Alaska DIY Divorce: Forms, Fees & Mediation

Alaska does not require you to hire a lawyer to end your marriage, and the Alaska Court System publishes every core form free through its Family Law Self-Help Center. Unlike most states, Alaska has no minimum number of days you must live in-state before filing — you just need to be physically present with the intent to remain. For the full residency, venue, and grounds requirements, see our Alaska divorce filing checklist. Here is what you need to handle your Alaska DIY divorce on your own.

Where to Get Free Self-Help Forms

The Alaska Court System's Family Law Forms page organizes every packet you need by case type. Two main routes are available for spouses who agree on the outcome:

• Dissolution of Marriage (DR-1 with children, DR-2 without children) — a joint, no-fault petition where both spouses sign a complete settlement covering property, debt, custody, and support.
• Uncontested Divorce (DR-5 with children, DR-6 without children, with step-by-step DR-25/DR-30/DR-35 instructions) — one spouse files a Complaint and the other does not contest it.

If children are involved, add the Child Custody Jurisdiction Affidavit (DR-150) and Child Support Guidelines Affidavit (DR-305) with the matching worksheet. Every case also needs the original Certificate of Divorce, Dissolution or Annulment (VS-401) on special paper from the clerk.

TrueFiling: Filing Online in Alaska

TrueFiling is Alaska's statewide electronic filing system, rolling out to more locations and case types over time. Attorneys must e-file where available; self-represented filers may use it but generally are not required to. If you skip e-filing, you can still submit paperwork by mail, in person, or approved email at many courthouses — check your court location's current options first. The original VS-401 certificate must still be delivered on paper even if the rest of your case is e-filed.

Filing Fees and Fee Waivers

Alaska charges a single statewide fee to open a divorce, dissolution, custody, or paternity case, published on the court's fee schedule:

• $250 to open a Divorce, Dissolution, Custody, or Paternity case
• $75 to file a motion to modify a final custody, support, spousal support, or property order (free if the motion is joint or stipulated)

If paying is a hardship, file the Fee Waiver request (TF-920). Approval generally requires household income at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines, or proof that paying the fee would prevent you from covering basic living expenses. A waiver covers the filing fee but not costs like process servers, parent-education classes, or private mediation.

Mediation and the Early Resolution Program

Alaska courts can order or offer mediation for divorce and custody disputes, though it is not mandatory statewide. In Anchorage, Palmer, Juneau, Kenai, and other locations, many self-represented cases are screened into the Early Resolution Program (ERP), a half-day session with volunteer attorneys and court mediators that historically settles most assigned cases the same day. Mediation involving domestic violence is limited to situations where the victim requests it with appropriate safeguards in place.

The Fastest DIY Path: Dissolution vs. Uncontested Divorce

If you and your spouse agree on every issue, dissolution is usually the quickest route:

1. Choose the right packet (DR-1 with children or DR-2 without) and complete a written settlement that is “fair and just” under AS 25.24.160.
2. File the joint petition together, along with the VS-401 certificate and any required child support worksheets.
3. Complete parent education if your court location requires it before entry of final orders.
4. Attend the hearing, scheduled no sooner than 30 days after filing. Attendance can sometimes be waived or done by phone with form TF-710.
5. Receive your decree once the judge confirms your agreement meets the statutory standard.

If only one spouse wants the divorce but the other will not contest it, the uncontested packets (DR-5/DR-6) skip the joint-petition requirement while still moving faster than a contested case. For more on how a contested case differs from an agreed-upon one, see our Alaska uncontested vs. contested divorce guide, and for a stage-by-stage breakdown of timing, see our Alaska divorce timeline guide.

When to Consider Hiring an Attorney

DIY divorce works best in Alaska when both spouses cooperate, property is straightforward, and parenting time is not contested. Consider hiring a family law attorney if your case involves:

• A business interest, real estate, or retirement accounts needing a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO)
• Contested custody or a disputed parenting plan
• Domestic violence or safety concerns during service or mediation
• A spouse who cannot be located, which requires alternate service and additional court filings

The Family Law Self-Help Center helpline can point you to forms and procedures but cannot give legal advice. Many Alaska attorneys offer flat-fee, limited-scope paperwork reviews that cost far less than full representation.