Alaska Court System Self-Help

Both cases end the marriage and divide marital property and debt (including retirement accounts). When the couple has children, both cases also decide a parenting plan which is the custody and visitation arrangement and issue a child support order.

You can learn more about: property and debt division when ending a marriage | parenting plans (custody and visitation) | child support.

The difference is whether the couple agrees or disagrees about the issues. If they agree on all issues, they can file a dissolution case together. If they don't agree, one spouse can file a divorce case.

To start a case in court, you must file a document called either a complaint or a petition, and required attachments. The kind of complaint or petition you file will depend on your situation.

The first question is whether or not you have children, so please click on the appropriate link below to see a list of available forms:

• There are minor children (whether or not there are paternity issues and/or the spouse is pregnant)
• There are no minor children

If you agree, both parties can file uncontested paperwork together which will make the case go much faster. Please read the Uncontested Matters, Agreements and Settlements section for forms and information.

If you initially filed for a dissolution but want to change it to a divorce case because you no longer agree on everything, you can file:

• Motion & Affidavit to Convert Dissolution to Divorce, SHC-1330 Word | PDF
• Order Granting Motion, SHC-1335 Word | PDF ((fill out everything but leave the judge’s signature, date and certificate box blank)

If the judge grants the order and converts the case to a divorce, the case will move ahead as a divorce case. Read more about the different stages and topics in divorce cases.

Please see our fee information page.

No. If you file for divorce and include all the required, properly completed paperwork, your spouse cannot stop you from getting a divorce, even if he or she does not want one.

Yes. You can file the same paperwork as any married couple in Alaska to get a divorce. To start a case in court, you must file a document called either a complaint or a petition, and required attachments. The kind of complaint or petition you file will depend on your situation.

The first question is whether or not you have children, so please click on the appropriate link below to see a list of available forms:

• There are minor children (whether or not there are paternity issues and/or the spouse is pregnant)
• There are no minor children

Yes. Either you or your spouse may file to end your marriage in Alaska as long as 1 of you is an Alaska resident. When filing for divorce or dissolution, you are generally an Alaska resident if you are in Alaska when you file and you plan to stay.

If you meet this residency requirement, an Alaska court can grant you a divorce.

If your spouse does not live in Alaska, the court may not have the authority, called “jurisdiction” over all issues in your case. When this happens, your spouse may ask to dismiss the case.

Some examples where the court may be able to grant you a divorce, but not address other issues:

• Children need to live in Alaska for six months before you start your divorce case. There are some exceptions, but generally if the child has not been in Alaska for 6 months, the court cannot enter a parenting plan custody order.
• If you have property such as a home outside Alaska, the court may not have the authority to divide property or enforce orders about that property.
• If your spouse has not lived with you, while married, for 6 months in the last 6 years, the court may not be able to divide your marital property and debt.

Jurisdiction is a very complicated subject and you should talk to an attorney if you are not sure whether Alaska is the right place to file your case.

If you are serving in the military and are continuously stationed at a military base in Alaska for at least 30 days, you are an Alaskan resident for the purposes of filing a divorce case. But think carefully about where you want to file because there are 3 options for a military member or spouse:

• The state where the military member is stationed;
• The state where the spouse resides; or
• The state where the military member claims legal residency (place where military member plans to live after discharge or retirement).

Although either spouse may file for divorce in any of the three locations listed above, the laws about divorce and property distribution may be different in each state. You should consult with an attorney to decide where is the best place to file your case.

If the court finds that it does not have jurisdiction to hear the case because you don't meet the residency requirement, the case may be dismissed.

Jurisdiction is a very complicated subject and you should talk to an attorney to figure out where is the best place to file your case. If you don't meet the residency requirements to file in Alaska, here are some options:

1. Do not move forward with filing your case in Alaska.
2. Establish residency in Alaska for the period of time discussed above depending on your case type.
3. Have your spouse file the case if he or she meets the necessary residency requirements for Alaska.
4. Choose another state where you or your spouse meets the residency requirements. State residency laws may be different so check the state in which you were married and the states where you each may live as options for where to file.

Generally, you must wait at least 30 days after filing for divorce or dissolution before the judge will sign the final divorce decree.

If you cannot attend the dissolution hearing in person, you have some options.

Ask to participate by telephone

If you and your spouse agree to the telephonic appearance, you can both file the Joint Motion form together that asks the court to allow one or both of you to be on the phone. Joint Motion, Affidavit & Order to Appear and Testify by Telephone, SHC-1342 Word | PDF.

If you and your spouse do not agree to the telephonic appearance, you can file the following motion that asks the court to allow you to be on the phone. Motion, Affidavit & Order to Appear & Testify By Telephone, SHC-1340 Word | PDF.

You need to provide your spouse with a copy of this Motion and fill out the certificate of service at the bottom. For more information about serving the opposing party, see Serve the Other Side.

Ask to waive your appearance

If you cannot be there in person or on the telephone, you can file a form that asks the court to have the hearing without you. Appearance and Waiver of Notice of Hearing, DR-110.

The court may need to call you so the form asks for a phone number to reach you, but this doesn't mean that the court will call you.

