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 does not issue certified death certificates at the county or borough level, so every request goes to the state office.

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. 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 office is at 3901 Old Seward Highway, Suite 101, and the Juneau office accepts mailed requests at PO Box 110675.

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.

Processing time depends on the method and on current request volume, which the office notes can change. Standard mail or fax orders generally take about 1 to 2 months, while expedited orders placed through VitalChek are typically processed in about 3 to 4 weeks, not counting shipping.

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