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Homer, AK Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Homer court information |
|---|---|
| Court | Alaska Superior Court at the Homer court (AS 22.10.020) |
| Courthouse address | 3670 Lake Street, Bldg A, Homer, AK 99603 |
| Mailing address | 3670 Lake Street, Bldg A, Homer, AK 99603 |
| Phone | (907) 235-8171, customer service |
| Fax | (907) 235-4257, record requests only |
| [email protected], record requests only | |
| Hours | Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm; Friday, 8:00 am to 12 noon and 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm, with full service available Friday afternoons. The clerk of court office closes Thursdays from 8:00 am to 9:00 am. |
| Filing fee | $250 to open a probate of estates case, effective May 1, 2023, under Administrative Rule 9 |
| Local forms | The Homer court does not publish local probate forms of its own. Use the Alaska Court System statewide P series. |
| Electronic filing | Alaska uses TrueFiling at every court location, but estates, trusts, wills and will registration remain outside TrueFiling on courts.alaska.gov/eFile/index.htm. The court system says probate is planned to transition by the end of 2026, so check before filing. |
| Case search | CourtView Public Access at https://records.courts.alaska.gov/. A Homer estate case begins with 3HO and ends with PR. |
| Remote participation | Homer publishes the toll free conference line 1-888-788-0099 and a CINA and Probate Meeting ID, 237 320 4611. Telephonic, video or internet participation is governed by Civil Rule 99, and Supreme Court Order No. 2012 makes most probate hearings presumptively remote while allowing the judge to set a different format. |
| Website | https://courts.alaska.gov/courtdir/3ho.htm |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose forms, make a practical list of the person's assets, debts, accounts, real estate interests, vehicles, and possible nonprobate transfers. In Homer, that first asset list affects whether you need a court case, whether the original will must be delivered to the clerk of court, and how many certified copies of letters you may need for estate settlement.
Sunset's estate settlement process includes asset discovery across more than 2,300 financial institutions, which can help you identify accounts before you file at the Homer court or mail papers to 3670 Lake Street, Bldg A.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for people who lived in and around Homer is filed with the Alaska Superior Court at the Homer 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).
Homer sits in the Kenai Peninsula Borough, and the Homer court is one of three Alaska Court System locations in the borough, alongside Kenai and Seward. 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 (AS 13.16.055).
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 Homer 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).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the statewide Alaska Court System probate forms for the situation. For an informal probate with a will, use P-315, P-316, and P-335 with the certified death certificate and the original will (AS 13.16.080; AS 13.16.015). Without a will, use the matching no-will forms P-325, P-326, and P-336.
- File with the clerk of court at the Homer court, 3670 Lake Street, Bldg A, Homer, AK 99603. You can go to the counter during Homer's published hours or mail the packet to the same address. Homer's fax and email are for record requests only, not probate openings.
- Pay the $250 filing fee, effective May 1, 2023, under Administrative Rule 9, or submit TF-920 if you are asking for a fee waiver.
- The court reviews the request. If the requirements are met, the court issues the statement starting informal probate and the letters testamentary or letters of administration that give the personal representative authority to act (AS 13.16.015; AS 13.16.080).
- After appointment, give the required notice to heirs and devisees, and publish notice to creditors as required by AS 13.16.450. Creditor claim timing is governed by AS 13.16.460.
- If the court schedules a hearing, ask the Homer court which meeting ID applies. Homer publishes a toll free conference line, 1-888-788-0099, and a CINA and Probate Meeting ID, 237 320 4611. Telephonic, video and internet participation are governed by Civil Rule 99, and Supreme Court Order No. 2012 treats most probate hearings as presumptively remote unless the judge sets a different format.
- Use the letters to collect assets, manage bills and claims, prepare an inventory as required by AS 13.16.365, transfer property, and keep records for beneficiaries.
- Close the estate using the statewide closing form that matches the case type, such as P-355 for an informal estate or P-360 for a formal probate matter (AS 13.16.145).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Homer
The Alaska Court System publishes a statewide set of probate forms, the P series, and the Homer court does not publish local probate forms of its own. Start from the statewide forms index rather than looking for a Homer-specific packet.
