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Ketchikan, AK Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Ketchikan court information |
|---|---|
| Court | Alaska Superior Court at the Ketchikan court (AS 22.10.020(a)) |
| Courthouse address | 415 Main Street, Room 400, Ketchikan, AK 99901 |
| Mailing address | 415 Main Street, Room 400, Ketchikan, AK 99901 |
| Phone | (907) 225-3195, customer service and all departments. No separate probate line is published. |
| Fax | (907) 225-7849, published under RECORD REQUESTS. |
| [email protected], published under RECORD REQUESTS. The same mailbox is also listed in a separate EMAIL FILING section, with the Civil Rule 5.1 caveat described below. | |
| Hours | Monday, Wednesday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm; Tuesday, 8:00 am to 3:30 pm. |
| Filing fee | $250 to open a probate of estates case, effective May 1, 2023, under Administrative Rule 9. |
| Local forms | The Alaska Court System publishes statewide P-series probate forms. The Ketchikan court publishes none of its own. |
| E-filing status | TrueFiling exists statewide, but estates, trusts, wills and will registration remain paper-file case types according to 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 records.courts.alaska.gov. A Ketchikan estate case number begins with 1KE and ends with PR. |
| Remote appearance | Supreme Court Order No. 2012 makes many probate hearings presumptively remote, and Civil Rule 99 allows telephonic, video or internet participation for good cause and without substantial prejudice. Ketchikan uses the toll-free conference line 1-888-788-0099, with meeting IDs assigned by hearing. |
| Website | https://courts.alaska.gov/courtdir/1ke.htm |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose forms or go to the Ketchikan filing counter, identify what the person owned, how each asset was titled, and which debts or expenses must be addressed. Estate settlement often turns on whether an account, vehicle, home interest or beneficiary-designated asset actually needs court authority.
Sunset can help organize that work before a filing decision is made. Sunset assembles asset information across more than 2,300 institutions, helping families see whether Ketchikan probate is needed and what should be included in the first filing packet.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for people who lived in and around Ketchikan is filed with the Alaska Superior Court at the Ketchikan court, one of the Alaska Court System trial-court locations in the First 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(a)).
Ketchikan sits in the Ketchikan Gateway Borough, and the Ketchikan court is the Alaska Court System location that serves it. State the First Judicial District, the borough, and the court address when you call or mail papers.
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 Ketchikan 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 that Ketchikan is the right filing location for a First Judicial District estate by tying the decedent's domicile to AS 13.16.055 and the superior court's probate authority to AS 22.10.020(a).
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if there is one, asset and debt information, and the names and addresses of interested persons. The original will should go to the court in physical form if the estate is opened.
- Choose the statewide Alaska Court System forms. With a will, the usual informal packet includes P-315, P-316 and P-335 under AS 13.16.080. Without a will, it includes P-325, P-326 and P-336 under AS 13.16.080. If a formal proceeding is needed, use the formal probate forms tied to AS 13.16.145.
- File with the clerk of court at the Ketchikan court, 415 Main Street, Room 400, Ketchikan, AK 99901, either at the counter during Ketchikan's posted hours or by mail to the same address.
- 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.
- Do not assume TrueFiling can be used for estates, trusts, wills or will registration. The Alaska Court System excludes those case types from TrueFiling at courts.alaska.gov/eFile/index.htm. Ketchikan also publishes an EMAIL FILING address under Civil Rule 5.1, but the First Judicial District order excludes documents that require a filing fee, so call (907) 225-3195 before sending an opening probate filing that way.
- After appointment, handle required notice to creditors under AS 13.16.450 and the estate asset information required by AS 13.16.365. Keep copies of what you mail or deliver.
- If the court sets a hearing, ask the Ketchikan court which meeting ID applies. Supreme Court Order No. 2012 makes many probate hearings presumptively remote, and Civil Rule 99 governs telephonic, video and internet participation.
- Once the court approves the appointment, use the issued letters testamentary or letters of administration as authority to act for the estate (AS 13.16.015).
- Administer, distribute and close the estate using the Alaska Court System closing forms that match the case type. If you are unsure which closing path applies, ask a probate attorney before filing final papers.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Ketchikan
The Alaska Court System publishes a statewide P-series probate form set. The Ketchikan court publishes none of its own local probate forms or local cover sheet.
| Need | Forms |
|---|---|
| Start informal probate with a will | P-315, P-316 and P-335 under AS 13.16.080 |
| Start informal probate without a will | P-325, P-326 and P-336 under AS 13.16.080 |
| Start formal probate | P-320 or P-330, with related order forms, under AS 13.16.145 |
| Ask to waive the filing fee | TF-920 for a fee waiver |
| Request records or copies | TF-311 for court record requests outside Anchorage, Fairbanks and Palmer |
Use the statewide probate forms page at https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/probate/forms.htm, and call the Ketchikan court at (907) 225-3195 before relying on email for any filing that requires a fee.
