Serving divorce papers in Alaska

How papers are served in Alaska

• In a divorce, your spouse must be served with the summons and complaint by certified mail, restricted delivery, return receipt, or by a process server.
• Email, TrueFiling, first-class mail or handing it over yourself is not allowed.
• In a dissolution you both sign the petition, so no service is needed.

Law: Alaska R. Civ. P. 4, 12; Self-Help Center pages Serve the Other Side and Respond

Deadline to respond and default

20 days after service (40 days if served in a foreign country).

If your spouse doesn't respond in time, you can usually ask the judge for a default judgment.

Serving your spouse in Alaska, step by step

1. File your papers first

   File with the Superior Court. Service comes after filing.

2. Serve the papers

   In a divorce, your spouse must be served with the summons and complaint by certified mail, restricted delivery, return receipt, or by a process server.

3. File proof of service

   File the proof of service with the court.

4. Watch the deadline

   20 days after service (40 days if served in a foreign country).

5. If there is no response

   If your spouse doesn't respond in time, you can usually ask the judge for a default judgment.

Questions about serving divorce papers in Alaska

More about divorce in Alaska

• All Alaska divorce laws
• Uncontested divorce in Alaska
• Alaska divorce forms and filing fees
• Alimony in Alaska
• Child custody and support in Alaska
• Divorce timeline estimator for Alaska
• Divorce checklist for Alaska
• Served with divorce papers: what to do
• Timeline estimator

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