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Fairbanks, AK Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Fairbanks court information |
|---|---|
| Court | Alaska Superior Court at the Fairbanks court, Fourth Judicial District (AS 22.10.020; AS 13.16.055) |
| Courthouse address | Rabinowitz Courthouse, 101 Lacey Street, Fairbanks, AK 99701 |
| Mailing address | Alaska Court System, 101 Lacey Street, Fairbanks, AK 99701 |
| Probate phone | (907) 452-9256, labeled Probate by the Alaska Court System |
| Customer service phone | (907) 452-9277 |
| Records-request fax | (907) 452-9330, labeled RECORD REQUESTS ONLY |
| Records-request email | [email protected], labeled RECORD REQUESTS ONLY |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. The clerk's office is closed Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 9:00 am. Call before planning an in-person filing. |
| Filing cost | $250 to open a probate of estates case, set by Administrative Rule 9(b)(2)(A) and published by the Alaska Court System as effective May 1, 2023. |
| Fee waiver | Use TF-920, Request for Exemption from Payment of Fees, when opening the case. |
| Published filing methods | Mail to 101 Lacey Street, use the court lobby drop box, or use electronic mail under Presiding Judge Administrative Order 19-02 within that order's limits (Civil Rule 5.1). TrueFiling is listed for civil, small claims and minor offense cases, not probate, and estates, trusts and wills are not on TrueFiling at courts.alaska.gov/eFile/index.htm. |
| Local probate forms | Fairbanks uses the Alaska Court System's statewide probate forms and does not publish a separate Fairbanks probate form or local cover sheet. |
| Case-number prefix | Fairbanks estate cases use prefix 4FA and probate suffix PR, for example 4FA-26-00001PR. |
| Case search | CourtView Public Access at records.courts.alaska.gov is free and does not require registration. |
| Remote appearance | Probate hearings are presumptively remote unless the statewide order lists the hearing type as in-person, including contested estate hearings. Telephonic participation also depends on Civil Rule 99 and the judge's format decision. Fairbanks uses the toll-free conference line 1-888-788-0099, with the meeting ID supplied for the hearing. |
| Court website | https://courts.alaska.gov/courtdir/4fa.htm |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Fairbanks, make a working list of assets, debts, titles, account holders, beneficiaries and anything that may pass outside the estate. The right estate settlement path depends on what the person owned, how each asset was titled, whether there is an original will, and whether anyone is likely to object.
Sunset can help organize that first pass before forms are chosen. Sunset's asset discovery checks more than 2,300 institutions so families can identify accounts, insurance, investments and other property that may need attention during estate settlement.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for people who lived in and around Fairbanks is filed with the Alaska Superior Court at the Fairbanks court, one of the Alaska Court System's trial-court locations in the Fourth 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).
Fairbanks sits in the Fairbanks North Star Borough, and the Fairbanks 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 Fairbanks 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 jurisdiction process
- Confirm the local venue connection. A Fairbanks filing belongs in the Fourth Judicial District when the person who died was domiciled there for the first probate proceeding (AS 13.16.055; AS 22.10.020).
- Choose the starting packet from the Alaska Court System forms. For informal probate, use the court's Request to Start Informal Probate form for a case with a will or without a will, such as P-315 or P-325, with the related statement and acceptance-and-letters form listed by the court (AS 13.16.080; AS 13.16.015). For formal probate, use the court's Request to Start Formal Probate form for the situation, such as P-320 or P-330 (AS 13.16.145).
- Gather the items the court asks for, including a certified copy of the death certificate and the original will if there is one. The Request must be signed before a notary or clerk, and the Alaska Court System states that notary services are free at state court offices.
- Get the packet to the Fairbanks court. The court's published filing instructions list mail to Alaska Court System, 101 Lacey Street, Fairbanks, AK 99701, the court lobby drop box, and electronic mail under Presiding Judge Administrative Order 19-02 within that order's limits (Civil Rule 5.1). If you want to bring opening papers in person, call the probate line at (907) 452-9256 first, and remember that the clerk's office is closed Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 9:00 am.
- Pay the $250 fee for a probate of estates case, set by Administrative Rule 9(b)(2)(A) and published by the Alaska Court System as effective May 1, 2023, or file TF-920 with the case to ask for a fee waiver.
- Watch for the Fairbanks case number. A Fairbanks estate case uses the 4FA location prefix and the PR probate suffix, in the format 4FA-26-00001PR.
- The court reviews the informal probate application and, if the requirements are met, issues the written statement and letters. Letters testamentary or letters of administration are issued after appointment and qualification, and administration begins with letters (AS 13.16.080; AS 13.16.015).
