Alaska Divorce Filing Fee

The Filing Fee Is $250

Under Administrative Rule 9, the base filing fee for a divorce or dissolution case in Alaska Superior Court is $250. This applies whether you file a joint Petition for Dissolution or a solo Complaint for Divorce — the fee is the same.

If you file through TrueFiling (which most self-represented filers are required to use under Administrative Bulletin 92), you pay by debit or credit card during the online submission. If you qualify for a paper filing exemption, you pay at the clerk's window with cash, credit card, or a check payable to "State of Alaska."

How to Apply for a Fee Waiver

If you can't afford the $250, you can request an exemption by attaching form TF-920 (Request and Order for Exemption from Payment of Fees) to your filing packet.

The TF-920 asks for basic financial information — your income, expenses, assets, and debts. There's no specific income threshold published; the judge reviews each request individually. You'll need to show that paying the fee would cause genuine financial hardship.

Here's what happens after you submit the waiver request:

If approved: The clerk processes your case at no charge and issues the summons (on the divorce track). You proceed normally.

If denied: You have 30 days from the denial order to pay the full $250 filing fee. If you don't pay within that window, the court dismisses your case without prejudice — meaning you can refile later, but you'd start from scratch.

The important thing to understand is that the court holds your case during review. No further action happens — no summons is issued, no deadlines start running — until the fee waiver is either granted or you pay the fee.

Other Costs Beyond the Filing Fee

The $250 gets your case into the system. Other expenses you might encounter:

• Service of process (divorce track only): Certified mail runs $15–$20. A private process server in Anchorage or Fairbanks charges $40–$150. In remote bush communities, service can require air charters costing $500–$1,000.
• Notarization: $5–$15 per signature for your petition or complaint.
• Certified copies of the decree: Typically $5–$10 per copy from the court clerk after your case is finalized.
• Modification filings: If you need to change custody or support terms later, each motion has its own filing fee (check courts.alaska.gov/shc/courtfees.htm for the current schedule).

The Alaska Divorce Filing Process Guide includes a full cost breakdown and walks you through the TF-920 fee waiver process step by step.

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