish local probate forms of its own; the statewide forms are the ones to use.
| Need | Forms to start with |
|---|---|
| Informal probate with a will | P-315, Request to Start Informal Probate and Appoint a Personal Representative When There Is a Will; P-316, Statement Starting Informal Probate and Appointing a Personal Representative When There is a Will; P-335, Acceptance of Duties by Personal Representative and Letters Testamentary by Court (AS 13.16.080; AS 13.16.015) |
| Informal probate without a will | P-325, Request to Start Informal Probate and Appoint a Personal Representative When There is No Will; P-326, Statement Starting Informal Probate and Appointing a Personal Representative When There is No Will; P-336, Acceptance of Duties by Personal Representative and Letters of Administration by Court (AS 13.16.080; AS 13.16.015) |
| Formal probate | P-320 for a will case or P-330 for a no will case, depending on the situation (AS 13.16.145) |
| Fee waiver | TF-920, Request for Exemption from Payment of Fees, filed with the case if you cannot afford the $250 fee set by Administrative Rule 9 and published as effective May 1, 2023 |
| Copies from a Cordova case file | TF-311 for all locations other than Anchorage, Fairbanks and Palmer. Cordova publishes a fax and email for filing and record requests, and Civil Rule 5.1 governs use of those channels for filings. |
Local nuance
Cordova-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means in Cordova |
|---|---|
| Short and split counter hours | The Cordova counter is open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am to 12 noon and 12:45 pm to 4:00 pm; Friday, 8:30 am to 11:30 am. Call (907) 424-7312 before going, especially if your filing needs a notary or clerk signature. |
| Fax and email label | Cordova publishes (907) 424-7581 and [email protected] under FILING & RECORD REQUESTS. Not every Alaska location uses that label. Use those channels for a filing only as Civil Rule 5.1 permits, and ask the Cordova court what it wants for a probate opening. |
| Mail route | Mail goes to PO Box 898, Cordova, AK 99574. For a location with a short Friday schedule, mailing the packet or arranging records through TF-311 can be more practical than timing a counter trip. |
| Local magistrate judge and superior court authority | A magistrate judge presides locally at Cordova. The estate case is still a Third Judicial District superior court matter, and the superior court's jurisdiction extends over the whole state (AS 22.10.020; AS 13.16.055). |
| Telephone hearing logistics | Cordova publishes a toll free conference line, 1-888-788-0099, and meeting ID 621 161 1872. Telephonic, video or internet participation is governed by Civil Rule 99, and the judge can set the format for a particular hearing. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Cordova path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by separating what passes by co-ownership or beneficiary designation from what still needs court authority. If a probate case must be opened, file with the clerk of court at 500 Water Street or mail to PO Box 898. The counter runs Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am to 12 noon and 12:45 pm to 4:00 pm, and Friday, 8:30 am to 11:30 am, so call (907) 424-7312 and plan the visit inside one of those windows. | Sunset helps identify accounts, beneficiary designations and property records so the spouse can decide what actually needs estate settlement before filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Review the statewide guidance before opening a case. Alaska's small estate procedure still runs inside an informal probate case (AS 13.16.690). If a case is needed for someone domiciled in and around Cordova, it is a Third Judicial District case (AS 13.16.055). Papers can go by mail to PO Box 898, and the Cordova court publishes fax and email for filings and record requests, subject to Civil Rule 5.1. Ask the court at (907) 424-7312 first. | Sunset helps gather account information remotely, build a document checklist, and decide whether a local attorney should review the packet before anything is sent. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale normally requires an appointed personal representative with letters testamentary or letters of administration (AS 13.16.015). File at the Cordova court or by mail, budget the $250 probate of estates fee set by Administrative Rule 9 and published as effective May 1, 2023, or ask about a fee waiver with TF-920. Ask for extra certified copies of the letters while you are at the counter rather than planning a second trip in a week whose Friday ends at 11:30 am. | Sunset organizes the asset picture, generates the probate packet, and can connect the parent with a vetted probate attorney for the sale and closing steps. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact or website |
|---|---|---|
| Cordova court | Address, mailing address, hours, customer service, and the court's published fax and email for filing and record requests. | 500 Water Street, Cordova, AK 99574; PO Box 898, Cordova, AK 99574; (907) 424-7312; courts.alaska.gov/courtdir/3co.htm |
| Alaska Court System probate self help hub | Plain language guidance on starting a case, duties after appointment, debts, distribution, wills, intestacy, a glossary and flowcharts. | courts.alaska.gov/shc/probate/index.htm |
| Statewide probate forms | The P series forms used in Cordova and throughout Alaska. | courts.alaska.gov/shc/probate/forms.htm |
| AVA, the Alaska Virtual Assistant | The court system's own virtual assistant for probate estate questions. | courts.alaska.gov/shc/AVA/ava.htm |
| CourtView Public Access | Free docket lookup by case number or name. Cordova estate case numbers begin 3CO and probate cases end PR. | records.courts.alaska.gov |
| Alaska Court System law libraries | Remote help by phone and email. Do not assume there is a staffed law library room at the Cordova court. | 1-888-282-2082; [email protected]; courts.alaska.gov/library/locations.htm |
| Alaska Lawyer Referral Service | Referral to lawyers who practice in the probate area. | courts.alaska.gov/shc/probate/resources.htm |
| Fee waiver form | TF-920 is filed with the case if you cannot afford the $250 probate fee set by Administrative Rule 9 and published as effective May 1, 2023. | public.courts.alaska.gov/web/forms/docs/tf-920.pdf |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is especially useful in Cordova when family members disagree, the estate needs formal probate under AS 13.16.145, a sale requires clean authority from letters testamentary or letters of administration under AS 13.16.015, assets are hard to identify, or you are trying to manage the case from outside Alaska. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps families find accounts, insurance, benefits and property information that may affect whether a Cordova probate filing is needed.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized estate settlement packet using the Alaska Court System's statewide forms, including the Cordova court address, mailing address and local filing details.