Local nuance
Ketchikan-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Ketchikan estate |
|---|---|
| Resident superior court | Ketchikan is handled as an ordinary First Judicial District superior court location for estate settlement (AS 22.10.020(a); AS 13.16.055). Use the Ketchikan counter and phone number rather than looking for a separate estate forum. |
| Shorter Tuesday hours | The Ketchikan court is open Monday, Wednesday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, and Tuesday, 8:00 am to 3:30 pm. Call (907) 225-3195 before making a trip. |
| Email filing caution | Ketchikan publishes an EMAIL FILING signpost under the First Judicial District administrative order and Civil Rule 5.1. That order excludes documents that require a filing fee, which includes opening a probate case under Administrative Rule 9, so confirm with the court before sending an opening filing by email. |
| Case-number prefix | A Ketchikan estate case begins with 1KE and ends with PR. Use that prefix when searching CourtView Public Access at records.courts.alaska.gov. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Family situation | Likely Ketchikan path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by separating assets that pass by title or beneficiary designation from assets needing court authority. If an estate must be opened, file with the clerk of court at 415 Main Street, Room 400, during Ketchikan's posted hours, and call (907) 225-3195 before visiting. | Sunset helps identify accounts, title patterns and institution contacts before the spouse spends time on a court filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Review the statewide non-court collection and statutory small estate paths before opening a Ketchikan case. If a court case is needed, a decedent domiciled in and around Ketchikan is handled in the First Judicial District under AS 13.16.055, and the statutory small estate court path is governed by AS 13.16.690. | Sunset helps collect the asset picture, organize the probate packet if filing is needed, and flag where the child should confirm mail or email options with the Ketchikan court. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale normally requires an appointed personal representative with letters testamentary or letters of administration under AS 13.16.015. File at the Ketchikan court and budget the $250 opening fee, effective May 1, 2023, under Administrative Rule 9, unless TF-920 is used to request a fee waiver. | Sunset helps locate assets and debts, prepare a cleaner attorney handoff, and connect the parent with local probate counsel when a sale is involved. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Ketchikan court directory page | Use it for the current Ketchikan address, phone, hours, record-request contacts and filing notes. | https://courts.alaska.gov/courtdir/1ke.htm |
| Alaska Court System probate self-help hub | Explains Alaska probate steps and links to statewide forms. | https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/probate/index.htm |
| Alaska Court System probate forms | Provides the statewide P-series forms used in Ketchikan. | https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/probate/forms.htm |
| CourtView Public Access | Free docket search for public estate cases and deposited wills. Ketchikan estate case numbers begin 1KE and end PR. | https://records.courts.alaska.gov/ |
| Alaska Court System law libraries | Statewide law-library help by phone for legal research questions, not legal advice. | 1-888-282-2082 |
| Alaska Lawyer Referral Service | Can provide names of probate lawyers through the Alaska Lawyer Referral Service. | https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/probate/resources.htm |
| Fee waiver form | Use TF-920 if you are asking the court to waive the filing fee. | https://public.courts.alaska.gov/web/forms/docs/tf-920.pdf |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help families identify accounts, policies, benefits and other assets that may affect Ketchikan estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed to prepare the Alaska probate packet, including the Ketchikan court address, the First Judicial District venue citation, and the forms that match whether there is a will.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Ketchikan estate needs legal advice, a sale, a formal hearing, or help with a disputed filing, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the estate settlement work ahead, locate assets, and decide what help they need without paying Sunset for the service.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Ketchikan?
File with the clerk of court at the Ketchikan court, 415 Main Street, Room 400, Ketchikan, AK 99901. Ketchikan is a First Judicial District location, and venue for the first probate proceeding is tied to the judicial district where the person who died was domiciled (AS 13.16.055; AS 22.10.020(a)).
What are the Ketchikan court's hours?
The Ketchikan court is open Monday, Wednesday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, and Tuesday, 8:00 am to 3:30 pm. Call (907) 225-3195 before visiting.
Can I file probate electronically in Ketchikan?
Do not assume TrueFiling can be used. The Alaska Court System states that estates, trusts, wills and will registration are still paper-file case types and cannot be submitted through TrueFiling, while probate is planned to transition by the end of 2026. Check courts.alaska.gov/eFile/index.htm before filing.
Can I email papers to open a probate case in Ketchikan?
The Ketchikan court publishes an EMAIL FILING address tied to the First Judicial District order under Civil Rule 5.1. That order excludes documents that require a filing fee, and opening a probate case requires the $250 filing fee, effective May 1, 2023, under Administrative Rule 9. Call (907) 225-3195 before sending an opening probate filing by email.
Is there a judge in Ketchikan for a probate case?
Yes. Ketchikan is a superior court location for First Judicial District estate matters under AS 22.10.020(a) and AS 13.16.055. The page does not name individual judges because assignments can change.
Can I take part in a Ketchikan probate hearing by telephone?
Many probate hearings are presumptively remote under Supreme Court Order No. 2012, and Civil Rule 99 governs telephonic, video and internet participation. Ketchikan's toll-free conference line is 1-888-788-0099, and the hearings page lists a general other-hearings meeting ID of 234 556 5347. Ask the Ketchikan court which meeting ID applies to your hearing.
How much does it cost to open a probate case in Ketchikan?
The filing 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 to ask for a fee waiver.
Are there Ketchikan probate forms?
The Ketchikan court publishes none of its own local probate forms. Use the Alaska Court System statewide probate forms, including P-315, P-316 and P-335 for an informal probate case with a will under AS 13.16.080, or P-325, P-326 and P-336 for an informal probate case without a will under AS 13.16.080.
How do I look up a Ketchikan probate case?
Use CourtView Public Access at records.courts.alaska.gov. Estate cases are public docket entries, and a Ketchikan estate case number begins with 1KE and ends with PR.
Do I have to travel to Ketchikan to settle an estate?
Not for every step. You can mail filings to the Ketchikan court, many informal probate matters under AS 13.16.080 do not require a hearing, and hearings that are set may be handled under the remote-hearing rules described in Civil Rule 99 and Supreme Court Order No. 2012. Call the court 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.