AK estate risk
Probate risk in Alaska
Court-supervised estate process, timing, cost exposure, and public record requirements.
Alaska offers informal probate with minimal court supervision and a small-estate affidavit for limited personal property and vehicles.
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Informal probate allows a personal representative to administer the estate with minimal court supervision and usually no hearings.
- Small-estate affidavits are available 30 days after death if personal property is $50,000 or less and vehicles total $100,000 or less.
- No personal representative can be pending or appointed when using the small-estate affidavit.
- Informal probate must generally be started within three years of death.
Questions to consider
Questions to consider in Alaska
- How long does probate typically take here?
- What costs and fees should families expect?
- What becomes public during probate?
State overview
Alaska offers informal probate with minimal court supervision and a small-estate affidavit for limited personal property and vehicles.
- Informal probate allows a personal representative to administer the estate with minimal court supervision and usually no hearings.
- Small-estate affidavits are available 30 days after death if personal property is $50,000 or less and vehicles total $100,000 or less.
- No personal representative can be pending or appointed when using the small-estate affidavit.
- Informal probate must generally be started within three years of death.
Sources
- https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/probate/informal.htm
- https://law.justia.com/codes/alaska/title-13/chapter-16/article-12/section-13-16-680/
- https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/alaska-avoiding-probate-31880.html
Background sources
- Uniform Probate Code (2019) - Probate of wills and administration
Article III covers appointment, notices, creditor claims, and small-estate collection (Section 3-1201).
National sources provide baseline context; state statutes and court rules control in Alaska.
Optional next steps
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