| Need | Common statewide form |
|---|---|
| Start informal probate with a will | P-315, Request to Start Informal Probate and Appoint a Personal Representative When There Is a Will, with P-316 and P-335 (AS 13.16.080; AS 13.16.015) |
| Start informal probate without a will | P-325, P-326, and P-336 (AS 13.16.080; AS 13.16.015) |
| Start formal probate | P-320 or P-330, with the matching order form, when a court hearing is needed (AS 13.16.145) |
| Ask for a fee waiver | TF-920, filed with the case request |
| Inventory | P-370, Inventory of Property (AS 13.16.365) |
Local nuance
Homer-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Homer filing |
|---|---|
| Split Friday hours | The court is open Friday from 8:00 am to 12 noon and 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm, with full service available Friday afternoons. Call (907) 235-8171 before making a time-sensitive trip. |
| Thursday clerk closure | The clerk of court office closes Thursdays from 8:00 am to 9:00 am, even though the regular Thursday court day continues after that closure. |
| Record-request fax and email | The Homer fax number and [email protected] are published for record requests only. Use the counter or mail for a new estate filing. |
| Dedicated probate meeting ID | Homer publishes a CINA and Probate Meeting ID, 237 320 4611, on the toll free conference line 1-888-788-0099. Telephonic participation is still controlled by Civil Rule 99 and the hearing notice. |
| Three court locations in the borough | Homer, Kenai and Seward are all Alaska Court System locations in the Kenai Peninsula Borough. Venue follows the Third Judicial District under AS 13.16.055, not a borough boundary or a Homer-only service map. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | If an estate must be opened, file at the Homer court, 3670 Lake Street, Bldg A. Use Homer's Monday through Thursday hours or the Friday schedule, and remember the Thursday 8:00 am to 9:00 am clerk closure. | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize ownership details, and prepare the estate settlement packet so you know what should go to the Homer court. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate under AS 13.16.690 | Review the statewide lower-asset options first. If a Homer-area case is needed, it is a Third Judicial District matter under AS 13.16.055, papers can be mailed to 3670 Lake Street, Bldg A, and hearings may use the Homer conference line under Civil Rule 99. | Sunset helps sort assets, documents and next steps before you decide whether to mail a packet, ask for a remote hearing format, or connect with local counsel. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale commonly requires letters testamentary or letters of administration, because a personal representative needs authority to act (AS 13.16.015). File with the clerk of court at the Homer court and budget the $250 fee, effective May 1, 2023, under Administrative Rule 9, unless you submit TF-920 for a fee waiver. | Sunset helps build the asset list, generate forms, and connect the family with a vetted attorney when a home sale or title issue makes estate settlement more complex. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Homer court directory | Address, hours, phone, record-request contacts, and department listings for the Homer court. | https://courts.alaska.gov/courtdir/3ho.htm |
| Alaska Court System probate self-help hub | Statewide guidance on getting started, personal representative duties, debts, transfers, wills, and closing an estate. | https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/probate/index.htm |
| Statewide probate forms | P-series probate forms used at the Homer court and other Alaska court locations. | https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/probate/forms.htm |
| AVA, the Alaska Virtual Assistant | Probate questions through the Alaska Court System's virtual assistant. | https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/AVA/ava.htm |
| CourtView Public Access | Free docket search with no registration. Search by case number or name at https://records.courts.alaska.gov/. | https://records.courts.alaska.gov/ |
| Alaska Lawyer Referral Service | Alaska Bar Association referrals to lawyers who practice in probate matters. | https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/probate/resources.htm |
| Alaska Court System law libraries | Remote law library help by phone at 1-888-282-2082 and through library resources. | https://courts.alaska.gov/library/locations.htm |
When to hire an attorney
You may want an attorney if heirs disagree, a will is challenged, a home or business must be sold, assets are hard to identify, the estate may owe significant debts, or you are unsure which Homer filing route fits the facts. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney when legal advice or court representation would make the estate settlement safer.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps build a clearer asset picture before you file at the Homer court.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset uses the information you provide to assemble the statewide Alaska forms and supporting documents needed for the estate settlement path you choose.
Find a local probate attorney. When the case needs legal advice, a home sale, a contested hearing, or help with letters testamentary or letters of administration under AS 13.16.015, Sunset can connect you with a vetted attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset's core estate settlement support is free, so families can organize next steps before paying court fees or hiring professional help.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Homer?
File with the clerk of court at the Homer court, 3670 Lake Street, Bldg A, Homer, AK 99603. Homer is a Third Judicial District court location, and venue for the first probate proceeding follows the judicial district where the person who died was domiciled (AS 13.16.055; AS 22.10.020).
What are the Homer court's hours?
The Homer court is open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm; Friday, 8:00 am to 12 noon and 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm, with full service available Friday afternoons. The clerk of court office closes Thursdays from 8:00 am to 9:00 am.
Can I file probate electronically in Homer?
Alaska uses TrueFiling at every court location, but estates, trusts, wills and will registration are still listed as case types that cannot be submitted through TrueFiling on courts.alaska.gov/eFile/index.htm. The court system says probate is planned to transition by the end of 2026, so check the current page before you file.
Can I take part in a Homer probate hearing by telephone?
Homer publishes the toll free conference line 1-888-788-0099 and a CINA and Probate Meeting ID, 237 320 4611. Telephonic, video and internet participation are governed by Civil Rule 99, and Supreme Court Order No. 2012 makes most probate hearings presumptively remote while allowing the judge to set the format for a specific hearing.
How much does it cost to open a probate case in Homer?
The fee is $250 to open a probate of estates case, effective May 1, 2023, under Administrative Rule 9. If you cannot afford the fee, submit TF-920 with your papers to ask for a fee waiver.
Are there Homer probate forms?
The Homer court does not publish local probate forms of its own. Use the statewide Alaska Court System P-series forms, including P-315 for informal probate with a will and P-325 for informal probate without a will (AS 13.16.080).
How do I look up a Homer probate case?
Use CourtView Public Access at https://records.courts.alaska.gov/. It is free and does not require registration. Homer estate case numbers begin with 3HO and end with PR.
Does the Homer court also serve Kenai and Seward?
The Alaska Court System has court locations in Homer, Kenai and Seward within the Kenai Peninsula Borough, but no public Homer-to-borough service map sets an exclusive boundary. Probate venue follows the Third Judicial District under AS 13.16.055.
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.