What Happens to Jointly Owned Property in Alaska When an Owner Dies?
When a joint owner dies in Alaska: Alaska law names no affidavit to record when a spouse holding as a tenant by the entirety or as survivorship community property dies. Survivorship community property vests in the surviving spouse at the deathAlaska Stat. Titles 34 (AS 34.15, AS 34.77) and 13; AS 40.17; AS 18.50 to 18.95; 11 AAC 06Verified Oct 26, 2026View source.
Alaska law names no affidavit to record when a spouse holding as a tenant by the entirety or as survivorship community property dies. Survivorship community property vests in the surviving spouse at the deathAlaska Stat. Titles 34 (AS 34.15, AS 34.77) and 13; AS 40.17; AS 18.50 to 18.95; 11 AAC 06Verified Oct 26, 2026View source.
Alaska abolished joint tenancy in land. Spouses who acquire real property together hold it as tenants by the entirety unless the deed says otherwise, and spouses may instead hold it as survivorship community property. A certified copy of a document from a government office, such as a death certificate, may be recorded in the recording district where the land liesAlaska Stat. Titles 34 (AS 34.15, AS 34.77) and 13; AS 40.17; AS 18.50 to 18.95; 11 AAC 06Verified Oct 26, 2026View source.
Alaska law names no affidavit, notice or acceptance for a transfer on death deed beneficiary to record. At the owner's death the interest passes to the designated beneficiary who survives the owner, and the deed counts as recorded at the deathAS 13.48.010 to 13.48.195; ch. 10 SLA 2014; ch. 12 SLA 2026; AS 40.17; 11 AAC 06; AS 29.45.010 to 29.45.590Verified Oct 26, 2026View source.
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Learn moreForms for Settling an Estate in Alaska
Free forms for settling an estate in Alaska: the probate petition, small estate affidavit, notice to creditors, inventory, and closing forms.
IRS Form 56
Notify the IRS that you are the fiduciary of an estate, a trust or a person, or end a notice filed before, on the official form.
Digital Assets Recovery Letter
Prepare a letter requesting a deceased person's online accounts, points, and balances from the program that holds them.
Petition for Probate and Letters
In Alaska, the petition asks the Superior Court for the State of Alaska to appoint the personal representative, whose authority is proved by Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration; an informal (registrar) track is availableAS 13.16.085, AS 13.16.110Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
Notice to Creditors
In Alaska, the notice to creditors is published for 3AS 13.16.450, 13.16.460, 13.16.465, 13.16.470, 13.16.475Verified Oct 18, 2026View source weeks in a local newspaper, and creditors have 4 monthsAS 13.16.460Verified Sep 8, 2026View source from first publication to present claims.
Renunciation of Executor
In Alaska, a person named as personal representative may renounce the right to serveAS 13.16.065(c)Verified Sep 22, 2026View source before anyone is appointed.
Small Estate Affidavit
In Alaska, the Affidavit for Collection of Personal PropertyAS 13.16.690Verified Sep 8, 2026View source covers estates with personal property of $150,000AS 13.16.690Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less, 30 daysAS 13.16.690Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death, presented directly to the bank or other holder, not filed with a court.
Estate Inventory
In Alaska, 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.
Estate Closing
In Alaska, the personal representative is discharged automatically once the statutory period runsAS 13.16.630(b), 13.16.640Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and a final accounting is required unless it is waived.
Tools for Settling an Estate in Alaska
Free tools for settling an estate in Alaska: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines, and inheritance taxes.
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
In Alaska, certified death certificates come from the Alaska Department of Health - Health Analytics and Vital RecordsAlaska Department of Health - Health Analytics and Vital RecordsVerified Oct 15, 2026View source; the first copy costs $30Alaska Department of Health - Health Analytics and Vital RecordsVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, additional copies $25Alaska Department of Health - Health Analytics and Vital RecordsVerified Oct 15, 2026View source each.
Do I Need Probate?
In Alaska, estates with personal property of $150,000AS 13.16.690Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less skip probate with the Affidavit for Collection of Personal PropertyAS 13.16.690Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, 30 daysAS 13.16.690Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death.
Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died?
Alaska has no state income tax, so only the federal final Form 1040 is due for the decedentAS 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; a federal estate tax return (Form 706) is required only for estates above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Alaska: 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; creditors have 4 monthsAS 13.16.450, 13.16.460, 13.16.465, 13.16.470, 13.16.475Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 4 months to 6 months.
What Do I Do When Someone Dies?
After a death in Alaska, the estate either qualifies for the simplified procedure for estates under $150,000AS 13.16.690Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or goes through probate, where creditors have 4 monthsAS 13.16.460Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to file claims after notice.
How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?
Alaska levies no estate or inheritance taxAlaska levies no estate or inheritance tax. AS 43.31.011 (Estate Tax Law of Alaska) remains on the books but is an inert "pickup" tax — its amount is measured by "the credit allowable under the applicable federal revenue Act for estate, inheritance, legacy, and succession taxes actually paid to the several states," and that federal credit no longer exists, so the tax computes to $0. AS 43.31.400 keeps the chapter nominally operative so long as a federal estate tax exists, so this is an inert pickup rather than a repeal. Alaska Department of Revenue: "Alaska no longer has an estate tax. Alaska did have one until Jan. 1, 2005. The state estate tax was tied to the federal state death tax credit, and that credit was phased out in 2005." Alaska has no inheritance tax: AS 43.30 (Inheritance and Transfer Taxes) was repealed in full by § 1, ch. 24, SLA 1970, and the DOR tax-type list carries no inheritance tax program. Verified 2026-09-10.Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; only the federal estate tax applies above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
What Taxes Apply to My Inheritance?
Alaska imposes no inheritance or estate taxAlaska levies no estate or inheritance tax. AS 43.31.011 (Estate Tax Law of Alaska) remains on the books but is an inert "pickup" tax — its amount is measured by "the credit allowable under the applicable federal revenue Act for estate, inheritance, legacy, and succession taxes actually paid to the several states," and that federal credit no longer exists, so the tax computes to $0. AS 43.31.400 keeps the chapter nominally operative so long as a federal estate tax exists, so this is an inert pickup rather than a repeal. Alaska Department of Revenue: "Alaska no longer has an estate tax. Alaska did have one until Jan. 1, 2005. The state estate tax was tied to the federal state death tax credit, and that credit was phased out in 2005." Alaska has no inheritance tax: AS 43.30 (Inheritance and Transfer Taxes) was repealed in full by § 1, ch. 24, SLA 1970, and the DOR tax-type list carries no inheritance tax program. Verified 2026-09-10.Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; probate assets arrive when the estate closes, 4 months to 6 months for a simple estate.
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Alaska Estate Settlement Resources
In-depth guides covering Alaska probate, estate administration, and settling an estate.