Alaska Death Records
Alaska death records are official state documents that capture the details of a death that occurred within the state. The Alaska Department of Health manages these records through the Health Analytics and Vital Records Section, the only office authorized to issue certified death certificates statewide. Whether you need a copy for legal or personal use, or you want to search historical death records for genealogy research, this guide covers where to go, what to bring, and how to get what you need. Records date back to 1913, with some documents going back to 1890 through the Alaska State Archives.
Alaska Death Records Overview
Where to Request Alaska Death Records
Unlike many other states, Alaska keeps all death certificates at the state level. Individual boroughs and census areas do not maintain vital records. Every request for a certified death certificate goes through the Health Analytics and Vital Records Section (HAVRS) within the Alaska Department of Health. Two walk-in offices serve the public: one in Juneau and one in Anchorage. Both are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Juneau office is located at 5441 Commercial Blvd., Juneau, Alaska 99801. Phone: (907) 465-3391. Fax: (907) 465-3618. This location also serves as the mailing address for all mail and fax requests. Send written requests to: Health Analytics and Vital Records, P.O. Box 110675, Juneau, Alaska 99811-0675. The Anchorage office is at 3901 Old Seward Hwy, Ste. 101, Anchorage, Alaska 99503. Phone: (907) 269-0991. No email orders are accepted at either location.
You can submit a request four ways: in person, by mail, by fax, or online through VitalChek, the state's authorized vendor. Use only one submission method per request. Using more than one can lead to duplicate charges. Expedited service is available only through VitalChek. The Alaska Department of Health Vital Records Orders page has downloadable request forms, the current fee schedule, and step-by-step instructions.
The department warns that third-party companies sometimes charge extra fees to "process" or "help apply" for certificates. You can avoid these costs by submitting directly using the downloadable forms or through VitalChek. There is no state-approved shortcut that requires a middleman.
Who Can Request a Death Certificate in Alaska
Alaska death records are confidential for 50 years after the date of death under Alaska Statute AS 18.50. During that window, only specific people are eligible to request a certified copy. After 50 years, records become public and anyone may request them.
Within the first 50 years, eligible requesters include the spouse listed on the certificate, parents listed on the death certificate, children of the decedent, and siblings of the decedent. Legal representatives and attorneys may also request records. They must submit a letter on their official letterhead stating who they represent and why the certificate is needed. That letter must come with original or certified supporting documentation. Government agencies with a legitimate need and the Office of Public Advocacy with certified delegated power of conservatorship or guardianship papers are also eligible.
Proof of relationship is required. Family members not born in Alaska may need additional documents. A spouse married outside Alaska must provide a certified copy of the marriage certificate. A child not born in Alaska needs a copy of their birth certificate showing the decedent as a parent. All requests require a copy of a valid, unexpired government-issued ID. Accepted forms include a driver's license, state-issued ID, passport, military ID, or a tribal or BIA card.
Requests missing a signature, proper ID, or payment are returned without processing. The form itself is straightforward, but clarity matters. Write the full first, middle, and last names as they appear on the certificate. The office can only process requests for deaths that occurred in Alaska. For deaths that occurred in other states, contact that state's vital records office directly.
Death Certificate Fees and Processing Times
A certified copy of an Alaska death certificate costs $30 for the first copy. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time is $25. A death apostille, which includes one certificate plus the apostille stamp required for use in foreign countries, is $42. An open records white copy runs $15. Government vital record white copies are $10. Vital record verification matches cost $2.50 each. Special research requests are billed at $75 per hour.
Processing times vary by submission method. Online requests through VitalChek take 2-3 weeks for standard service. Expedited requests through VitalChek take 3-4 weeks, not counting shipping. Mail and fax requests take 2-3 months. Walk-in visits at the Anchorage or Juneau office can often be handled the same day. Records cannot be processed until the death has been registered, which can take up to 3 months after the death occurred. Plan ahead if you need a certificate quickly.
Death apostille certificates cover events in Alaska from 1920 to the present. Standard death certificates are available from 1913 to the present. For amendments or corrections to a death certificate, contact the Special Services unit at (907) 465-1200. Standard correction processing takes about 3 months and expedited correction service is not available.
Note: Alaska also reports that as of September 2024, mail and fax requests were being processed within 8 weeks of receipt, while online requests through VitalChek were taking 5-7 weeks.
Searching Alaska Death Records Online
For recent records, VitalChek is the fastest and most direct online option. The Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics issues certified copies of Alaska death certificates through VitalChek on an expedited basis. Death certificate types available include a Standard Service certified copy and a Death Apostille Standard Service copy for international use. VitalChek processes 4 million vital documents per year and maintains 100% compliance with the highest-level PCI data security standards to protect personal information.
For historical research, FamilySearch offers several Alaska death record collections online at no charge. The Alaska, Vital Records, 1816-2005 collection includes index and images. FamilySearch also lists precinct-level collections covering specific time periods, including the Fairbanks Death Certificates (1907-1935), Juneau Death Records (1903-1960), Nome Death Records (1813-1959), Kenai Death Records (1914-1986), and the Aleutian Islands Death Records (1913-1944). The Alaska State Archives Probate Index (1883-1960) is also freely available at Archive.org. The US Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch covers 1962 to present and includes Alaska records at no cost.
