Search Matanuska-Susitna Borough Death Records
Death records for Matanuska-Susitna Borough are kept by the Alaska Health Analytics and Vital Records Section, the state agency that handles all certified vital records in Alaska. Mat-Su Borough does not issue death certificates locally. Whether you need a record for Wasilla, Palmer, Knik-Fairview, Big Lake, or any other Mat-Su community, all requests go through the state. This guide covers the full process and lists every available resource for Mat-Su death record research.
Matanuska-Susitna Borough Overview
How Matanuska-Susitna Death Records Work
Matanuska-Susitna Borough was incorporated on January 1, 1964. Often called Mat-Su, it is one of Alaska's most populous boroughs and includes communities like Wasilla, Palmer, Knik-Fairview, Big Lake, North Lakes, Tanaina, and Meadow Lakes. Despite its size and population, it does not maintain vital records. Under Alaska law, all death certificates for events in the borough are held exclusively by the Health Analytics and Vital Records Section (HAVRS).
The Mat-Su Borough website at matsugov.us provides local government services and contacts, but it cannot help with vital records requests. Those go directly to the state. Alaska Statute AS 18.50 sets the rules for all vital records in the state. Death records remain restricted for 50 years after the event. Records from before 1975 are public. Records from 1975 onward require proof of an eligible relationship.
Death registration in Alaska began territorially in 1913 and reached broad compliance by about 1930. The Mat-Su Valley was a homesteading destination in the 1930s, and its population grew significantly after World War II. Records from that growth period are generally well-documented in the state vital records system. For deaths in the area before 1913, researchers look to church records and the Alaska State Archives territorial holdings.
Requesting Mat-Su Borough Death Certificates
Certified death certificates from Matanuska-Susitna Borough are ordered through the state HAVRS system. You can submit in person at either state office, online through VitalChek, or by mail or fax using the official death certificate application. The state does not accept email orders for certified copies.
The Anchorage office at 3901 Old Seward Hwy, Ste. 101, Anchorage, AK 99503, phone (907) 269-0991, is the most convenient option for Mat-Su residents. It is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Juneau office at 5441 Commercial Blvd., Juneau, AK 99801, phone (907) 465-3391, fax (907) 465-3618, runs the same hours. Mail requests go to Health Analytics and Vital Records, P.O. Box 110675, Juneau, AK 99811-0675.
Fees are the same across Alaska. The first certified copy costs $30. Each extra copy ordered at the same time is $25. An apostille for foreign use costs $42. A record verification costs $2.50. Online orders through VitalChek take 2 to 3 weeks standard or 3 to 4 weeks for expedited processing. Mail and fax requests take 2 to 3 months. All submissions need the completed form, a government-issued ID copy, and payment.
Note: Submit your request by only one method at a time to prevent duplicate charges and processing delays.
Historical Mat-Su Death Records and Archives
Historical death records for the Matanuska-Susitna area are part of the broader Alaska vital records collections held at the Alaska State Archives in Juneau, PO Box 110571, 395 Whittier St, Juneau, AK 99811-0571, phone (907) 465-2270. The Archives preserves over 30,000 cubic feet of state and territorial records, and through its partnership with FamilySearch has digitized over 1.1 million documents, including vital statistics from the territorial period.
The statewide Alaska Vital Records collection at FamilySearch (1816-2005) includes records from the Mat-Su area. Alaska Vital Records 1816-1964 at MyHeritage provides an additional indexed search tool for early records. For Mat-Su genealogy, the Tanana Precinct records at FamilySearch include some materials relevant to the broader Susitna Valley area from the territorial period.
The Alaska State Library provides genealogy research guides covering all Alaska regions. Cemetery records for Mat-Su communities are indexed at Find a Grave and BillionGraves. Searching these can confirm a death date and narrow your research before ordering a certified copy. The Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch covers Mat-Su deaths reported from 1962 onward.
Cities in Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Death records for all Mat-Su Borough communities are issued through the state HAVRS office. These are the major cities within the borough.