Divorce in Alaska

How to file for divorce in Alaska

1. Check residency. No minimum period; you can file as soon as you are an Alaska resident.
2. Prepare and file the Complaint for Divorce (one spouse filing) or Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (joint filing) with the Superior Court in your county. The filing fee is typically $250, and you can ask for a fee waiver if you cannot afford it.
3. Serve your spouse, or have them sign an acceptance of service, and file proof of service.
4. Exchange financial disclosures. Civil Rule 26.1 requires both spouses to exchange income documentation, such as pay stubs and tax returns, and a full inventory of assets and debts.
5. Settle the issues in a written agreement, and a parenting plan if you have children.
6. Wait out the waiting period. 30 days from filing before a judge signs the final decree. Then ask the court for your final judgment.

Residency and grounds

Residency: No minimum period; you can file as soon as you are an Alaska resident.

Grounds: No-fault and fault. Most people still file on no-fault grounds, which is simpler and usually cheaper.

Separation: None required for divorce or dissolution.

How property is divided

Alaska uses equitable distribution. Marital property and debts are divided fairly, which often lands near equal but not always. Courts weigh things like the length of the marriage, each spouse's income and earning capacity, and contributions as a homemaker. Read how property is divided.

Custody and child support

Parenting terms: Alaska uses the terms legal custody and physical custody. Every decision is made in the child's best interests.

Parenting class: Required statewide when minor children are involved, via the Family Law Education Class or an approved online course.

Child support: Alaska uses the percentage of income model, which sets support as a percentage of the paying parent's income, rising with the number of children. Try the child support calculator.

Spousal support

Called spousal support or maintenance; there is no formula, and courts have discretion, with most awards being short-term and rehabilitative rather than permanent.

Estimate a range with the spousal support calculator, then have a lawyer check it if the numbers are large.

Faster and simpler options

Joint Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (Form DR-60): Available when both spouses agree to end the marriage and jointly resolve property, debt, and any children's issues themselves, most commonly used for short marriages with little property.

Legal separation: available in Alaska, for couples who want support and parenting orders without ending the marriage.

How long it takes

The minimum is set by the waiting period: 30 days from filing before a judge signs the final decree. A typical timeline is 45 days to 4 months for joint dissolution or uncontested divorce; 6 to 18 months or longer if contested. Agreement is what moves the date most; contested cases add months of disclosures, discovery and hearings.

Worth knowing in Alaska

• Alaska has no counties; all cases are filed in the statewide Superior Court system.
• Couples who agree on everything can file jointly as a dissolution, which is generally faster than a one-sided divorce complaint.
• Child support under Civil Rule 90.3 is based mainly on a percentage of the paying parent's income, adjusted for the number of children and shared custody time.

Official resources

Official forms and instructions come from Alaska's courts. Sources we reviewed:

• courts.alaska.gov
• courts.alaska.gov

Last reviewed September 2026. Laws and fees change; confirm with your court before you file.