- After appointment, give required notices. The personal representative must publish notice to creditors in a newspaper of general circulation in the judicial district, and creditor claims are tied to the four-month deadline in AS 13.16.450 and AS 13.16.460.
- If the court sets a hearing, check the format before the date. Under Supreme Court Order No. 2012, probate hearings are presumptively remote except for listed in-person categories that include contested estate hearings, and the court may allow telephonic, video or internet participation under Civil Rule 99. Ask the Fairbanks court for the meeting ID for the specific hearing.
- Administer the estate, keep the required records, prepare the inventory within three months after appointment under AS 13.16.365, and close with the Alaska Court System closing form that matches the route. Use CourtView at records.courts.alaska.gov to check the docket.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Fairbanks
Fairbanks uses the Alaska Court System's statewide probate forms. The Fairbanks court does not publish a separate Fairbanks probate form or a Fairbanks-only cover sheet for probate filings.
| Situation | Forms to start with | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Informal probate with a will | P-315, P-316 and P-335 | P-315 is the Request to Start Informal Probate and Appoint a Personal Representative When There Is a Will. P-335 is the 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, P-326 and P-336 | P-325 is the Request to Start Informal Probate and Appoint a Personal Representative When There is No Will. P-336 is the Acceptance of Duties by Personal Representative and Letters of Administration by Court (AS 13.16.080; AS 13.16.015). |
| Formal probate | P-320 when there is a will, or P-330 when there is not | Formal probate uses a court request and hearing process under AS 13.16.145. Use the statewide forms page to match the packet to the facts. |
| Fee waiver | TF-920 | File TF-920 with the opening papers if you are asking the court to waive the $250 probate of estates filing fee, effective May 1, 2023 under Administrative Rule 9. |
| Fairbanks records copies | TF-311 FBKS | This is a Fairbanks records copy request form, not a probate opening form. Use it when requesting copies from the Fairbanks court's records desk. |
Local nuance
Fairbanks-specific considerations
| Local point | What to do |
|---|---|
| Dedicated probate line | Call (907) 452-9256 for probate questions or appointments. The general customer service number is (907) 452-9277. |
| Wednesday closure | The courthouse hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, but the clerk's office is closed Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 9:00 am. |
| Lobby drop box | The Fairbanks court lists the court lobby drop box as one way to get new cases or documents to the court. The court does not publish collection times, so call the probate line before relying on it for a deadline. |
| Records requests | Fairbanks uses TF-311 FBKS for copy requests. The court publishes a 4 to 6 week wait for online records requests and current service for in-person records requests. The fax and [email protected] email are labeled RECORD REQUESTS ONLY. |
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Fairbanks path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by checking title, beneficiary designations and whether any assets actually need a Fairbanks probate case. If papers are needed, mail them to 101 Lacey Street, use the lobby drop box, or call the probate line before bringing opening papers in person. Certified copies of letters may be needed for banks or a title company (AS 13.16.015; Administrative Rule 9). | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize documents, and prepare the probate packet so the surviving spouse is not guessing which assets are part of estate settlement. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a modest estate | You can mail the packet to the Fairbanks court and track the case through CourtView at records.courts.alaska.gov using a 4FA case number ending in PR. If a hearing is set, probate hearings are presumptively remote except for listed in-person categories, including contested estate hearings, and telephonic participation is governed by Civil Rule 99. | Sunset helps gather asset information, generate the right Alaska forms, and connect the family with a local probate attorney if the court asks for more or a dispute appears. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate when a home must be sold | A sale usually means the personal representative will need letters testamentary or letters of administration before a title company will act (AS 13.16.015). Fairbanks records copies use TF-311 FBKS, with the records email and fax labeled RECORD REQUESTS ONLY. Certification costs are set by Administrative Rule 9, effective May 1, 2023. | Sunset helps coordinate asset discovery, closing documents and attorney introductions so the estate settlement work stays organized while the family handles the sale. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska Court System probate self-help hub | Explains getting started, informal probate, formal probate, duties, debts, inventory, wills, intestacy, glossary terms and flowcharts. | https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/probate/index.htm |
| Alaska Court System probate forms | Provides the statewide P-series forms used in Fairbanks. | https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/probate/forms.htm |
| AVA, the Alaska Virtual Assistant | Alaska Court System chatbot for probate estate questions. | https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/AVA/ava.htm |
| Fairbanks courthouse law library | Open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Remote service is available at [email protected] or 1-888-282-2082. Local line: (907) 452-9241. | 101 Lacey Street, Fairbanks |
| CourtView Public Access | Free docket search for Alaska cases, including estate cases, at records.courts.alaska.gov. | https://records.courts.alaska.gov/ |
| Alaska Lawyer Referral Service | Ask for a probate lawyer. The Alaska Lawyer Referral Service gives names and phone numbers for up to three lawyers, and participating lawyers have agreed to charge no more than $125 for the first half-hour consultation. | (907) 272-0352, 1-800-770-9999 in Alaska, [email protected] |
| Alaska Legal Services Corporation, Fairbanks office | Civil legal aid provider. Ask the office whether it can help with your situation. | 100 Cushman Street, Suite 500, Fairbanks, AK 99701-6228. (907) 452-5181 or 1-800-478-5401. |
When to hire an attorney
You do not have to have a lawyer to open a probate case in Fairbanks, but counsel is especially useful if family members disagree about who should serve, a will is challenged, the estate includes a business or land to sell, or a hearing becomes contested. A contested estate hearing is listed as presumptively in-person under Supreme Court Order No. 2012, so a dispute can change both the legal work and the hearing format. Sunset connects families to a vetted local attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches for accounts, insurance, investments and other property so families can see what may be part of estate settlement before choosing forms.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into the Alaska forms and checklists you need to start the Fairbanks filing.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate is contested, involves real property, or raises questions you do not want to handle alone, Sunset can connect you with a vetted attorney for Fairbanks probate work.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, find assets, generate documents and get attorney options without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Fairbanks, Alaska?
