What to Do When Someone Dies in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska
Probate in Fairbanks North Star Borough runs through the Superior Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Fairbanks North Star Borough, settling their estate runs through the Superior Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Probate Court Record
Superior Court
Fairbanks North Star Borough · 4th Judicial District
Address
101 Lacey StreetFairbanks, AK 99701
Phone
Fax
907-452-9330
Hours
Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM (Clerk closed Wednesdays 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM)
Paper filing availableSelf-filing allowed
Departments
- Probate907-452-9256
- Criminal907-452-9289
- Civil / Small Claims / Appeals907-452-9267
- Domestic Violence / Protective Orders907-452-9254
- Jury Office907-452-9225
- Minor Offense / Traffic907-452-9238
- CINA / Juvenile Delinquency907-452-9257
- Bail Payments907-452-9266
- Parenting Plan Resolution907-452-9360
- Law Library907-452-9241
District headquarters for Interior Alaska. Dedicated Probate line: 907-452-9256. Area Court Administrator: 907-452-9201.
Verified June 2, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Fairbanks North Star Borough
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Fairbanks North Star Borough, probate runs through the Superior Court at 101 Lacey Street, Fairbanks. The court sits in the 4th Judicial District.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Alaska intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Alaska estates take 6 monthsAS 13.16.680 (collection of personal property by affidavit), AS 13.16.690 (small estatesVerified Jun 19, 2026View source to 12 monthsAS 13.16.680 (collection of personal property by affidavit), AS 13.16.690 (small estatesVerified Jun 19, 2026View source to move through this process. The 4 monthsAS 13.16.460Verified Jun 19, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What Probate Costs in Fairbanks North Star Borough
What probate costs in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Superior Court at 101 Lacey Street, Fairbanks. The court is part of the 4th Judicial District.
Probate matters are handled through Probate, Criminal, Civil / Small Claims / Appeals, and Domestic Violence / Protective Orders. Filing and payment go through these offices, not the main clerk window.
Local procedures at this court: Probate filings currently paper-only. These are county-specific and not posted on the statewide court site.
Alaska charges $250Alaska Administrative Rule 9(b)(2)(A); SCO 2008 (eff. May 1, 2023)Verified Jun 19, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Alaska are negotiated, typically 2%AS 13.16.440 (court reviews reasonableness of compensation paid to agents/attorneys employed by the estate; no statutory percentage)Verified Jun 19, 2026View source to 4%AS 13.16.440 (court reviews reasonableness of compensation paid to agents/attorneys employed by the estate; no statutory percentage)Verified Jun 19, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation runs 2%AS 13.16.430 (personal representative entitled to reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Jun 19, 2026View source to 4%AS 13.16.430 (personal representative entitled to reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Jun 19, 2026View source of estate value, based on reasonable pay for time and effort. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Alaska requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%AS 13.16.255Verified Jun 19, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in Alaska typically runs 6 monthsAS 13.16.680 (collection of personal property by affidavit), AS 13.16.690 (small estatesVerified Jun 19, 2026View source to 12 monthsAS 13.16.680 (collection of personal property by affidavit), AS 13.16.690 (small estatesVerified Jun 19, 2026View source, and costs accrue throughout. The 4 monthsAS 13.16.460Verified Jun 19, 2026View source creditor claim window is the single biggest driver of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of estate complexity.
How to File Probate at the Superior Court
Probate cases in Fairbanks North Star Borough are filed at the Superior Court. File in person during business hours or by mail. The court sits in the 4th Judicial District.
Filings here are routed through Probate, Criminal, Civil / Small Claims / Appeals, and Domestic Violence / Protective Orders. Confirm with the office which intake handles the petition type you're filing.
How to File Your Documents
Paper Filing Available
You can file your probate documents in person at the court or by mail.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Superior Court is realistic.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Fairbanks North Star Borough Self-Filing Assessment.
Fairbanks North Star Borough Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
Probate filings currently paper-only
Probate e-filing is not yet available in Alaska (planned for the end of 2026). All probate documents must be filed in person at the court or by mail. Self-represented litigants may use Alaska Court System probate forms available at courts.alaska.gov/shc/probate/.
