Haines Borough Death Records
Death records for Haines Borough are not held locally. Like every other borough in Alaska, Haines sends all vital records to the state Health Analytics and Vital Records Section (HAVRS). If you need to find a death certificate or dig into historical records from this corner of Southeast Alaska, this guide covers where to look, how to request certified copies, and what historical collections exist for the Haines area.
Haines Borough Overview
How Haines Borough Death Records Are Managed
The Borough of Haines does not keep death certificates or any other vital records. Alaska law assigns that duty to the state. The Health Analytics and Vital Records Section is the single agency responsible for all death certificates filed across Alaska, including those from deaths in Haines Borough. The Borough Clerk's office at Haines handles local government matters like property taxes and deed recording, but vital records are fully outside its role.
This centralized system is consistent across all 30 Alaska boroughs and census areas. No local office issues or stores death certificates. Every request, whether for a recent death or a record from decades ago, runs through HAVRS. The agency operates walk-in offices in both Juneau and Anchorage, and requests can also be submitted by mail, fax, or online through their authorized vendor. Researchers who expect to find a death certificate at a local borough office will need to redirect their search to the state.
Death records registered since 1913 are part of the statewide collection. The early years from 1913 to roughly 1930 had inconsistent compliance, so records from that window may be incomplete. By 1945 registration was generally followed across the territory. The result is a relatively solid record set starting in the 1930s, with scattered records going back to around 1890.
Requesting a Haines Borough Death Certificate
To get a certified copy of a death certificate for someone who died in Haines Borough, you submit a request to HAVRS. Four submission methods are available: walk-in at either state office, online through VitalChek, or by mail or fax using the state's downloadable form. Use only one method per request. Submitting the same request through more than one channel can result in duplicate charges.
The Juneau office is the closer option for most Haines Borough residents. It is located at 5441 Commercial Blvd., Juneau, AK 99801, and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Phone: (907) 465-3391. Fax: (907) 465-3618. The Anchorage office at 3901 Old Seward Hwy, Ste. 101 operates on the same schedule and can be reached at (907) 269-0991. Mail your request to Health Analytics and Vital Records, P.O. Box 110675, Juneau, AK 99811-0675.
The fee for the first certified copy is $30. Additional copies ordered at the same time are $25 each. A death apostille for use in a foreign country costs $42 and includes one certificate. If you only need to confirm that a record exists, a verification match costs $2.50. Online orders through VitalChek process in 2 to 3 weeks for standard requests or 3 to 4 weeks on the expedited track. Mail and fax submissions can run 2 to 3 months. Expedited processing is only available through VitalChek. Every request must include a completed application, a copy of a valid government-issued ID, and payment.
Note: Alaska does not accept email orders for death certificates, so mail, fax, walk-in, or VitalChek are the only valid submission methods.
Who Can Request Haines Death Records
Access to Haines Borough death certificates depends on when the death occurred. Under Alaska Statute AS 18.50, death records are restricted for 50 years from the date of death. After that period, they become public records. Deaths from before 1975 are now open to anyone. No proof of relationship is needed for those older records.
For deaths from 1975 onward, only specific people can get certified copies. The eligible list includes the spouse named on the certificate, parents listed on the death certificate, children of the deceased, siblings, legal guardians with court documentation, attorneys representing an estate or legal interest, and certain government agencies acting on official business. Each requester must show a valid ID. Acceptable forms include a driver's license, state ID card, U.S. or foreign passport, military ID, or a BIA or tribal identification card for Alaska residents.
If you are a sibling or child of the deceased and the decedent was not born in Alaska, you will need to provide a certified copy of a birth certificate showing the parental connection. Out-of-state requesters sometimes find this extra step adds time to the process, so gathering supporting documents before you submit saves delays.
Historical Death Records for the Haines Area
For genealogical research on the Haines area, the Alaska State Archives is the most important resource. The Archives in Juneau holds territorial records from 1867 through 1959, including vital statistics from Southeast Alaska. Working with FamilySearch, the Archives has scanned more than 1.1 million historical documents, making many of them available online at no cost. The Alaska State Archives collection guides describe what is held for each region of the state.
One notable collection tied to Haines is the marriage records set: Haines, Marriage Records (1941-1959), available through the FamilySearch Catalog. While this covers marriages rather than deaths, companion vital records from the same community and time period may be found in the broader Alaska territorial collection. Researchers often use marriage and probate records to build context around death records when the death certificate itself is missing or incomplete.
Territorial court records from the Haines region are also part of the Archives' holdings. These can include coroner's inquests, probate filings, and other documents that reference deaths in the community during the pre-statehood period. Contact the Archives directly at (907) 465-2270 if you have questions about what specific records exist for Haines.
Online and Library Resources for Haines Death Records
The Alaska State Library genealogy resources page lists research tools available for all Alaska regions, including Haines Borough. The State Library's historical collections hold non-government materials like newspapers and periodicals that may include death notices or obituaries from the Haines community. The library is located in Juneau and can be contacted for remote research assistance.
FamilySearch provides free access to several statewide Alaska collections that cover the Haines area. The Alaska Vital Records 1816-2005 collection is the most comprehensive starting point for historical research. It covers the full territorial and early statehood period. Researchers can also search the U.S. Social Security Death Index through FamilySearch, which covers deaths reported from 1962 onward and may include Haines residents who received Social Security benefits.
Cemetery records are another route for genealogists. FamilySearch links to cemetery databases including Find a Grave and BillionGraves, both of which have Alaska entries. Death notices in historical Juneau or Southeast Alaska newspapers can also surface information about Haines residents, especially during the early and mid-20th century when Juneau's papers covered the broader region.
State Vital Records System for Haines
The HAVRS vital records ordering portal is where all current Haines Borough death certificate requests start. The portal includes the downloadable application form, eligibility information, and links to VitalChek for online submissions. The agency warns against third-party services that charge extra fees to process applications. The state form and VitalChek are the only authorized channels.
HAVRS also oversees the broader vital statistics data system for Alaska, including annual reports on births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. In 2022, there were 5,701 deaths statewide. These aggregate figures are part of the Alaska Vital Statistics annual reports compiled by HAVRS. The reports provide context on mortality trends across the state, though borough-level breakdowns may vary in detail.
For changes to an existing death certificate, contact the HAVRS Special Services unit at (907) 465-1200. Amendments take about 3 months to process and expedited service is not available for corrections. HAVRS cannot process requests for deaths that occurred outside Alaska. Those must go to the vital records office in the state where the death took place.
Nearby Boroughs
Haines Borough shares the Southeast Alaska region with several other boroughs. Each routes death record requests through the same state HAVRS system.