Alaska Inheritance: Plan an Estate or Settle One

Alaska has adopted the Uniform Probate Code, has not enacted the Uniform Trust CodeAS 13.36 (Trust Administration; Alaska Trust Act)Verified Jul 15, 2026View source, and has not adopted the Uniform Power of Attorney ActAS 13.26.600, AS 13.26.605, AS 13.26.610, AS 13.26.615, AS 13.26.620, AS 13.26.625, AS 13.26.645, AS 13.26.650, AS 13.26.660, AS 13.26.665, AS 13.26.670, AS 13.26.675, AS 13.26.680, AS 13.26.695; AS 40.17.080, AS 40.17.090, AS 40.17.110 (recording); AS 13.28.010-095 (interstate recognition)Verified Sep 18, 2026View source.

Probate of a simple estate in Alaska runs 4 months to 6 months; an average estate takes 6 months to 12 months. The court filing fee is $250Alaska Administrative Rule 9(b)(2)(A); SCO 2008 (eff. May 1, 2023)Verified Sep 8, 2026; attorney fees are reasonable compensationAS 13.16.440 (court reviews reasonableness of compensation paid to agents/attorneys employed by the estate; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source; executor compensation typically runs 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate. On a $500,000 estate the estimated total comes to $27,032AS 13.16.440 (court reviews reasonableness of compensation paid to agents/attorneys employed by the estate; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. The personal representative must post a bondAS 13.16.255Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, which the will may waiveAS 13.16.255Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Informal, unsupervised probate is availableAS 13.16.085, AS 13.16.110Verified Sep 8, 2026View source for uncontested estates.

Certified death certificates come from the Alaska Department of Health - Health Analytics and Vital RecordsAlaska Department of Health - Health Analytics and Vital RecordsVerified Sep 1, 2026View source at $30Alaska Department of Health - Health Analytics and Vital RecordsVerified Sep 1, 2026View source a copy, $25Alaska Department of Health - Health Analytics and Vital RecordsVerified Sep 1, 2026View source for each additional copy ordered with it. Processing time: 2-3 months for mail/faxAlaska Department of Health - Health Analytics and Vital RecordsVerified Sep 1, 2026View source. Once appointed, the personal representative files the estate inventory within 90 daysAS 13.16.365, 13.16.370, 13.16.375Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment and publishes the notice to creditors for 3AS 13.16.450, 13.16.460, 13.16.465, 13.16.470, 13.16.475Verified Sep 15, 2026View source consecutive weeks.

A surviving spouse left out of the will can elect to takeAS 13.12.202, 13.12.211, 13.12.213Verified Sep 15, 2026View source 33.33%AS 13.12.202, 13.12.211, 13.12.213Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of the estate instead. The family allowance during administration is capped at $18,000AS 13.12.404, 13.12.405Verified Sep 15, 2026View source. Property left to a minor under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act is released at 21 yearsAS 13.46.190, 13.46.195Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of age. Alaska has no state income taxAS 43.20.012(a)(1)-(2) (Alaska Net Income Tax Act does not apply to an individual or a fiduciary); AS 43.20.010 (tax on individuals and fiduciaries) repealed by § 13, ch. 70, SLA 1975; AS 43.20.011(a)-(d) and AS 43.20.033/.035 (taxable income of fiduciaries) repealed by § 10, ch. 1, SSSLA 1980Verified Sep 20, 2026View source, so an inheritance and the income it earns are taxed only federally.