SourceWhat to Bring
To file at the Superior Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
Transferring Property in Fairbanks North Star Borough
Clearing title to real estate after a death—recording a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order—happens at the DNR District Recorder.
Recording Office Record
DNR District Recorder
Fairbanks Recording District
Address
3700 Airport WayFairbanks, AK 99709-4699
Phone
Hours
Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM (closed 2nd Wednesday of each month 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM)
E-recording
Available via CSC / Simplifile / ePNE-recording info →
Recording fees
| Base recording fee | $20 |
| Per additional page | $5 |
Base fee ($20) covers the first page. Each additional page is $5. Nonstandard documents (per 11 AAC 06.040) incur an additional $50 surcharge. Over six names indexed: $2 per additional name. Certification: $5/document. Conformed copy at time of recording: $2 (limit 1). Fee schedule effective July 1, 2018 (11 AAC 05.200, Register 227).
AS 40.17.030(a)(10); 11 AAC 05.200
Transfer tax
None. Alaska does not impose a state real estate transfer tax.. Transfer-on-death deeds are generally exempt (Alaska has no state or local real estate transfer tax. No exemption analysis needed.). No Alaska municipality currently imposes a local transfer tax on real property sales.
Fairbanks Recording District (District 401). Primary Fairbanks office location. Documents must specify "Fairbanks" as the recording district.
Verified June 3, 2026 · Source
Probate Attorneys Serving Fairbanks North Star Borough
Alaska allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Fairbanks North Star Borough without hiring an attorney. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.
Probate attorney fees in Alaska are based on reasonable compensation — typically 2%AS 13.16.440 (court reviews reasonableness of compensation paid to agents/attorneys employed by the estate; no statutory percentage)Verified Jun 19, 2026View source to 4%AS 13.16.440 (court reviews reasonableness of compensation paid to agents/attorneys employed by the estate; no statutory percentage)Verified Jun 19, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Fairbanks North Star Borough firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Superior Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
4th Judicial District (Interior) Firms
Cavaliere Law Firm, LLC
Solo PracticeEstate planning, asset protection, and business/tax planning services in Fairbanks. Admitted in Alaska, Montana, and Connecticut.
Location
1008 16th AvenueFairbanks, AK 99701
Phone
(907) 374-0516
Established
2015
Service Area
1 county
Estate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationAsset ProtectionTax Planning
Free consultationVisit site
Polaris Law Group, P.C.
FirmServes North Pole, Fairbanks, and rural Interior Alaska as North Pole's first law office. Drafts wills, advance directives, powers of attorney, and living and testamentary trusts, and represents families in probate, guardianship, conservatorship, and adoption matters. A practical option for the underserved rural Interior.
Location
220 Park Way, Suite 1North Pole, AK 99705
Phone
(907) 885-6619
Service Area
1 county
Estate PlanningEstate AdministrationGuardianship
Free consultationVisit site
Zimmerman & Wallace, Attorneys at Law
FirmGeneral practice law firm in Fairbanks operating for over 40 years. Estate planning services include wills, durable powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and probate administration.
Location
711 Gaffney Road, Suite 202Fairbanks, AK 99701
Phone
(907) 452-2211
Established
1982
Service Area
1 county
Estate PlanningEstate Administration
Visit site
Hompesch & Evans, A Professional Corporation
FirmFairbanks firm (established 1985) handling matters before the Fourth Judicial District courts in interior Alaska from the Denali Financial Center. Concentrates on estate planning, trust and probate administration, and estate and income tax minimization. Lead attorney Richard W. Hompesch II is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.
Location
119 North Cushman Street, Suite 400Fairbanks, AK 99701
Phone
(907) 452-1700
Established
1985
Estate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationTax Planning
Rogers Law Group, LLC
FirmHandles wills, powers of attorney, advanced healthcare directives, conservatorships, guardianships, and probate matters in Fairbanks. Formerly Foster & Rogers, LLC (rebranded May 2023).
Location
100 Cushman Street, Suite 513Fairbanks, AK 99701
Phone
(907) 458-1080
Estate PlanningEstate AdministrationGuardianshipConservatorship
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Valerie M. Therrien, Attorney-At-Law PC
Solo PracticeSolo practitioner office in downtown Fairbanks, working probate matters through the Fourth Judicial District court. Handles estate and will planning, probate administration, Alaska estate tax questions, and creditor claims against estates. Valerie Therrien has practiced in Alaska since 1977.