File with the Alaska Superior Court at the Fairbanks court in the Fourth Judicial District (AS 22.10.020; AS 13.16.055). The court's published filing instructions list mail to Alaska Court System, 101 Lacey Street, Fairbanks, AK 99701, the court lobby drop box, and electronic mail under Presiding Judge Administrative Order 19-02 within that order's limits (Civil Rule 5.1). If you want to bring opening papers in person, call the probate line at (907) 452-9256 first.
What is the probate phone number for the Fairbanks court?
The Fairbanks court publishes a dedicated line labeled Probate: (907) 452-9256. The customer service number is (907) 452-9277.
Can I file a Fairbanks probate case electronically?
Not through TrueFiling. The Alaska Court System says estates, trusts and wills still have paper case files and cannot be submitted through TrueFiling, although probate is planned to transition by the end of 2026 at courts.alaska.gov/eFile/index.htm. Fairbanks also publishes electronic mail filing under Presiding Judge Administrative Order 19-02, with a probate address listed in the court system's email and fax filing directory, but the order limits what can be sent that way (Civil Rule 5.1). Call the probate line before sending an opening packet electronically.
How much does it cost to open probate in Fairbanks?
The cost is $250 to open a probate of estates case, set by Administrative Rule 9(b)(2)(A) and published by the Alaska Court System as effective May 1, 2023. If you cannot afford the fee, file TF-920 with the case to ask for a fee waiver.
What are the Fairbanks court's hours?
The Fairbanks court lists hours as Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. The clerk's office is closed Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 9:00 am. Call the probate line before planning an in-person filing.
Can I attend a Fairbanks probate hearing by phone?
Many probate hearings are presumptively remote under Supreme Court Order No. 2012, but contested estate hearings are listed as in-person, and the judge can change the format for a particular hearing. Telephonic, video or internet participation also depends on Civil Rule 99. The Fairbanks toll-free conference line is 1-888-788-0099, but you need the meeting ID for the specific hearing.
How do I look up a Fairbanks probate case online?
Use CourtView Public Access at records.courts.alaska.gov. Fairbanks estate cases use the 4FA prefix and PR suffix, for example 4FA-26-00001PR. CourtView is a free docket search, not an online document library.
Are there local probate forms for Fairbanks?
Fairbanks uses the Alaska Court System's statewide probate forms. The court does not publish a separate Fairbanks probate form or local probate cover sheet. For informal probate, start with the P-315 or P-325 packet depending on whether there is a will (AS 13.16.080). For formal probate, start with P-320 or P-330 (AS 13.16.145).
Do I have to travel to Fairbanks to settle an estate?
Not always. Opening papers can be mailed to the Fairbanks court, and the court publishes a lobby drop box and electronic mail filing under Presiding Judge Administrative Order 19-02 within that order's limits (Civil Rule 5.1). If a hearing is set, the format depends on Supreme Court Order No. 2012 and Civil Rule 99. Call the probate line before making travel plans.
How do I get certified copies of letters from the Fairbanks court?
Use the Fairbanks records request process and TF-311 FBKS. The Fairbanks records email is [email protected] and the fax is (907) 452-9330, both labeled RECORD REQUESTS ONLY. The court publishes a 4 to 6 week wait for online records requests and current service for in-person records requests. Certification fees are set by Administrative Rule 9, effective May 1, 2023.
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.