Alaska Court System Self-Help

Make sure to read your final paperwork right away to understand what it says. If you want to file something possibly to change the outcome, there are different deadlines depending on the type of action you may take.

Usually the final judgment or order states the final decision about the issues. For a divorce case, the final documents will end the marriage, include how the marital property and debts will be divided, and restore a maiden name if requested. In a divorce with children and a custody case between unmarried parents, the final documents will state what the parenting arrangement will be and who will pay a specific amount of child support starting on a specific date.

After the final documents are issued, the parties may need to take actions set out in the paperwork. Sometimes this means:

• refinancing a loan or mortgage,
• selling an asset like the marital home,
• paying the other person a specific amount of money,
• preparing documents to divide a retirement account,
• transferring personal property,
• moving out of a home,
• starting a new parenting schedule,
• paying child support.

Sometimes one or both people in the case are unhappy with the final decision in the case. It is important to understand that judges make decisions according to legal factors that are set out in the law and previous decisions from the Alaska Supreme Court that interpret the law. If you think the judge made a mistake that caused the outcome, you may have options to file something in court to address the issue. Be aware that just not liking the outcome does not mean the judge made a mistake. Also be aware that there are deadlines to take most actions and if you do not file the appropriate document in time, you may be unable to file it. Read below to see the options and timelines.

You may have some options depending on how long ago the court issued the final decision and the issues you are unhappy about.

Motion for Reconsideration

Motion to Set Aside Judgment or Order

Motion to Modify

Appeal

It is a request to the trial judge asking to reconsider a specific ruling. The Motion for Reconsideration must:

• be filed within 10 days of the date shown in the clerk’s certificate of distribution on the written order. (Note: the certificate of distribution usually is found at the end of the Order), and
• be based on one of the reasons stated in Civil Rule 77(k), stating specifically the reason for reconsideration:
  • the court overlooked, misapplied or failed to consider the law that applies (a statute, decision or principle directly controlling);
  • the court overlooked or misconceived an important fact that is essential to understand;
  • the court overlooked or misconceived an important question in the case;
  • the law that the court applied changed by a later court decision or statute.
• point out specifically the part of the ruling that you want the court to reconsider.

You can file:

• Motion (Request) and Affidavit for Reconsideration, CIV-806

The Motion for Reconsideration must be 5 pages or less, including the motion and any attachments. Make sure to file the original and provide the other side (or their attorney if represented) with a copy that is called serving a motion. Learn more about serving a motion.

There are 4 reasons for reconsideration:

1. The court has overlooked, misapplied or failed to consider a statute, decision or principle directly controlling. (This means the court made a mistake in applying the law to the case.)
   • For example, Civil Rule 90.3 states the child support calculations for different parenting arrangements. If there is one child primarily living with one parent, Rule 90.3 states the other parent is supposed to pay 20% of their adjusted annual income to the other parent for the child support. If the judge figures out the child support amount to be 27% of adjusted income for one child, the motion for reconsideration would state that the judge misapplied Civil Rule 90.3.
2. The court has overlooked or misconceived some material fact or proposition of law. (This means the court got the important fact wrong.)
   • For example, in a divorce case, the parties agree that the marital home is worth $100,000. However, the judge states that the house is worth $200,000 in figuring out the property division in a divorce case. The husband who was awarded the house could file a motion for reconsideration stating that the judge used the wrong value for the house in dividing the property.
3. The court has overlooked or misconceived a material question in the case. (This means the court misunderstood what you were asking for in your case or in a motion.)
   • For example, the judge denied a motion to modify finding that there was not a 15% change in the child support amount, even though the child moved from living full-time with Father to Mother. To modify the child support, the legal requirement is there must be a substantial change in circumstances based on:
     • the amount of the child support order changed by at least 15% because the obligor’s earnings changed, or
     • the parenting plan changed giving one parent more overnights with the child which changes the child support calculation.
   • In this example, the parent that now has the child living with her can file a motion for reconsideration, stating the court overlooked the question of whether there was a change in the parenting plan.
4. The law applied in the ruling was changed by a later court decision or statute. (This means the court applied a rule or law that changed.)
   • For example, on April 15, 2018, Civil Rule 90.3 changed to allow a parent to deduct the cost of their own health insurance from their gross income (up to 10% of the parent’s gross income). If the court calculated child support on April 14, but did not allow for the health insurance deduction which resulted in a higher child support amount, the parent could file a motion for reconsideration based on the changed Civil Rule 90.3.

