Juneau Death Records
Juneau death records are maintained by Alaska's Health Analytics and Vital Records Section, which has its main walk-in office at 5441 Commercial Blvd. in Juneau itself. This makes Juneau one of only two Alaska cities with a state vital records office you can visit in person. If you need a certified death certificate for a Juneau resident or want to trace ancestors through collections like the Juneau Death Records (1903-1960) and Juneau Coroner's Records (1899-1969) at FamilySearch, this guide walks you through every available resource.
Juneau Overview
Juneau Death Records and the State System
Juneau is Alaska's capital city and is part of Juneau City and Borough, incorporated in 1881. The borough does not maintain vital records locally. All death certificates for events in Juneau are issued by the Health Analytics and Vital Records Section (HAVRS), which happens to have its Juneau office right in the city. The Juneau Borough Clerk at 155 South Seward Street, Juneau, AK 99801, phone (907) 463-4700, handles municipal records but directs vital records requests to HAVRS.
Alaska Statute AS 18.50 governs all vital records statewide. Death records are restricted for 50 years from the date of death. Records from before 1975 are now public. Records from 1975 onward require proof of an eligible relationship. Juneau became Alaska's capital in 1906 when the seat of government moved from Sitka, and the city's records reflect its long history as an administrative and mining hub in Southeast Alaska.
Death registration in Alaska began in 1913. Juneau's records from before that period are covered by the Alaska State Archives, which holds the largest collection of historical genealogy resources in Alaska. The Juneau Mixed Records (1884-1896) and the Juneau Probate and Marriage Records (1884-1960) at FamilySearch are examples of the early Juneau materials available online.
Requesting a Juneau Death Certificate
Certified death certificates for Juneau are ordered through HAVRS. The Juneau walk-in office at 5441 Commercial Blvd., Juneau, AK 99801 is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., phone (907) 465-3391, fax (907) 465-3618. This is the primary state office for Alaska vital records. You can also order online through VitalChek, by mail, or by fax.
Mail goes to Health Analytics and Vital Records, P.O. Box 110675, Juneau, AK 99811-0675. The Anchorage office at 3901 Old Seward Hwy, Ste. 101, Anchorage, AK 99503, phone (907) 269-0991, also accepts walk-in requests. The first certified copy costs $30. Additional copies at the same time cost $25. An apostille for foreign use costs $42. A record verification costs $2.50.
Online orders through VitalChek take 2 to 3 weeks. Mail and fax submissions take 2 to 3 months. Every request needs a completed form, a copy of government-issued ID, and payment. Requests missing any of these items will be returned without processing.
Note: Use one submission method per request to avoid duplicate charges and delays.
Historical Juneau Death Records
Juneau has an exceptional set of historical death record collections. Through the Alaska State Archives and FamilySearch partnership, the following collections are searchable online: Alaska, Juneau, Death Records (1903-1960); Alaska, Juneau, Coroner's Records (1899-1969); Funeral Records, Juneau, Alaska (1898-1964); and the Alaska, Juneau, Index to Vital Statistics (1903-1915). These collections are available through the FamilySearch Catalog and represent some of the most complete city-level death record collections in Alaska.
The Alaska State Archives at 395 Whittier St., Juneau, AK 99811-0571, phone (907) 465-2270, is the official repository for all these records and holds additional materials not yet digitized. The Archives is also the official repository for divorces spanning 1884-1959. Researchers can visit in person or contact the Archives by phone to inquire about specific Juneau records.
The Gastineau Genealogical Society library is located within the LDS Family History Center at 5100 Glacier Hwy in Juneau, open by appointment, contact Gary at (907) 723-2608. The society's research guide lists Juneau-specific resources available to researchers. The Alaska State Library, also in Juneau, provides genealogy resources including access to historical newspaper collections.