Location
208 Barnette StreetFairbanks, AK 99701
Phone
(907) 452-6195
Established
1977
Estate PlanningEstate AdministrationGuardianship
Free consultationVisit site
Statewide Practices
49th Estate Planning
FirmJuneau estate planning firm serving clients statewide through Alaska's First Judicial District and remotely across the state. Handles trust administration, probate, and estate administration after a death, including fiduciary guidance, asset collection and valuation, beneficiary notification, and distribution. Works on a flat-fee structure agreed before engagement.
Location
8800 Glacier Highway, Suite 222Juneau, AK 99801
Phone
(907) 312-5436
Service Area
Statewide
Estate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationElder LawAsset Protection
Visit site
Alaska Wills and Trusts (Constance A. Aschenbrenner)
Solo PracticeAnchorage firm led by Constance A. Aschenbrenner, serving the Third Judicial District and clients statewide. Focuses on wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, guardianship, special-needs trusts, and Medicaid and elder-law planning. Runs recurring estate-planning workshops both in person and online.
Location
P.O. Box 140842Anchorage, AK 99514
Phone
(907) 334-9200
Service Area
Statewide
Estate PlanningTrust AdministrationEstate AdministrationElder LawGuardianship
Visit site
Alaska Estate Plans
Solo PracticeDouglas-based virtual firm serving Alaskans statewide from Southeast Alaska's First Judicial District. Delivers flat-fee will and trust packages, each including a telephonic consultation with a staff attorney. Runs entirely through a virtual office to keep estate planning affordable across rural and remote Alaska.
Location
P.O. Box 240907Douglas, AK 99824
Phone
(907) 723-6844
Service Area
Statewide
Estate PlanningTrust AdministrationEstate Administration
Visit site
Carlson Law Group, LLC
Solo PracticeVeteran-owned law firm providing estate planning, will preparation, and legal services. Licensed in Alaska and Washington. Uses technology to serve remote and rural clients statewide.
Location
645 G Street, Suite 100 #558Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone
(907) 677-8111
Service Area
Statewide
Estate PlanningEstate Administration
Visit site
Cook Schuhmann & Groseclose, Inc.
FirmFairbanks general-practice firm operating in interior Alaska's Fourth Judicial District, founded in 1957. Estate practice covers wills, trusts, and probate alongside its tax and real-estate work. One of the largest and longest-established firms in interior Alaska.
Location
714 Fourth Avenue, Suite 200Fairbanks, AK 99701
Phone
(907) 452-1855
Established
1957
Service Area
Statewide
Estate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationTax Planning
Visit site
Foley Pearson Riekkola Iverson, P.C.
FirmStatewide Alaska estate planning and probate services. Handles living trusts, wills, probate, powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and Alaska community property agreements/trusts. Founded 1987.
Location
4300 B Street, Suite 400Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone
(907) 522-2272
Established
1987
Service Area
Statewide
Estate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationTax Planning
Visit site
Golden Heart Law, LLC
FirmHandles estate planning and probate from its Fairbanks office, serving the Interior and reaching into the Mat-Su Valley. Drafts wills, revocable and asset-protection trusts, health care directives, and financial powers of attorney, and guides personal representatives through informal probate after a death.
Location
329 2nd StreetFairbanks, AK 99701
Phone
(907) 474-4529
Service Area
Statewide
Estate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust Administration
Visit site
Law Office of Stephen E. Greer
Solo PracticeAnchorage solo practice serving clients across Alaska on revocable trusts, wills, and Alaska domestic asset-protection trusts. Structures plans in defined phases — an hourly initial meeting, then flat-fee drafting once an approach is chosen — and handles the tax questions that come with larger or business-holding estates. Stephen Greer helped draft much of Alaska's modern trust legislation.
