How to Get an Alaska Death Certificate (2026)

You get an Alaska death certificate from the state Health Analytics and Vital Records office, part of the Department of Health. Family members such as a spouse, parent, child, or sibling may request a certified copy. The first certified copy costs $30, and each additional copy is $25.

How Do You Get a Death Certificate in Alaska?

You get an Alaska death certificate from Health Analytics and Vital Records, the statewide office within the Alaska Department of Health. Alaska has boroughs rather than counties, and the Department of Health routes all public death certificate orders to this state office rather than to a local one. Alaska law does allow a custodian of permanent local records to issue a certified copy of a record in its own custody, so local issuance is not forbidden, but the state office is the route the department publishes for the public.

There are four ways to order a certified copy.

Order Online

The fastest method is the state's authorized online vendor, VitalChek. Alaska Vital Records does not work with any third-party vendor except VitalChek, so avoid other sites that advertise help with Alaska certificates.

Order by Mail or Fax

You can complete the official death certificate request form and submit it by mail or fax. Mail it to Health Analytics and Vital Records, PO Box 110675, Juneau, AK 99811-0675, or fax it to 907-465-3618. Include the required fee and a copy of your valid photo identification.

Order in Person

You can visit either state office in person. The Anchorage walk-in office is at 3901 Old Seward Highway, Suite 101, and the Juneau walk-in office is at 5441 Commercial Boulevard. Both are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Juneau PO Box is a mailing address only, so do not use it as a walk-in location.

Who Is Eligible to Request an Alaska Death Certificate?

Because Alaska death records are confidential for 50 years after the date of death, only people who can show a qualifying relationship or legal interest may obtain a certified copy.

Eligible requesters include the spouse listed on the certificate, the parents of the decedent, the children of the decedent, and siblings who share a parent. You may need to provide a supporting document, such as a marriage or birth certificate, to prove the relationship.

Attorneys and government agencies may also request a record. They must provide a letter on official letterhead stating who they represent. The Office of Public Advocacy may request records with guardianship or conservatorship documentation.

Every applicant must present a valid government-issued photo ID. Within the 50-year confidential period you must also state your relationship to the decedent or your reason for needing the record.

Alaska Death Certificate Cost and Processing Time

The first certified copy of an Alaska death certificate costs $30. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time costs $25.

VitalChek may add its own service and shipping fees on top of the state charge. Fees are set under Alaska law and can change, so confirm the current amount with the office before you send payment.

One statutory exception can make the certificate free. Under AS 18.50.320(7) the bureau must issue up to four certified copies of a veteran's death certificate without charge to a qualified person, meaning the personal representative of the veteran's estate, the trustee of a revocable trust the veteran settled, or a person who needs the copy to satisfy an eligibility requirement for a benefit related to the death. The statute defines a veteran as someone who was on active duty at death or received an honorable or general discharge from a branch of the United States armed services, the National Guard, a reserve unit, the Alaska Scouts, the Alaska Territorial Guard, or the Alaska Naval Militia, and who was a resident of Alaska at death. The state ordering pages do not advertise this exception, so ask Health Analytics and Vital Records how to claim it before you pay for up to four copies.

Processing time depends on the method and on current request volume, which the office notes can change. As of September 2026 Alaska Vital Records posts at least 2 to 3 weeks for requests made through VitalChek and 2 to 3 months for requests made by mail or fax, not counting shipping. The office posts a separate alert when volume is unusually high, so check its current posting before you count on a date.

A record cannot be processed until the death is registered, which may take up to 3 months after the death occurs. If the death is recent, the certificate may not be available yet.

Certified vs Informational Copy in Alaska

Alaska Health Analytics and Vital Records issues certified copies of death certificates. A certified copy carries the state seal and is the version accepted for legal and estate matters such as closing bank accounts, claiming life insurance, transferring property, and settling probate.

Some states sell a separate informational or non-certified copy that is marked as not valid for legal use. Alaska's public ordering process centers on the certified copy, so you should request the certified copy whenever an official agency, court, or financial institution asks for the death certificate.

For deaths that occurred more than 50 years before your request, the record is public and the office issues a non-certified Public Record (white) copy for $15. If you only need the information for research or personal reference and the record is within the 50-year confidential window, contact the office directly to ask what is available for your situation.

How to Get Additional or Replacement Copies

You can order additional or replacement copies the same way you order the first one, through VitalChek, by mail, by fax, or in person. The most economical approach is to request all the copies you need in a single order, because each additional copy is only $25 instead of the $30 first-copy fee.

Estates often need several certified copies at once, since banks, insurers, and government agencies each keep one. Ordering extras up front saves you a second round of fees and processing time.

If you lose a certificate later, you can request a fresh certified copy at any time as long as you still meet the eligibility rules and provide valid photo ID.

Disclaimer: This page provides general information and is not legal advice. Fees, eligibility rules, and processing times change, so always verify the current details directly with Alaska Health Analytics and Vital Records before placing an order.

Sources

This guide is based on official information from Alaska Health Analytics and Vital Records (Alaska Department of Health) and Alaska state law.

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Related: Alaska Death Records | Death Records by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is an Alaska death certificate?

The first certified copy costs $30 and each additional copy ordered at the same time is $25, and VitalChek may add its own service and shipping fees for online orders. Alaska law also requires up to four free certified copies of a veteran's death certificate for a qualified person under AS 18.50.320(7).

Can I get a free Alaska death certificate for a veteran?

Yes, in defined circumstances. AS 18.50.320(7) requires the state to issue up to four certified copies of a veteran's death certificate without charge to a qualified person, such as the personal representative of the estate, the trustee of a revocable trust the veteran settled, or someone who needs the copy to satisfy an eligibility requirement for a death-related benefit. The veteran must have been on active duty at death or honorably or generally discharged, and a resident of Alaska at death. Ask Health Analytics and Vital Records how to claim it, because the online ordering pages do not list it.

How long does it take to get an Alaska death certificate?

As of September 2026 the state posts at least 2 to 3 weeks for orders placed through VitalChek and 2 to 3 months for orders submitted by mail or fax, and those times move with request volume. A record cannot be processed until the death is registered, which can take up to 3 months.

Who can get an Alaska death certificate?

The spouse, parents, children, and siblings of the decedent may request a certified copy, along with attorneys and government agencies who provide a letter on letterhead. Records are confidential for 50 years, so you must show eligibility and valid photo ID.

Can I get an Alaska death certificate online?

Yes. You can order online through VitalChek, the only third-party vendor the state works with. The state posts at least 2 to 3 weeks for online orders.

What is the difference between a certified and informational copy?

A certified copy carries the state seal and is accepted for legal and estate purposes. Alaska's ordering process centers on certified copies, so request the certified version for any official, court, or financial use.

How do I get extra copies of an Alaska death certificate?

Order all the copies you need in one request to pay only $25 per additional copy instead of the $30 first-copy fee. You can order more later through VitalChek, mail, fax, or in person as long as you remain eligible.