Alaska Vital Records: The 2025 Guide

Complete information for requesting certified vital records in Alaska — office address, current fees, processing times, county shortcuts, and step-by-step instructions for birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce decrees.

Alaska Vital Records Office

Birth Certificates in Alaska

Alaska processes vital records efficiently given its relatively small population. The Bureau of Vital Statistics in Juneau handles all birth, death, and marriage records for the state. Alaska allows any direct-line descendant to access records for deceased relatives. There are no county-level vital records offices in Alaska — the Juneau state office is the only option.

To request a certified birth certificate by mail: download the official request form from dhss.alaska.gov, complete it with the registrant's full name at birth, date of birth, county of birth, and both parents' full names (including mother's maiden name). Attach a photocopy of your government-issued photo ID. Include a check or money order payable to the Alaska vital records office for $30 per copy. Mail to the address above.

Faster option: Alaska does not have county-level governments. The state Bureau in Juneau is the sole source of certified vital records copies. Anchorage residents can visit the Anchorage office of the Bureau for in-person service: 4501 Business Park Blvd., Suite 20, Anchorage — 907-269-0052.

For the complete birth certificate request guide including eligibility rules, handling missing records, and what to do when a record contains an error, see our complete birth certificate guide.

Death Certificates in Alaska

Death certificates in Alaska are $30 per certified copy, issued by the same vital records office. For an estate, order at least 10–15 certified copies when the funeral home files — each bank, insurance company, and government agency requires its own original. See our estate copy calculator for a personalized count, and our guide on getting a death certificate before or right after the funeral for urgent timelines.

Deaths older than 50 years are public record in Alaska — anyone may request a copy. Requests for more recent deaths require proof of an eligible relationship.

Marriage Records in Alaska

Marriage licenses in Alaska are issued at the county level by the Bureau of Vital Statistics. To get a certified copy of a marriage certificate, contact that county office directly. If you don't know which county issued the license, the Alaska vital records office can search the statewide marriage index. See our marriage certificate guide for the full process.

Divorce Decrees in Alaska

Divorce decrees are court documents held by the clerk of the county court where the divorce was filed — not by the state vital records office. Contact the county court clerk to request a certified copy of the final divorce decree. The Alaska vital records office can usually identify the county if you don't know it. See our divorce decree guide.

Public Access Rules for Genealogy

In Alaska, birth records become publicly accessible to anyone after 100 years from the birth year. Death records become publicly accessible after 50 years. Within those windows, certified copies are restricted to eligible requestors — immediate family members, legal representatives, and authorized parties. For genealogy research on records within the restricted window, demonstrate your direct-line relationship using a chain of birth certificates and death certificates. See our genealogy research guide for full details.