No, there is no advantage to being the person who starts the case. Both parties have the opportunity to file papers which state their viewpoint in the case. The judge will consider what each party says and apply the appropriate legal factors to decide the issues.

Yes, the court can grant a divorce if the wife is pregnant, but will likely address issues about the unborn child (setting up a parenting plan and child support) after the child is born. You can ask the court to grant the divorce and then deal with the custody and child support issues later when the child is born by filing:

• Joint Motion, Affidavit & Order to Bifurcate Divorce for Custody, SHC-155 Word | PDF (if the parents agree and will file the motion together) OR
• Motion, Affidavit & Order to Bifurcate Divorce for Custody, SHC-154 Word | PDF (one parent files the motion on their own and the other parent will be able to file a response if he/she does not agree the divorce should move ahead before the custody issues).

If there is a question about whether the husband is the father of the unborn child, you can ask the court to grant the divorce and then deal with the paternity after the child is born by filing:

• Joint Motion, Affidavit and Order to Bifurcate Divorce for Subsequent Determination of Paternity, DR-525 (if the parents agree and will file the motion together) OR
• Motion, Affidavit & Order to Bifurcate Divorce for Subsequent Determination of Paternity, DR-526 (one parent files the motion on their own and the other parent will be able to file a response if he/she does not agree the divorce should move ahead before the paternity issues).

Yes, there are classes in many communities. However, the forms are fairly straightforward, so do not be afraid to try it on your own. If you get stuck, you can always call the Family Law Helpline or consult with an attorney.

You are now ready to file in court and get the defendant served:

1. Make two copies of everything (one for you and one for the defendant);
2. File the original documents at your local court;
3. Pay the required fee or submit the Request for Exemption from Payment of Fees, TF-920;
4. Get two copies of the summons and standing order back from the clerk (one copy is for you and one for the defendant);
5. Put together the defendant's packet, which is a copy of everything you filed plus the summons and standing order. Serve the defendant either by certified mail/return receipt/restricted delivery OR process server. Please read the information about serving the opposing party. If you have an unusual situation, please see more on this page for more information about serving people. You may also find How to Serve a Summons in a Civil Lawsuit, CIV-106 helpful.
6. Keep your copies in a folder.

Yes, you can mail your papers to the court for filing using 1st class US mail. You need to include 3 things:

1. all of the required forms that you have filled out, signed and had notarized where indicated.
2. the filing fee, unless you are asking for a fee waiver.
3. a self-addressed stamped envelope so the court can mail you the summons and the domestic relations procedural order after your case is opened.

Make 2 copies of all papers before you mail the originals to the court. Keep 1 copy for your records. You will need 1 copy to serve the defendant later after you get the summons and domestic relations procedural order.

Serve the opposing party with:

1. a copy of all papers you filed. Write the same case number on your complaint that is shown on the summons.
2. the summons, and
3. the domestic relations procedural order.

There are special requirements to serve a complaint and summons.

View video: Mailing Documents

You wait. When you receive the proof of service, put it in a safe place. The defendant has 20 days from the date of being served to respond to the complaint. If nothing is filed, you may ask for a default. If the defendant answers, your case will move forward as a contested case and be set for trial.

It depends. Many courts require that you view the Listen to the Children video, and some courts also require a special class or workshop. Please check with your local court to confirm what is currently required.

If you are married and cannot find your spouse, you can still get divorced BUT ONLY AFTER you have made what is called "diligent inquiry," which means looking really hard for your spouse. After you have completed your diligent inquiry you must submit an affidavit explaining how and where you looked, and ask for permission to serve that missing spouse by publishing notice in a newspaper or posting in certain places.

Your missing spouse may be easier to locate than you think, and you may very well find them after you do your diligent inquiry. Please see our Tips on Locating People for some ideas of how to search for someone. Please note that you will need to try most of these things before the court will allow you to get divorced.

Once you have done your diligent inquiry, you have two options:

1. Dissolution Packet #3, DR-3 Note: this procedure will not let you address custody of the children or the dividing of property and debts.
2. Divorce Complaint Packet:
   • Divorce Complaint With Children Packet, SHC-PAC1A and Alternate Service Packet, SHC-PAC2 Note: This procedure will allow you to address custody of the children and the dividing of property and debts.
   • Divorce Complaint Without Children Packet,SHC-PAC1B and Alternate Service Packet, SHC-PAC2 Note: This procedure will allow you to address the dividing of property and debts.

Filing for bankruptcy and divorce are serious actions. There are important considerations about when you file each of these cases because it can affect the marital property and debts. Also once you file for bankruptcy, usually all other court cases are stayed (stopped) until the bankruptcy case gets sorted out. This doesn't mean that you can't get a divorce or figure out child custody during a bankruptcy case. But it will take some extra work to sort out the bankruptcy issues (property and debt) from your divorce case. You should talk with a bankruptcy attorney to figure out whether and when to file the different cases.

This website has forms and information for all of the stages of the case. You can also find information about specific topics such as child support, parenting and custody, paternity, property and debt division and dividing retirement benefits.