You must file the motion within 10 days after the date shown in the clerk’s certificate of distribution on the written order. You must also provide the specific reason the judge should reconsider the ruling:

• the court overlooked, misapplied or failed to consider the law that applies (a statute, decision or principle directly controlling);
• the court overlooked or misconceived an important fact that is essential to understand;
• the court overlooked or misconceived an important question in the case;
• the law that the court applied changed by a later Supreme Court decision or statute.

It is important to act promptly. If you do not file the motion to reconsider within 10 days, the judge can deny it, even if the reason for the request is a valid one.

The other side files a response only if the court requests it, which usually happens. If the other side files a Motion for Reconsideration, do not file a response until the court tells you to file one, likely in a written order or notice from the court. See how to respond to or oppose a motion.

The court will not schedule a hearing to decide the Motion for Reconsideration, so the court will decide based on the written Motion and any response.

The court will either:

• decide the Motion for Reconsideration and issue a written ruling, OR
• if the court does not issue a written ruling within 30 days from the date the motion was filed, or within 30 days from the date the response was filed, whichever is later, the Motion for Reconsideration is denied.

If the Motion for Reconsideration is granted, the judge will reconsider the ruling and either issue a new ruling or request more information from the parties.

If the Motion for Reconsideration is not granted or is denied, the parties are supposed to follow the challenged ruling and the party who received the original order or judgment can enforce it.

Either party can decide to appeal the decision about the Motion for Reconsideration if they believe the judge made a legal mistake. Learn more about filing an appeal.

A Motion to Set Aside Judgment or Order is used to ask the court to set aside or "undo" a judgment or final order in a case, and to allow the case to move ahead as if the judgment had not been made.

There are several reasons to ask the court to set aside a judgment order.

Civil Rule 60(a) provides that a party can file a Motion to Set Aside the Judgment or Order if the court made a clerical mistake or accidentally left something out of a document.

Civil Rule 60(b) specifies the reasons the court may set aside a judgment which include:

• mistake; not paying close attention (inadvertence); an unexpected action, sudden confusion or an unanticipated event (surprise), or a legitimate excuse for failing to take required action (excusable neglect);
  (NOTE: it must be 1 year or less since the court distributed the Judgment or Order.)
• newly discovered evidence which could not have been discovered by taking reasonable steps within the 10 days allowed to request a new trial;
  (NOTE: it must be 1 year or less since the court distributed the Judgment or Order.)
• fraud, misrepresentation, or other misconduct from the other side;
  (NOTE: it must be 1 year or less since the court distributed the Judgment or Order.)
• the judgment is void;
  (NOTE: it must be a "reasonable" amount of time since the court distributed the Judgment or Order.)
• the judgment has been satisfied, released or discharged, or a prior judgment upon which it is based has been reversed or otherwise vacated or it is no longer fair that the judgment should apply at this time;
  (NOTE: it must be a "reasonable" amount of time since the court distributed the Judgment or Order), or
• any other reason justifying relief from the judgment.
  (NOTE: it must be a "reasonable" amount of time since the court distributed the Judgment or Order.)

Examples of reasons under Civil Rule 60(b) include:

• Paperwork filed contained mistakes or was filed incorrectly.
• The court did not have jurisdiction or authority over the matter.
• The judgment has already been paid.
• The party is a victim of identity theft.

You can file:

• Motion and Affidavit to Set Aside the Judgment or Order, SHC-1548 Word | PDF
• Proposed Order on Motion, SHC-1302 Word | PDF

Make sure to file the original and provide the other side (or their attorney if represented) with a copy that is called serving a motion. Learn more about serving a motion.

You must file the motion within a "reasonable time" after the judgment. The judge decides what a reasonable amount of time is, and it will depend on the circumstances in the case. Parties should clearly explain why the time in which they filed the motion is reasonable.

In addition to the reasonable time requirement, a party asking to set aside the judgment for one of the reasons listed below must do so within 1 year of the judgment:

• mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect
• newly discovered evidence
• fraud, misrepresentation or misconduct of the other party.

It is important to act promptly. If you do not file the Motion to Set Aside within a reasonable time, the judge can deny it, even if the reason for the request is valid.

Make sure to file the original and provide the other side (or their attorney if represented) with a copy that is called serving a motion. Learn more about serving a motion.

The other side can file a response just like to any other kind of motion. See how to respond to or oppose a motion.

If the Motion to Set Aside Judgment or Order is granted, the parties then proceed through the steps in the case as if the judgment or order had not been issued.

If the Motion to Set Aside Judgment or Order is not granted or is denied, the parties are supposed to follow the Judgment or Order and the party who received the original order or judgment can enforce it.

Either party can decide to appeal the decision about the Motion to Set Aside if they believe the judge made a legal mistake. Learn more about filing an appeal.