Alaska Family Court: Custody and Parenting-Time Guide
Plain-language Alaska information for a custody or parenting-time route, including filing, official forms, free help, fee waivers, and legal-cost context.
This page provides general legal information, not legal advice. State law, court rules, forms, and local procedures can change. Confirm current requirements with the court handling the case.
State laws, court rules, and forms can change. Automated link checks will run every week once the monitoring job is deployed. Please check each cited source before relying on it. Report a broken link or changed law.
Find the right family court
The custody or parenting-time route described in this guide is handled through the Alaska Superior Court. Other family-law matters can follow a different court or procedure.
The current uncontested custody instructions identify the Alaska Superior Court and direct paper filers to the nearest court location where one parent lives.Sources:Instructions for Filing an Uncontested Complaint for Custody of Minor Children, DR-401, Court Directory
How Alaska courts decide custody
Alaska law directs the court to decide custody according to the child's best interests.Sources:Alaska Statutes 2025, Sec. 25.24.150. Judgments for custody; supervised visitation
Alaska's listed best-interest factors include the child's needs, each parent's ability and desire to meet them, the child's preference when sufficiently mature, continuity, and relevant safety concerns.Sources:Alaska Statutes 2025, Sec. 25.24.150. Judgments for custody; supervised visitation
Key legal sources
Alaska Statutes § 25.24.150(c)Sources:Alaska Statutes 2025, Sec. 25.24.150. Judgments for custody; supervised visitation
Parenting time
In an Alaska child-custody dispute, either parent may petition the Superior Court, which decides custody under the child's best interests.Sources:Alaska Statutes 2025, Sec. 25.20.060. Petition for award of child custody
For an unmarried-parent custody dispute, Alaska law permits either parent to petition the Superior Court and requires a best-interests determination.Sources:Alaska Statutes 2025, Sec. 25.20.060. Petition for award of child custody
Key legal sources
Alaska Statutes § 25.20.060(a)Sources:Alaska Statutes 2025, Sec. 25.20.060. Petition for award of child custody
How to file
This route covers an initial uncontested custody decree for minor children when both parents agree on all issues, including the parenting plan, schedule, and child support, and both sign the complaint and required attachments.Sources:Instructions for Filing an Uncontested Complaint for Custody of Minor Children, DR-401
Confirm that the uncontested packet fits
Use this packet only when both parents can complete and sign the paperwork together; the court's instructions identify a different complaint for parents who do not agree on everything.Sources:Instructions for Filing an Uncontested Complaint for Custody of Minor Children, DR-401
Complete the four required packet forms
Complete DR-402, DR-314, DR-150, and DR-305. Each parent must attach the financial records identified in the DR-305 instructions. Attach TF-835 only if a parent cannot access a notary public or court clerk for the affidavits.Sources:Instructions for Filing an Uncontested Complaint for Custody of Minor Children, DR-401
Add forms that apply to the arrangement
Add the applicable custody-calculation form for shared, divided, or hybrid physical custody, and add CIV-125S when not using TrueFiling. Add TF-920 only when requesting a fee exemption.Sources:Instructions for Filing an Uncontested Complaint for Custody of Minor Children, DR-401
Complete the parent education requirement and file
Complete the parent education requirement before finalization, then follow the current instructions for TrueFiling or for filing originals at the nearest court location where one parent lives.Sources:Instructions for Filing an Uncontested Complaint for Custody of Minor Children, DR-401
Attend the court hearing
The instructions say the court automatically sets a hearing and that both parents must attend. A parent who cannot attend in person may request telephone attendance with TF-710. A court location may use a Superior Court Master, whose recommendation is reviewed by a Superior Court judge.Sources:Instructions for Filing an Uncontested Complaint for Custody of Minor Children, DR-401
Official forms
Open the official forms portal.
The Alaska Court System's forms portal lists DR-400 as the Uncontested Complaint for Custody of Minor Children packet; use the current packet instructions to identify required and conditional forms.Sources:Forms by Topic and Number (A - I), DR-400 Packet, Uncontested Complaint for Custody of Minor Children
Free court self-help
Find court self-help near you.
Alaska Court System Family Law Self-Help Center
The court's statewide family-law self-help page provides a helpline and links to custody, child-support, forms, and family-law resources.Sources:Family Law Self-Help Center
Legal-aid organizations
Alaska Legal Services Corporation
Area served: Alaska
ALSC lists family-law assistance for matters including child custody and support, with legal advice, brief services, representation, document help, and possible referrals.Sources:Family Law, Eligibility for civil legal services
Eligibility: ALSC reviews income and case-related eligibility, conflicts, office priorities, and available resources; applying does not ensure acceptance.
Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Legal Program
Area served: Alaska statewide
The program seeks to provide free civil legal representation for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, including custody, visitation, divorce, and child-support matters.Sources:Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Legal Program
Eligibility: Referrals go through a local domestic-violence or sexual-assault program, and assistance depends on the issue, children involved, complexity, safety circumstances, finances, and available volunteer attorneys.
Fee waivers
For a new Alaska custody case, a person unable to pay may request a fee exemption with TF-920, and the court decides the request.Sources:Instructions for Filing an Uncontested Complaint for Custody of Minor Children, DR-401, Request and Order for Exemption from Payment of Fees, TF-920
Who may qualify
TF-920 asks for financial information unless the court exempted fees in the same case within the last year and the person's financial circumstances have not improved.Sources:Request and Order for Exemption from Payment of Fees, TF-920
What to do
File TF-920 with the complaint when seeking a fee exemption
The DR-401 instructions say to include TF-920 with the filing when asking for a fee exemption; the case does not proceed until the fee is paid or the exemption is granted.Sources:Instructions for Filing an Uncontested Complaint for Custody of Minor Children, DR-401
Official fee-waiver forms
Key statute or rule
Alaska Rules of Administration § 9(f)(1)Sources:Request and Order for Exemption from Payment of Fees, TF-920
Attorney cost benchmark
Lawyer fees vary by county, experience, services, and the facts of a case. This state benchmark is context for planning, not a quote.
State and local details to confirm
The parent education requirement for the DR-400 route applies before finalization, and the specific requirement depends on the court location.Sources:Instructions for Filing an Uncontested Complaint for Custody of Minor Children, DR-401
Part of Family Law in Your State.