The Alaska Court System changed its operations temporarily because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but some operations are resuming. The following questions and answers explain the general changes that are included in the orders issued by the Chief Justice and Presiding Judges:
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Masks are required if the courthouse location is at the “high” level according to the CDC COVID-19 Community Level tool. Otherwise, masks are optional.
The court system has provided remote access for most services and proceedings, including:
Call your local court if you have questions about your individual situation.
All hearings are taking place.
You should appear in person, by phone or video according to what the scheduling notice provides.
If you want to appear a different way, you can ask the judge during a hearing or file a motion asking the judge to allow you to appear a different way. Read about motions.
If you appear by phone or video in a criminal or juvenile case, the court will work to help you have a confidential way to talk to your lawyer during the hearing, if you need to.
You can find phone numbers to call into a court hearing at "Telephonic Hearings and Conference Lines." If the hearing is by Zoom, the scheduling notice will include the Zoom link and passcode information. Read Preparing for a Hearing by Video or Phone.
Six foot social distancing is required if the courthouse community is in the “high” alert level according to DHSS COVID-19 alert information. If there is an in-person hearing, the judge will tell everyone where to sit to make sure people are far enough apart to follow social distancing guidelines.
To participate by phone, you need to:
You can find your local courtroom code at Telephonic Hearings and Conference Lines.
Note: it seems calls connect easier if you use a landline instead of a cell phone
If you have trouble dialing into the toll-free 1-800 #, you can also dial one of these numbers (these are not toll-free numbers):
Do not file a motion to appear by telephone. You can just call the conference line and use the associated access code.
There are two ways that the public can observe a hearing, depending on how the judge is handling remote participation for that particular hearing – by phone or video.
To make sure the courtroom conference line is open, contact the local court to let them know you would like to listen to the hearing.
Courts are now accepting most documents by email or fax, including the documents filed to start a case. You can read the Email and Fax Filing Instructions.
You may sign your documents electronically.
You can sign your court documents with an e-signature by typing “s” and then typing your name between forward slashes. For example:
s/Susan Jones/
If you need to have your signature notarized and do not have any access to a notary public, you can explain your situation to the court by filling out and filing the Self-Certification (No Notary Available) form.
If you do not have any access to a notary public, you can explain your situation to the court by filling out and filing:
If you have a civil case (your case number ends with “CI”), you should send all documents to the other side by email after the case has started (there are different requirements for serving a complaint and summons to start a case). If the other side does not have email, you can mail the other side their copy.
At the end of the document you file with the court, you need to fill out the certificate of service section and state that you served the other side by email. An example.
If the document does not have a certificate of service at the end, you can add a separate Certificate of Service, SHC-1620 Word | PDF.
You are required to give the court and the other side your email address; remember to check your email regularly. If you don’t have an email address, be sure the court and the other side have your current address and check your mail regularly.
For more information about service, read about serving the other side.
Civil Rule 4 requires that the person starting the case send the other side a copy of the documents filed in court by certified mail or a process server. Usually the person receiving the certified mail must sign the green card showing receipt of the mail. During the COVID-19 pandemic, postal carriers are signing the certified mail green card instead of the person receiving the mail. The court has temporarily changed the rule to accept the green card signed by the postal carrier during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Who signs the certified mail green card is only an issue if you file for a default judgment because the other side does not file an answer responding to your complaint. In that situation, the judge may ask you questions to be sure the other side knew about the court case by receiving the documents you filed. Be prepared to tell the court any information you have about the other side getting your papers. For example, if you started a divorce case and your spouse emailed you about the papers, tell the judge and attach a copy of the email to your Default Application. If you want to be sure the other side receives a copy of your documents, you can use a process server, but that costs up to $65. List of authorized process servers.
Yes. If you need to ask the court for more time you can ask the judge by filing a motion. You can read about motions.