What to Do When Someone Dies in Wrangell City and Borough, Alaska

Probate in Wrangell City and Borough runs through the District 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 Wrangell City and Borough, settling their estate runs through the District 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

District Court

Wrangell City and Borough · 1st Judicial District

Address

431 Zimovia Highway, Public Safety Bldg, 2nd FloorWrangell, AK 99929

Fax

907-874-3509

Hours

Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Visit court website →
Paper filing availableSelf-filing allowed

Mailing: Box 869, Wrangell, AK 99929. Magistrate Court - complex probate matters referred to Juneau Superior Court.

Verified July 3, 2026 · Source

How Probate Works in Wrangell City and 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 Wrangell City and Borough, probate runs through the District Court at 431 Zimovia Highway, Public Safety Bldg, 2nd Floor, Wrangell. The court sits in the 1st 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 Jul 15, 2026View source to 12 monthsAS 13.16.680 (collection of personal property by affidavit), AS 13.16.690 (small estatesVerified Jul 15, 2026View source to move through this process. The 4 monthsAS 13.16.460Verified Jul 15, 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 Wrangell City and Borough

What probate costs in Wrangell City and 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 District Court at 431 Zimovia Highway, Public Safety Bldg, 2nd Floor, Wrangell. The court is part of the 1st Judicial District.

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 Jul 15, 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 2.1%AS 13.16.440 (court reviews reasonableness of compensation paid to agents/attorneys employed by the estate; no statutory percentage)Verified Jul 15, 2026View source to 3.3%AS 13.16.440 (court reviews reasonableness of compensation paid to agents/attorneys employed by the estate; no statutory percentage)Verified Jul 15, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.

Executor compensation is based on reasonable pay for time and effort — the states that do set a schedule pay 2.23%Estimated from the 17 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Jul 15, 2026View source to 3.82%Estimated from the 17 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Jul 15, 2026View source of estate value. 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 Jul 15, 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 Jul 15, 2026View source to 12 monthsAS 13.16.680 (collection of personal property by affidavit), AS 13.16.690 (small estatesVerified Jul 15, 2026View source, and costs accrue throughout. The 4 monthsAS 13.16.460Verified Jul 15, 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 District Court

Probate cases in Wrangell City and Borough are filed at the District Court. File in person during business hours or by mail. The court sits in the 1st Judicial District.

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 District Court is realistic.

For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Wrangell City and Borough Self-Filing Assessment.

Wrangell City and 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. Complex probate matters referred to Juneau Superior Court.

Source

What to Bring

To file at the District 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 Wrangell City and 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

Wrangell Recording District

Address

550 W 7th Ave, Ste 108Anchorage, AK 99501-3564

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 →
Visit recorder website →

Recording fees

Base fee (first page)$20
Each additional page$5

Base fee ($20) covers the first page ("page" means one side of a sheet; a double-sided sheet is two pages). Each additional page of the same instrument is $5. Non standard document fee: $50. Indexing each name over six: $2. Certification: $5 per document. Conformed copy at time of recording: $2 (limit 1). Plats/surveys: $20 first sheet, $5 each additional sheet.

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.

Wrangell Recording District (District 104). Served by the Anchorage Recorder's Office. Documents must specify "Wrangell" as the recording district.

Verified July 13, 2026 · Source

Probate Attorneys Serving Wrangell City and Borough

Alaska allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Wrangell City and 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 2.1%AS 13.16.440 (court reviews reasonableness of compensation paid to agents/attorneys employed by the estate; no statutory percentage)Verified Jul 15, 2026View source to 3.3%AS 13.16.440 (court reviews reasonableness of compensation paid to agents/attorneys employed by the estate; no statutory percentage)Verified Jul 15, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Wrangell City and Borough firm to quote a structure up front.

A probate attorney files the petition with the District 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.

1st Judicial District (Southeast) Firms

Law Office of Brandon C. Marx

Solo Practice

Sitka solo practice serving island communities across Southeast Alaska, from Ketchikan to Gustavus, before the First Judicial District courts. Handles probate and wills alongside family, real estate, and criminal matters. A practical option for affordable representation in underserved Southeast communities.

Location

408 Oja Way, Suite BSitka, AK 99835

Phone

(907) 747-7100

Service Area

6 counties

Estate PlanningEstate Administration
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Barnum Law Firm

Solo Practice

Juneau boutique on Seward Street serving Southeast Alaska through the First Judicial District court, with a second office in Whitefish, Montana. Attorney Kris Barnum drafts wills and trusts and works estate and trust administration after a death. Also trades under the Alaska Estate Plans name for flat-fee planning packages.

Location

130 Seward StreetJuneau, AK 99801

Phone

(907) 723-6844

Estate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust Administration
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Baxter Bruce & Sullivan P.C.

Firm

Juneau firm serving Southeast Alaska since 1977, handling matters before the First Judicial District courts, with a second office on the Kenai Peninsula. Prepares wills and trusts and assists families with probate and estate administration. Current leadership includes managing partner Gabriel E. Sassoon and partner Rachel K. Berngartt.

Location

9309 Glacier Highway, Suite A-201Juneau, AK 99801

Phone

(907) 789-3166

Established

1977

Estate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust Administration
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Faulkner Banfield, P.C.

