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Unalaska, AK Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Unalaska court details |
|---|---|
| Court | Alaska Superior Court at the Unalaska court. The superior court has probate jurisdiction under AS 22.10.020. |
| Courthouse address | 204 West Broadway, Unalaska, AK 99685 |
| Mailing address | PO Box 245, Unalaska, AK 99685 |
| Phone | (907) 581-1379, customer service. The court does not publish a separate probate line. |
| Fax | (907) 581-2809, record requests only |
| [email protected], record requests only | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Clerk's Office closed Wednesdays, 8:00 am to 9:00 am. Call (907) 581-1379 before planning a filing trip. |
| Filing fee | $250 to open a probate case, Administrative Rule 9, effective May 1, 2023. Ask about TF-920 if you need a fee waiver. |
| Local forms | The Unalaska court does not publish local probate forms of its own. Use the Alaska Court System statewide P-series forms. |
| E-filing status | TrueFiling exists statewide, but estates, trusts and wills cannot be submitted through TrueFiling at this time. The Alaska Court System says probate is planned to transition by the end of 2026. Check courts.alaska.gov/eFile/index.htm before filing. |
| Case search | CourtView Public Access at records.courts.alaska.gov. Unalaska estate case numbers begin with 3UN and probate cases end with PR. |
| Remote appearance | The Unalaska conference line is 1-888-788-0099, with Meeting ID 960 727 7535. Telephonic, video or internet participation is governed by Civil Rule 99, and most probate hearings are presumptively remote under Supreme Court Order No. 2012 unless the judge sets a different format. |
| Website | https://courts.alaska.gov/courtdir/3un.htm |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose forms or pay a filing fee, list the assets, debts, titles, beneficiary designations, and any co-owned property. In Unalaska, that step matters because a family may be able to resolve some items without opening a court case, while other property may require a personal representative with letters issued under AS 13.16.015.
Sunset's estate settlement platform helps families find accounts across more than 2,300 financial institutions, organize what was owned and owed, and prepare a probate packet that fits the local filing route. For Unalaska, plan around the court's Wednesday morning clerk closure and use the counter or mail for opening papers.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for people who lived in and around Unalaska is filed with the Alaska Superior Court at the Unalaska 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).
Unalaska sits in the Aleutians West Census Area, and the Unalaska 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 Unalaska 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 Unalaska 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, Dillingham and Valdez, 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 an Unalaska estate is a Third Judicial District case (AS 13.16.055). Papers and questions go to the Unalaska court at the address and number above, and hearings are commonly held by telephone (Civil Rule 99).
The jurisdiction process
- Identify what needs court authority. Collect the death certificate, the original will if there is one, account information, titles, debts, and names and addresses for heirs and devisees.
- Choose the statewide Alaska Court System forms for the situation. For informal probate under AS 13.16.080 with a will, the usual opening set includes P-315, P-316, and P-335. Without a will, use the matching P-325, P-326, and P-336 forms. Formal probate is addressed in AS 13.16.145. Letters testamentary and letters of administration are the authority documents issued after appointment under AS 13.16.015.
- Sign where required before a notary or clerk. Notary service is available without charge at Alaska state court offices, so call (907) 581-1379 and plan around the Clerk's Office closure on Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 9:00 am.
- File with the clerk of court at 204 West Broadway, Unalaska, AK 99685, or mail the packet to PO Box 245, Unalaska, AK 99685. The Unalaska court labels its fax and email as record request channels, not opening-paper channels, so use the counter or mail for starting the case.
- Pay the $250 filing fee to open the probate case, Administrative Rule 9, effective May 1, 2023, or include TF-920 if you are asking for a fee waiver.
- After appointment, send required notices and follow the statewide notice to creditors process under AS 13.16.450. If the case needs a hearing, the court will provide scheduling information.
- Ask the Unalaska court how to participate in any hearing. The published conference line is 1-888-788-0099 and the Unalaska Meeting ID is 960 727 7535. Telephonic, video or internet participation is governed by Civil Rule 99, and Supreme Court Order No. 2012 makes most probate hearings presumptively remote unless the judge changes the format.