Find a local probate attorney. When a case is contested, involves a sale, or needs formal probate under AS 13.16.145, Sunset can help you connect with a vetted probate attorney familiar with Alaska procedure.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, find assets, create next step checklists and understand what to file in Cordova without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Cordova?
File with the clerk of court at the Cordova court, 500 Water Street, Cordova, AK 99574, or mail the packet to PO Box 898, Cordova, AK 99574. A Cordova estate is a Third Judicial District case because venue for the first probate proceeding follows the judicial district where the person who died was domiciled (AS 13.16.055).
What are the Cordova court's hours?
The Cordova court is open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am to 12 noon and 12:45 pm to 4:00 pm; Friday, 8:30 am to 11:30 am. Call (907) 424-7312 before going.
Can I file probate electronically in Cordova?
TrueFiling operates statewide, but estates, trusts and wills are not on it. The Alaska Court System says those case types still have paper case files as the official court record and cannot be submitted through TrueFiling. The court system says probate is planned to transition by the end of 2026, so check before you file: courts.alaska.gov/eFile/index.htm.
Can I email or fax papers to the Cordova court?
The Cordova court publishes (907) 424-7581 and [email protected] under FILING & RECORD REQUESTS. Filing by fax or electronic mail is governed by Civil Rule 5.1, so ask the Cordova court at (907) 424-7312 what it wants for a probate opening before sending anything. Expect the original will to travel on paper.
Is there a judge in Cordova for a probate case?
A magistrate judge presides locally at Cordova. The superior court judges who handle estate settlement in the Third Judicial District sit at Anchorage, Palmer, Kenai, Kodiak, Homer, Valdez and Dillingham, and the superior court's jurisdiction runs over the whole state (AS 22.10.020). Papers and questions still go to the Cordova court, and venue remains a Third Judicial District matter (AS 13.16.055).
Can I take part in a Cordova probate hearing by telephone?
Telephonic, video or internet participation is not automatic, but the court may allow it under Civil Rule 99. Cordova's published conference line is 1-888-788-0099, and the Cordova meeting ID is 621 161 1872. Under the Alaska Supreme Court's statewide order on remote and in person hearings, hearings in a probate case are presumptively remote apart from a listed set that includes contested estate hearings, and the judge can change the format for a particular hearing (Supreme Court Order No. 2012, effective November 13, 2023).
How much does it cost to open a probate case in Cordova?
The fee is $250 to open a probate of estates case, set by Administrative Rule 9 and published by the Alaska Court System as effective May 1, 2023. If you cannot afford it, submit TF-920 with the case to ask for a fee waiver.
Are there Cordova probate forms?
The Cordova court does not publish local probate forms of its own. Use the Alaska Court System's statewide P series forms, including P-315, P-316 and P-335 for informal probate with a will, or P-325, P-326 and P-336 for informal probate without a will (AS 13.16.080; AS 13.16.015).
How do I look up a Cordova probate case?
Use CourtView Public Access at records.courts.alaska.gov. It is free and does not require registration. A Cordova estate case number begins 3CO and ends PR; case number searches require dashes, leading zeroes and a five digit sequence. CourtView is a docket index, not a document library.
Do I have to travel to Anchorage to settle an estate for someone from Cordova?
Not just to start the case. Papers go to the Cordova court, and most informal probate matters proceed without a hearing (AS 13.16.080). If a hearing is set, ask the Cordova court about the hearing format and the published telephone conference line under Civil Rule 99 before making travel plans.
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.