Location
3350 Midtown PlaceAnchorage, AK 99503
Phone
(907) 561-5520
Service Area
Statewide
Estate PlanningTrust AdministrationEstate AdministrationTax PlanningElder Law
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Law Office of Justin S. Eppler, LLC
Solo PracticeMidtown Anchorage office serving clients statewide — Fairbanks, Juneau, Wasilla, and Palmer — by phone. Handles full probate and trust administration for executors and trustees, plus contested matters through probate and trust litigation. Wills, trusts, and powers of attorney round out the estate-planning side.
Location
2525 Blueberry Road, Suite 102Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone
(907) 770-0400
Service Area
Statewide
Estate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust Administration
Visit site
Shaftel Delman LLC
FirmPremier Alaska estate planning firm. Specializes in perpetual Alaska trusts, revocable trusts, special needs trusts, and estate/trust administration. Serves clients statewide and non-residents interested in Alaska trust planning.
Location
1029 W 3rd Avenue, Suite 600Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone
(907) 276-6015
Service Area
Statewide
Estate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationTax PlanningAsset Protection
Visit site
Sedor, Wendlandt, Evans & Filippi, LLC
FirmMid-size Anchorage firm combining capabilities of a larger firm with the efficiency of a smaller practice. Estate planning services include wills, trusts, and probate. John Wendlandt is a member of the Alaska Bar Association's Business Law and Estate Planning/Probate Sections.
Location
500 L Street, Suite 500Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone
(907) 677-3600
Service Area
Statewide
Estate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust Administration
Visit site
Wyatt & Butterfield, LLC
FirmEstate planning services for all major cities in Alaska including Anchorage, Sitka, Palmer, Juneau, Wasilla, and Ketchikan. Specializes in elder law, asset protection, trusts, wills, power of attorney, special needs planning, long-term care planning, and VA benefits consulting.
Location
1016 West 6th Avenue, Suite 302Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone
(907) 277-0300
Service Area
Statewide
Estate PlanningElder LawAsset Protection
Visit site
Law Offices of Jimmy E. White, LLC
Solo PracticeEstablished Anchorage attorney with 26+ years of practice. Handles wills, living wills, contested wills, trusts and estates, estate litigation, elder law, and probate. Previously a name partner at Hughes White Colbo Wilcox & Tervooren, LLC.
Location
1225 E. International Airport Road, Suite 101Anchorage, AK 99518
Phone
(855) 789-9803
Service Area
Statewide
Estate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust Administration
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Legal Sources
- Alaska Administrative Rule 9(b)(2)(A); SCO 2008 (eff. May 1, 2023)
- AS 13.16.255
- AS 13.16.430 (personal representative entitled to reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)
- AS 13.16.440 (court reviews reasonableness of compensation paid to agents/attorneys employed by the estate; no statutory percentage)
- AS 13.16.460
- AS 13.16.680 (collection of personal property by affidavit), AS 13.16.690 (small estates
Data sourced from Alaska statutes and official state code. How we research.
Frequently Asked Questions
You open probate by filing a petition with the Superior Court in Fairbanks North Star Borough, attaching the original will (if any), the death certificate, and the filing fee ($250). Once the court issues letters, the personal representative can act.
Total probate costs usually run 3–8% of the estate value. For Fairbanks North Star Borough, that means filing fees ($250 to open), attorney fees, executor compensation, publication costs, and possibly a bond. The calculator on this page runs the math for your estate size.
Fairbanks North Star Borough typically requires in-person or mail filing for probate petitions. Check the court's website for the latest procedures — some counties have added e-filing for specific document types.
Not every estate needs one. Simple estates, small estates under the affidavit threshold, and states with informal probate can often be handled without counsel. Contested wills, out-of-state property, and business interests usually need an attorney. The Alaska self-filing assessment scores whether this estate can be handled without one.
A simple Alaska probate typically closes in 4–6 months; average estates run 6–12 months. The mandatory creditor-claim period accounts for much of that, so even uncontested estates rarely close quickly.
A revocable living trust skips probate entirely — no filing fee, no attorney schedule, no executor commission. The cost of setting up the trust is typically recovered many times over compared to what probate would cost the estate. Create a revocable trust online and keep the estate out of Fairbanks North Star Borough probate.
Notify Banks & Financial Institutions
Each institution has a separate death claim process. Find yours below.
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