- Use the letters to collect, manage, sell or transfer estate property as allowed by law, keep records, and close the estate using the appropriate statewide closing form when administration is complete.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Unalaska
The Alaska Court System publishes a statewide set of probate forms, the P-series, and the Unalaska 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; P-335, Acceptance of Duties and Letters Testamentary by Court. Informal probate is governed by AS 13.16.080, formal probate is addressed in AS 13.16.145, and letters testamentary are issued under AS 13.16.015. |
| Informal probate without a will | P-325, P-326, and P-336. Letters of administration are issued under AS 13.16.015. |
| Fee waiver request | TF-920, filed with the opening packet if you are asking the court to waive the $250 fee, Administrative Rule 9, effective May 1, 2023. |
| Copies from a case file | TF-311 for court locations other than Anchorage, Fairbanks and Palmer. The Unalaska fax and email are published for record requests. |
Local nuance
Unalaska-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for filing |
|---|---|
| Wednesday morning closure | The court is open 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. Call (907) 581-1379 before planning a counter visit. |
| Counter and mail are the filing routes | Use 204 West Broadway for in-person filing or PO Box 245 for mail. The fax and email are labeled for record requests only, so do not rely on them to open a probate case. |
| Third Judicial District case | Unalaska is in the Third Judicial District, and venue for the first proceeding follows the judicial district of domicile under AS 13.16.055. The superior court has probate jurisdiction under AS 22.10.020. |
| Local magistrate judge presence | A magistrate judge presides locally, while superior court judges handling estate settlement in the Third Judicial District sit at other court locations. Questions and papers still go to the Unalaska court. |
| Telephone hearing access | The court publishes a conference line, 1-888-788-0099, and Meeting ID 960 727 7535. Telephonic participation is governed by Civil Rule 99, and most probate hearings are presumptively remote under Supreme Court Order No. 2012 unless the judge sets a different format. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by separating property that passes by title or beneficiary designation from property that needs letters. If a case is needed, file at 204 West Broadway or mail the packet to PO Box 245. Call (907) 581-1379 and plan around the Wednesday 8:00 am to 9:00 am Clerk's Office closure. | Sunset helps identify accounts, titles and beneficiary designations, then organizes the documents for the Unalaska filing route. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate under AS 13.16.690 | Review Alaska's statewide options before opening a case. If a court case is needed for someone domiciled in and around Unalaska, venue is in the Third Judicial District under AS 13.16.055. Mail the opening packet to PO Box 245, Unalaska, AK 99685. The court's fax and email are record request channels, not opening-paper channels. | Sunset helps decide what appears to require court authority, prepares the packet for mail filing, and keeps a checklist for follow-up with the clerk of court. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale normally requires an appointed personal representative holding letters under AS 13.16.015. File with the clerk of court at the Unalaska court, budget for the $250 fee under Administrative Rule 9, effective May 1, 2023, or ask about TF-920, and request the number of certified copies you expect to need. | Sunset helps assemble asset information, generate the starting forms, and connect the family with a probate attorney if a sale, dispute or unclear title makes the case more complex. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link or phone |
|---|---|---|
| Unalaska court directory page | Address, mailing address, customer service phone, record request fax and email, and hours. | https://courts.alaska.gov/courtdir/3un.htm |
| Alaska Court System probate self-help hub | Plain-language probate guidance, links to forms, and statewide information for personal representatives. | https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/probate/index.htm |
| Statewide probate forms | P-series probate forms for opening and closing Alaska estate cases. | https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/probate/forms.htm |
| CourtView Public Access | Free docket search with no registration. Unalaska probate case numbers begin 3UN and end PR. | https://records.courts.alaska.gov/ |
| Alaska Court System law libraries | Research help and legal information. The statewide phone number is 1-888-282-2082. | https://courts.alaska.gov/library/locations.htm |
| Alaska Lawyer Referral Service | Alaska Bar Association referral to lawyers who practice in probate. | https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/probate/resources.htm |
| Fee waiver form | Use TF-920 if you are asking to waive the $250 filing fee under Administrative Rule 9, effective May 1, 2023. | https://public.courts.alaska.gov/web/forms/docs/tf-920.pdf |
When to hire an attorney
You can represent yourself in an Alaska probate case, but an attorney is useful when heirs disagree, a home must be sold, the will is unclear, assets are hard to identify, or the personal representative needs help meeting duties after letters issue under AS 13.16.015. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney when legal advice or court advocacy is the safer path.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families locate accounts, insurance, retirement assets and other property before they file. A clearer asset picture makes estate settlement faster and helps you decide whether Unalaska filing is needed.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized probate packet using Alaska's statewide forms and the local Unalaska filing details, including the counter address, mailing address, hours and fee waiver option.
Find a local probate attorney. When a sale, dispute, unclear title or contested hearing makes the case harder, Sunset can connect you with a vetted probate attorney who understands Alaska Superior Court practice under AS 22.10.020.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset's estate settlement tools are free for families, including asset discovery, probate packet generation and attorney matching support.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Unalaska?
File with the clerk of court at the Unalaska court, 204 West Broadway, Unalaska, AK 99685, or mail the packet to PO Box 245, Unalaska, AK 99685. A Unalaska estate is a Third Judicial District matter when venue is based on the decedent's domicile under AS 13.16.055, and the superior court has probate jurisdiction under AS 22.10.020.
What are the Unalaska court's hours?
The court is open 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 (907) 581-1379 before planning a counter visit.
Can I file probate electronically in Unalaska?
TrueFiling is used in Alaska court locations, but estates, trusts and wills are still listed among case types that cannot be submitted through TrueFiling. 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.
Can I email or fax probate papers to the Unalaska court?
The Unalaska court labels its fax number and email address for record requests only. Use the counter or mail for opening probate papers. Civil Rule 5.1 governs court filing by electronic mail or fax where an applicable order or written permission allows it.
Is there a judge in Unalaska for a probate case?
A magistrate judge presides locally at the Unalaska court. Superior court judges who handle estate settlement in the Third Judicial District sit at Anchorage, Palmer, Kenai, Kodiak, Homer, Dillingham and Valdez, and the superior court's jurisdiction runs over the whole state under AS 22.10.020.
Can I take part in a Unalaska probate hearing by telephone?
The Unalaska conference line is 1-888-788-0099 and the Meeting ID is 960 727 7535. Telephonic, video or internet participation is governed by Civil Rule 99. Under Supreme Court Order No. 2012, most probate hearings are presumptively remote unless the judge sets a different format.
How much does it cost to open a probate case in Unalaska?
The filing fee is $250 under Administrative Rule 9, effective May 1, 2023. If you cannot afford the fee, ask about filing TF-920 as a fee waiver request.
Are there Unalaska probate forms?
The Unalaska 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 under AS 13.16.080 and the matching forms for a case without a will. Formal probate is addressed in AS 13.16.145. Letters testamentary and letters of administration are issued under AS 13.16.015.
How do I look up a Unalaska probate case?
Use CourtView Public Access at records.courts.alaska.gov. It is free and does not require registration. An Unalaska estate case number begins with 3UN and ends with PR.
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.