Paid databases with Alaska death records include Ancestry, which has Alaska Vital Records 1818-1963 as index and images, and Alaska Wills and Probate Records (1883-1978). MyHeritage carries Alaska Vital Records 1816-1964. Alaska obituaries from 1980-2014 are in the US GenealogyBank Obituaries collection at FamilySearch.
Alaska State Archives and Historical Death Records
The Alaska State Archives in Juneau is the primary repository for historical government records in the state. The Archives holds more than 30,000 cubic feet of state and territorial records, making it the largest collection of historical genealogy resources in Alaska. It is the official repository for government-created vital statistics records, probate court records, and divorce records spanning 1884-1959. The Archives also holds select pre-1959 naturalization and immigration records and WWI enlistment records.
In partnership with FamilySearch, the State Archives has digitized over 1.1 million documents including birth, marriage, death, and probate records going back to the mid-1800s. This digitization project was a milestone for Alaskan genealogy research. An index of names connected to birth, marriage, and death records is available through a spreadsheet download. Most unrestricted vital statistics records held by the Archives are also available online through FamilySearch. The Alaska State Archives also holds a WWI service record register cataloged as AS 34124, which lists Alaskans who served between April 6, 1917 and November 11, 1918, including those who died while in service.
The Archives is located at PO Box 110571, 395 Whittier St, Juneau, AK 99811-0571. Phone: (907) 465-2270. Researchers can visit in person or access most unrestricted records remotely through the FamilySearch digitized collections.
Alaska Vital Statistics Law
Alaska's vital statistics records fall under Alaska Statute AS 18.50, the Vital Statistics Act. This statute controls who can access death records and when they become public. Alaska's general public records law specifically excludes vital statistics records and says they must be treated in the manner required by AS 18.50. It is unlawful to permit inspection of, or disclose information contained in, vital statistics records except as the statute authorizes.
Under AS 18.50.310(a) and (f), when 50 years have passed from the date of death, the record becomes public. Birth records carry a 100-year restriction. Marriage, divorce, dissolution, and annulment records are also restricted for 50 years. Death records for events before 1975 are now public. Events from 1975 forward still require proof of eligibility. This 50-year rule applies to requests made through the state vital records office. Historical records available through the Alaska State Archives and FamilySearch follow similar access policies for digitized collections.
The Health Analytics and Vital Records Section also handles amendments. If you need to correct a record, contact the Special Services unit at (907) 465-1200. Corrections require documentation showing the error and evidence of the correct information. Standard processing for corrections takes about 3 months.
Alaska Death Statistics
According to the Alaska Vital Statistics 2022 Annual Report, there were 5,701 deaths recorded in Alaska in 2022, against a resident population of 736,556. Men accounted for 57% of deaths and women for 43%. Cancers were the leading cause of death with 1,060 total deaths. Trachea, bronchus, and lung cancers were the most common cancer type at 231 deaths. Diseases of the heart were the second leading cause at 990 deaths. Accidents and unintentional injuries ranked third, responsible for 547 deaths in 2022.
Regional data shows variation across the state. The Bethel Census region recorded 162 deaths in 2022. The Kusilvak Census region had 66 deaths that year. The annual report covers births, deaths, marriages, and divorces and is produced by the Health Analytics and Vital Records Section, Division of Public Health. Births have been on a downward trend statewide since 2018.
HAVRS participates in the CDC National Vital Statistics System and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality HCUP program. Alaska death data feeds into national systems used by researchers and public health agencies. Researchers who need access to HAVRS data for public health or research purposes must complete a Data Request Application and Data Use Agreement and submit it to HealthAnalytics@alaska.gov.
Genealogy Resources for Alaska Death Records
Several organizations can help with genealogical research into Alaska death records. The Alaska State Library offers a basic guide to Alaska genealogy resources, covering the State Archives, Health Analytics and Vital Statistics, and other key repositories. The National Archives Seattle office handles federal records that may supplement state-level research. It is located at 6125 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115-7999. Phone: (206) 336-5115. Email: seattle.archives@nara.gov.
Genealogical societies are spread across the state and can assist with local research. The Anchorage Genealogical Society is at PO Box 212265, Anchorage, AK 99521. The Fairbanks Genealogical Society is at PO Box 60534, Fairbanks, AK 99706-0534. The Gastineau Genealogy Society in Juneau maintains a library at 5100 Glacier Hwy inside the LDS Family History Center, open by appointment. Phone: (907) 723-2608 or (907) 789-2875. The Kenai Totem Tracers Genealogical Society serves the Kenai Peninsula area. The University of Alaska Archives and Special Collections at the Elmer E. Rasmuson Library in Fairbanks holds academic and historical materials useful for death record research.
For obituary research, Alaska newspaper obituaries can be searched through ObituariesHelp.org. Online Alaska Death Indexes, Records and Indexes are available through DeathIndexes. Alaska, U.S., Newspapers.com Stories and Events Index at Ancestry provides image access for a subscription fee. Cemetery records are available through BillionGraves and Find a Grave for Alaska locations statewide.
Browse Alaska Death Records by Borough or Census Area
Alaska is divided into boroughs and census areas instead of counties. All death certificates are issued at the state level, but each region has its own historical collections, genealogical societies, and local contacts for research. Select a borough or census area below to find resources specific to that area.
View All 30 Alaska Boroughs and Census Areas
Alaska Death Records by City
Find city-specific death record resources, local offices, and contacts for major cities across Alaska.