Firm

Juneau firm at One Sealaska Plaza serving Southeast Alaska through the First Judicial District court. Names probate and trust administration as its lead specialty, alongside civil litigation defense and state and municipal work. One of the few Southeast firms where estate settlement is a stated focus rather than a sideline.

Location

One Sealaska Plaza, Suite 300Juneau, AK 99801

Phone

(907) 586-2210

Estate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust Administration
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James McMahon, Attorney & Counselor at Law

Solo Practice

Solo Juneau estate and trust attorney serving Southeast Alaska and the First Judicial District court, admitted in Alaska since 2011. Handles probate and trust administration alongside wills, trusts, gun trusts, and business formations. One of the few dedicated estate practitioners in the Juneau area; fixed-fee estate planning.

Location

1601 Salmon Creek Lane, Suite AJuneau, AK 99801

Phone

(907) 209-7646

Estate PlanningTrust AdministrationEstate AdministrationAsset Protection

Law Office of Corrie J. Bosman

Solo Practice

Sitka solo practice covering Southeast Alaska through the First Judicial District court. Attorney Corrie J. Bosman handles estate planning and estate and trust administration alongside property, family, and mediation work. Also licensed in Washington, with a second office in Port Townsend, which helps when an estate holds property in both states.

Location

P.O. Box 6005Sitka, AK 99835

Phone

(907) 747-1060

Estate PlanningTrust AdministrationEstate Administration
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Statewide Practices

49th Estate Planning

Firm

Juneau 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
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Artio Law

Firm

Downtown Anchorage firm representing personal representatives and heirs through contested and uncontested probate in the Third Judicial District court, taking matters from anywhere in the state — Mat-Su Valley to Juneau to Utqiagvik. Also handles small-estate affidavits of collection, ancillary probate for out-of-state decedents, trust administration, and contested guardianships.

Location

527 W 3rd AvenueAnchorage, AK 99501

Phone

(907) 313-4076

Service Area

Statewide

Estate AdministrationEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationGuardianshipConservatorship
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Alaska Wills and Trusts (Constance A. Aschenbrenner)

Solo Practice

Anchorage 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
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Alaska Estate Plans

Solo Practice

Juneau firm serving Alaskans statewide from Southeast Alaska's First Judicial District, sharing an office and phone line with Barnum Law Firm. Delivers flat-fee will and trust packages, each including a telephonic consultation with a staff attorney. Works largely by phone and video so rural and remote clients never travel.

Location

130 Seward StreetJuneau, AK 99801

Phone

(907) 723-6844

Service Area

Statewide

Estate PlanningTrust AdministrationEstate Administration
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Carlson Law Group, LLC

Solo Practice

Anchorage general practice on G Street reaching clients across Alaska, from Wasilla and the Kenai Peninsula to Nome, Bethel, and Utqiagvik, with a second office in Dallas. Estate work covers wills, durable powers of attorney for finances, health care directives, transfer-on-death deeds, and funeral pre-planning. Runs matters remotely, which suits families in communities with no resident attorney.

Location

645 G Street, Suite 100 #558Anchorage, AK 99501

Phone

(907) 677-8111

Service Area

Statewide

Estate Planning
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Cook Schuhmann & Groseclose, Inc.

Firm

Fairbanks 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
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Foley Pearson Riekkola Iverson, P.C.

Firm

Statewide 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
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Golden Heart Law, LLC

Firm

Handles 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
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Law Office of Stephen E. Greer

Solo Practice

Anchorage 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 Practice

Midtown 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
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Shaftel Delman LLC

Firm

Anchorage trusts-and-estates boutique on West 3rd Avenue serving clients statewide through the Third Judicial District court. Handles estate and trust administration alongside perpetual Alaska trusts, revocable trusts, and special-needs trusts. Also takes non-residents who want a trust sited in Alaska, so the practice runs deeper on trust mechanics than a general firm.

Location

1029 W 3rd Avenue, Suite 600Anchorage, AK 99501

Phone

(907) 276-6015

Service Area

Statewide

Estate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationTax PlanningAsset Protection
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Sedor, Wendlandt, Evans & Filippi, LLC

Firm

Mid-size Anchorage firm on L Street serving clients statewide through the Third Judicial District court. Names estate planning among its core practices alongside business and corporate, labor and employment, education, health care, and real estate work. A fit for an estate that carries a business interest or an employment dispute into probate.

Location

500 L Street, Suite 500Anchorage, AK 99501

Phone

(907) 677-3600

Service Area

Statewide

Estate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust Administration
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Law Offices of Jimmy E. White, LLC

Solo Practice

Anchorage practice on East International Airport Road serving clients statewide through the Third Judicial District court. Handles probate, trusts and estates, and estate litigation including contested wills, alongside elder law. Jimmy White was a name partner at Hughes White Colbo Wilcox & Tervooren before that firm wound down, and has practiced in Alaska since 2005.

Location

1225 E. International Airport Road, Suite 101Anchorage, AK 99518

Phone

(907) 274-7522

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.

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Legal Sources

Data sourced from Alaska statutes and official state code. How we research.

Frequently Asked Questions

You open probate by filing a petition with the District Court in Wrangell City and 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 on a $500,000 estate run about $30,057 statewide in Alaska. For Wrangell City and 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.

Wrangell City and 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 Wrangell City and Borough probate.