Is there a way to avoid probate appointment in Alaska?

Yes. A revocable living trust passes assets to beneficiaries without any court appointment — no petition, no Letters, no bond. A revocable trust built with SimplyTrust takes about 15 minutes.

How Do I Get Appointed as Executor in Alaska?

See the appointing court, the petition that opens the estate, what to file, and bond rules to be appointed in your state.

Got the Letters? Run the whole estate from here.

State

Document Type

Getting Appointed in Alaska

Personal Representative (UPC term; executor if testate, administrator if intestate)

Where you file

Superior Court for the State of Alaska (probate)

The form that opens the estate

P-320Request to Start Formal Probate and Appoint a Personal Representative When There Is a Will · Fillable PDF · View sourceStart this petition for Alaska — we pre-fill it with your information. You review, sign, and file it with the court.

What the court issues (with a will)

Letters Testamentaryissued by Registrar (informal track, signs P-316/P-326) or judge (formal track); the court then signs the Letters section of P-335 (testamentary) / P-336 (administration) after the PR files the Acceptance of Duties

Letters are an output — the court issues them after granting the petition.

At a glance

UPC adoptedInformal trackE-filingSelf-represented filingLocal/county forms

Probate is excluded from TrueFiling. Self-represented and represented filers submit probate filings by mail, in person, or by court-specific email/fax (e.g. Fairbanks 4FAprobate@akcourts.gov); see each court's Email/Fax Filing Directory entry.

Bond

Required before Letters: Yes
Waivable by will: Yes
Waivable by beneficiaries: Yes

Other official forms

Informal application: P-315 (with will) / P-325 (no will)View source
Letters form: P-335 (Letters Testamentary) / P-336 (Letters of Administration)View source

What to file with the petition

Certified copy of the death certificate
Original will and any codicils (when there is a will)
Acceptance of Duties and Letters form (P-335 testate / P-336 intestate), Statement of Acceptance signed before a notary or clerk
Proof of bond, OR a Waiver of Bond Requirement (P-334) from each devisee/heir, unless the will expressly waives surety bond — AS 13.16.255 requires bond by default
Nomination for Appointment of Personal Representative (P-306) when an equal/lower-priority person is nominated
Notice of Hearing on Petition (P-339) for the FORMAL track (AS 13.06.110, AS 13.16.105, AS 13.16.150)
Filing Fee or Fee Waiver (TF-920)

Small-estate alternative

Bypasses full Letters: Yes
Form: P-110View source
Form name: Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property of Decedent

State-specific notes

Alaska has no counties; the Superior Court (four judicial districts) is the statewide appointing court. UPC informal appointment is by the registrar without hearing or notice (AS 13.16.115); formal appointment is by a judge after hearing and notice (AS 13.16.145). The PR's authority document is the Letters section of the Acceptance-of-Duties form (P-335 testate / P-336 intestate), signed by the court after the PR signs the Acceptance before a notary or clerk. Alaska's "small estate" (closing statement P-350) is a simplified CLOSING inside informal probate and still requires a PR and Letters; the true Letters-bypass is the AS 13.16.680 collection-by-affidavit (P-110) for personal property only ($50,000 / $100,000-vehicle thresholds, no real property through the estate).

A revocable living trust passes assets to your family without this court appointment process — no petition, no Letters, no bond.

Create a Revocable Trust in 15 minutes

This tool provides general information about how a personal representative is appointed and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.Data verified 2026-07-20

Frequently Asked Questions

Alaska uses Request to Start Formal Probate and Appoint a Personal Representative When There Is a Will (P-320), filed with the Superior Court for the State of Alaska (probate). After the court grants the petition, Registrar (informal track, signs P-316/P-326) or judge (formal track); the court then signs the Letters section of P-335 (testamentary) / P-336 (administration) after the PR files the Acceptance of Duties issues your Letters Testamentary (with a will) or Letters of Administration (without a will).

Along with the petition, Alaska generally requires: Certified copy of the death certificate; Original will and any codicils (when there is a will); Acceptance of Duties and Letters form (P-335 testate / P-336 intestate), Statement of Acceptance signed before a notary or clerk; Proof of bond, OR a Waiver of Bond Requirement (P-334) from each devisee/heir, unless the will expressly waives surety bond — AS 13.16.255 requires bond by default; Nomination for Appointment of Personal Representative (P-306) when an equal/lower-priority person is nominated; Notice of Hearing on Petition (P-339) for the FORMAL track (AS 13.06.110, AS 13.16.105, AS 13.16.150); Filing Fee or Fee Waiver (TF-920).

Yes. Alaska requires a bond by default before Letters issue. A will can waive it. Beneficiaries can also waive it in writing.

Alaska permits self-represented filers to open an estate, using Request to Start Formal Probate and Appoint a Personal Representative When There Is a Will (P-320). The Self-File Probate Assessment compares self-filing and attorney costs for Alaska.

Yes. A revocable living trust passes assets to beneficiaries without any court appointment in Alaska — no petition, no Letters, no bond. A revocable trust built with SimplyTrust takes about 15 minutes.

Getting Appointed in Alaska

Authority to act for the estate comes from Letters issued in Alaska by Registrar (informal track, signs P-316/P-326) or judge (formal track); the court then signs the Letters section of P-335 (testamentary) / P-336 (administration) after the PR files the Acceptance of Duties, on appointment by the Superior Court for the State of Alaska (probate). The document is Letters Testamentary with a will and Letters of Administration without. UPC adoption in Alaska: Yes.

The estate is opened by filing Request to Start Formal Probate and Appoint a Personal Representative When There Is a Will (P-320) with the court, which carries a filing fee of $250. Whether an informal (registrar) appointment track is available for qualifying estates: Yes.

A bond is required by default before Letters issue in Alaska, though a will can waive it and the beneficiaries can waive it in writing.

For smaller estates, Alaska offers a small-estate procedure for estates under $150,000 that can transfer assets without a full appointment or Letters (P-110). The Alaska self-file probate assessment compares self-filing and attorney costs.

SimplyTrust Editorial·Updated July 15, 2026

Legal Sources

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

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Alaska Estate Planning Resources

In-depth guides covering Alaska probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.

How Do I Get Appointed as Executor in Alaska?

Getting Appointed in AlaskaAS 13.16 (Alaska Uniform Probate Code); AS 13.16.080-.130 (informal proceedings), AS 13.16.115 (informal appointment by registrar), AS 13.16.140-.180 (formal proceedings), AS 13.16.245 (powers/duties pending letters)Verified Jul 20, 2026View source

At a glance

BondAS 13.16.255Verified Jul 20, 2026View source

Other official forms

What to file with the petition

Small-estate alternative

State-specific notes

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this your situation?

Named as Executor

Your kids shouldn't have to do this.

Alaska Estate Planning Resources

Getting Appointed in AlaskaAS 13.16 (Alaska Uniform Probate Code); AS 13.16.080-.130 (informal proceedings), AS 13.16.115 (informal appointment by registrar), AS 13.16.140-.180 (formal proceedings), AS 13.16.245 (powers/duties pending letters)Verified Jul 20, 2026View source

At a glance

BondAS 13.16.255Verified Jul 20, 2026View source

Other official forms

What to file with the petition

Small-estate alternative

State-specific notes

Is this your situation?

Named as Executor

Getting Appointed in Alaska

Bond

Getting Appointed in Alaska

Bond