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Seward, AK Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Seward court details |
|---|---|
| Court | Alaska Superior Court at the Seward court, Third Judicial District (AS 22.10.020; AS 13.16.055) |
| Courthouse address | 410 Adams Street, Seward, AK 99664 |
| Mailing address | PO Box 1929, Seward, AK 99664 |
| Phone | (907) 224-3075 |
| Fax | (907) 224-7192, for record requests only, not filing |
| [email protected], for record requests only, not filing | |
| Hours | Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am to 12 noon and 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm. Friday, 8:00 am to 12 noon, then closed to the public from 12 noon to 4:30 pm, effective July 20, 2026. Clerk's office closed Thursdays 8:00 to 9:00 am. |
| Filing fee | $250 to open a probate of estates case, set by Administrative Rule 9 and published as effective May 1, 2023 |
| Local forms | The Seward court does not publish local probate forms of its own. Use the Alaska Court System statewide P-series probate forms. |
| E-filing status | TrueFiling is used in Alaska, but estates, trusts and wills are not on it. The Alaska Court System says probate is planned to transition by the end of 2026, so check courts.alaska.gov/eFile/index.htm before you file. |
| Case search | CourtView Public Access at records.courts.alaska.gov. Seward estate cases begin with 3SW and end with PR. |
| Remote appearance | Probate hearings are presumptively remote under Alaska Supreme Court Order No. 2012 unless the order lists a different default, including contested estate hearings. Telephonic participation is governed by Civil Rule 99. The main toll free conference line is 1-888-788-0099, and you should ask the Seward court for the meeting ID for your hearing. |
| Website | https://courts.alaska.gov/courtdir/3sw.htm |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Seward, make a working list of the person's accounts, real estate interests, vehicles, debts, recurring bills and known beneficiaries. That asset picture tells you whether a probate case is needed, which statewide forms fit the situation, and whether the personal representative will need letters testamentary or letters of administration under AS 13.16.015.
Sunset's estate settlement platform helps families search across more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and assets before the filing decision is made. That makes the Seward filing packet more accurate and reduces the risk of opening the wrong path for estate settlement.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for people who lived in and around Seward is filed with the Alaska Superior Court at the Seward 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).
Seward sits in the Kenai Peninsula Borough, and the Seward court is one of three Alaska Court System locations in the borough, alongside Homer and Kenai. No court location service map assigns all borough filings to a single counter, so use the judicial district rule, the Seward court's address and the court's current hours when planning where to send 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 Seward 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
- Choose the Alaska Court System statewide probate forms that match the case. With a will, the local packet usually starts with P-315, P-316 and P-335 for informal probate under AS 13.16.080, plus the death certificate and original will. Without a will, the comparable starting forms are P-325, P-326 and P-336.
- File with the clerk of court at the Seward court, 410 Adams Street, Seward, AK 99664, or mail the packet to PO Box 1929, Seward, AK 99664. Plan around the current public hours: Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am to 12 noon and 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm; Friday, 8:00 am to 12 noon only; and the Thursday 8:00 to 9:00 am clerk's office closure.
- Pay the $250 probate of estates filing fee, set by Administrative Rule 9 and published as effective May 1, 2023, or submit TF-920 with the case if you are asking for a fee waiver. Notary services are free at Alaska state court offices.
- The court reviews an informal request and, if the requirements are met, issues the statement and the letters testamentary or letters of administration that start the personal representative's authority (AS 13.16.015; AS 13.16.080). A formal probate request under AS 13.16.145 involves notice and a hearing.
- If the court schedules a hearing, ask the Seward court for the correct meeting ID. Hearings in probate cases are presumptively remote under Alaska Supreme Court Order No. 2012 unless a listed in-person default applies, including contested estate hearings, and telephonic participation is governed by Civil Rule 99.
- After appointment, send the required information to heirs and devisees, publish notice to creditors once a week for three successive weeks as AS 13.16.450 requires, and track claims under AS 13.16.460.
- Prepare the inventory within three months after appointment as AS 13.16.365 requires. The personal representative may file the original inventory with the court, but AS 13.16.365 also describes mailing or providing it to the people entitled to receive it.
- Administer the assets, pay allowed expenses and claims, distribute what remains, and close the estate using the statewide closing forms that match the case.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Seward
The Alaska Court System publishes a statewide P-series probate form set; the Seward court does not publish local probate forms of its own. Use the statewide probate forms page rather than looking for a separate Seward packet.
