What Is the Estate's Personal Property Worth for Probate in Alaska?
Estimate the fair market value of household items for the Alaska estate inventory — what furniture, electronics, and appliances would sell for today, not what was paid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Personal property in Alaska is valued at fair market value: what the item would sell for on the open market as of the date of death, not what it cost. Most household goods (furniture, electronics, clothing) resell for a small fraction of their purchase price. Art, collectibles, jewelry and other high-value items are valued by a professional appraisal. Alaska lets the executor value most property without a formal appraisalAS 13.16.365, 13.16.370, 13.16.375Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, though a valuable item still warrants a qualified appraiser.
No. An executor in Alaska can group low-value household goods into a single inventory line, such as "household furnishings and personal effects", while jewelry, art, vehicles and collectibles are listed individually. Each value is fair market value as of the date of death.
In Alaska, the executor files the estate inventory within 90 daysAS 13.16.365, 13.16.370, 13.16.375Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment. Alaska requires a supplemental inventory for assets discovered laterAS 13.16.365, 13.16.370, 13.16.375Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
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. The test is the value of the personal property, so an inventory at fair market value is what decides eligibility.
High-value items such as art, antiques, jewelry and collectibles are appraised by a qualified professional, while ordinary household items (furniture, electronics, appliances, clothing) are valued from comparable sales. Alaska lets the executor value most property without a formal appraisalAS 13.16.365, 13.16.370, 13.16.375Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, though a valuable item still warrants a qualified appraiser.
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Forms 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.
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 Sep 15, 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 Much Can an Executor Charge?
Alaska pays executors reasonable compensationAS 13.16.430 (personal representative entitled to reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, typically 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.
Can I Self-File Probate?
In Alaska, informal probate is availableAS 13.16.085, AS 13.16.110Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, and a self-represented executor can usually handle it for a simple, uncontested estate.
How Do I Get Appointed as Executor?
In Alaska, the Superior Court for the State of Alaska appoints the personal representative and the Registrar issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration; an informal (registrar) track is availableAS 13.16.085, AS 13.16.110Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?
In Alaska, creditors have 4 monthsAS 13.16.460Verified Sep 8, 2026View source from first publication of the creditor notice to present claims; late claims are barred.
What Happens When an Estate Is Insolvent?
When an estate owes more than it holds, Alaska pays the claims in 6AS 13.16.470Verified Sep 23, 2026View source classes in statutory order, beginning with costs and expenses of administration.
How Do I Open an Estate Account When Someone Dies?
Compare estate-account opening requirements bank by bank: channels, required documents, and steps.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Alaska costs an estimated $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. Attorney fees run 2.1%AS 13.16.440 (court reviews reasonableness of compensation paid to agents/attorneys employed by the estate; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 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 Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.
Hire an Alaska Probate Attorney
Browse 61 probate firms in Alaska with addresses, contact info, and practice details.
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Alaska Estate Settlement Resources
In-depth guides covering Alaska probate, estate administration, and settling an estate.