| Need | Common statewide forms | Local note |
|---|---|---|
| Start informal probate with a will | P-315, P-316 and P-335 under AS 13.16.080, with the death certificate and original will | Bring or mail the original will. The Seward email and fax are for record requests only. |
| Start informal probate without a will | P-325, P-326 and P-336 under AS 13.16.080 | Use the Seward mailing address if you are not coming to the counter. |
| Ask to start formal probate | P-320 and P-321 with a will, or P-330 and P-331 without a will, under AS 13.16.145 | The court will handle hearing scheduling and remote appearance instructions. |
| Ask for a fee waiver | TF-920 | Submit TF-920 with the filing if you cannot pay the Administrative Rule 9 fee. |
Local nuance
Seward-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for filing |
|---|---|
| Friday afternoon closure | The Seward court is open Friday from 8:00 am to 12 noon, then closed to the public from 12 noon to 4:30 pm, effective July 20, 2026. Do not plan a Friday afternoon probate counter visit. |
| Thursday morning clerk's office closure | The clerk's office is closed Thursdays 8:00 to 9:00 am, even though the court's regular Thursday public day resumes after that closure. |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough has three court locations | Seward sits in the same borough as the Homer and Kenai court locations. Venue for the first probate proceeding follows the judicial district under AS 13.16.055, not the borough. |
| No resident superior court judge is listed for Seward | The Seward 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 state (AS 22.10.020). Papers and questions still go to the Seward court. |
Recent updates
| Date | What changed | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| July 20, 2026 | The Seward court's public hours changed so that the court is closed to the public on Fridays from 12 noon to 4:30 pm. | Seward court directory page, https://courts.alaska.gov/courtdir/3sw.htm |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Seward path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | First identify which assets pass outside probate and which need court authority. If a Seward filing is needed, use the Seward court at 410 Adams Street during Monday through Thursday hours or Friday morning before the noon closure. | Sunset helps find accounts, organize title information and prepare the estate settlement packet before you decide what to file. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Review the statewide small estate route under AS 13.16.690 and other noncase options on the Alaska page before opening a Seward case. If filing is needed, mail papers to PO Box 1929, Seward, AK 99664, and ask about telephonic participation under Civil Rule 99. | Sunset helps gather the asset list, flag missing accounts and coordinate paperwork without requiring a first trip to Seward. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale usually requires a personal representative with letters testamentary or letters of administration under AS 13.16.015. File with the Seward court or by mail, budget the $250 fee under Administrative Rule 9, effective May 1, 2023, or include TF-920 if asking for a fee waiver. | Sunset helps generate a court-ready packet, track the estate settlement tasks and connect the family with local probate counsel when a real estate sale adds complexity. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link or contact |
|---|---|---|
| Seward court directory page | Current address, hours, phone, record request contacts and local court notices. | https://courts.alaska.gov/courtdir/3sw.htm |
| Alaska Court System probate self-help hub | Plain-language probate information, including informal probate, formal probate, personal representative duties and probate flowcharts. | https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/probate/index.htm |
| Statewide probate forms | Official P-series probate forms used statewide, including the Seward court. | https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/probate/forms.htm |
| CourtView Public Access | Free docket search for public estate cases. Seward probate case numbers begin 3SW and end PR. | https://records.courts.alaska.gov/ |
| Alaska Lawyer Referral Service | Referral to up to three lawyers who practice in the probate area. | https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/probate/resources.htm |
| Alaska Court System law libraries | Research help and access to legal information. Toll free: 1-888-282-2082. | https://courts.alaska.gov/library/locations.htm |
When to hire an attorney
Consider getting legal help if the will is disputed, family members disagree about who should serve, the estate includes real property that must be sold, a creditor issue is contested under AS 13.16.450, or you need formal probate under AS 13.16.145. 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 build the asset picture families need before estate settlement moves into court.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized Seward probate packet using the Alaska statewide forms that fit the situation.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Seward estate needs legal advice, a contested hearing, a real estate sale or a formal probate filing under AS 13.16.145, Sunset can help connect the family with probate counsel.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, understand next steps and prepare for the Seward court without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Seward?
File with the clerk of court at the Seward court, 410 Adams Street, Seward, AK 99664, or mail the packet to PO Box 1929, Seward, AK 99664. Seward 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 Seward court's hours for probate filings?
The Seward court is open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am to 12 noon and 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm. On Friday it is open 8:00 am to 12 noon, then closed to the public from 12 noon to 4:30 pm, effective July 20, 2026. The clerk's office is also closed Thursdays 8:00 to 9:00 am.
Is there a judge in Seward for a probate case?
The Seward 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 state (AS 22.10.020; AS 13.16.055).
Can I file probate electronically in Seward?
Alaska's court system uses TrueFiling, but estates, trusts and wills are not on it. The Alaska Court System says probate is planned to transition by the end of 2026, so check courts.alaska.gov/eFile/index.htm before you file. For Seward, the published fax and email are for record requests only, not filing.
Can I take part in a Seward probate hearing by telephone?
Probate hearings are presumptively remote under Alaska Supreme Court Order No. 2012 unless the order lists a different default, including contested estate hearings. Telephonic, video or internet participation is governed by Civil Rule 99. The Seward block on the statewide conference line page uses 1-888-788-0099, and you should ask the Seward court for the meeting ID for your hearing.
How much does it cost to open a probate case in Seward?
The fee to open a probate of estates case is $250, set by Administrative Rule 9 and published as effective May 1, 2023. If you cannot pay, submit TF-920 with the case to ask for a fee waiver.
Are there Seward probate forms?
The Seward court does not publish local probate forms of its own. Use the Alaska Court System statewide P-series probate forms, including P-315, P-316 and P-335 for an informal probate with a will under AS 13.16.080, or P-325, P-326 and P-336 for an informal probate without a will.
How do I look up a Seward probate case?
Use CourtView Public Access at records.courts.alaska.gov. A Seward estate case number begins with 3SW and ends with PR. CourtView is a docket search, not a complete online document file.
Do I have to travel to Seward for every probate step?
Not always. You may mail the opening packet to PO Box 1929, Seward, AK 99664, and hearings may proceed remotely under Alaska Supreme Court Order No. 2012 and Civil Rule 99. Call the Seward court before relying on remote participation for any specific hearing.
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.