Alaska Uncontested Divorce

What Makes a Divorce Uncontested in Alaska

An uncontested divorce means both spouses agree on every issue — property division, debt allocation, spousal support, and custody and child support if children are involved. No disputes go before a judge for decision. The court simply reviews your agreement for fairness and enters the decree.

Alaska actually gives cooperative couples two uncontested options: a joint Petition for Dissolution and a solo Complaint for Divorce where the other spouse agrees after being served. The dissolution track is faster, but the uncontested divorce track works when one spouse files alone and the other cooperates by signing an Appearance and Waiver (DR-110).

The Simple Divorce: No Property, No Children

If your marriage was short and you have no shared property, no children, and no debts to divide, Alaska has a streamlined complaint packet specifically for this situation. You file the solo divorce complaint, your spouse signs the waiver, and the case moves to a hearing with minimal paperwork.

This is the closest Alaska comes to a "simple" divorce — the process is the same as any uncontested divorce, just with fewer forms because there's nothing to divide.

Step-by-Step Uncontested Divorce Process

1. Choose your track. If both spouses will sign together and agree on everything upfront, file a joint dissolution (DR-100 or DR-105). If one spouse files alone, use the divorce complaint (DR-50 or DR-55).

2. Prepare the filing packet. Include your petition or complaint, VS-401 certificate (black ink, no corrections), DR-314 information sheet, and child-related forms if applicable (DR-150, DR-305).

3. File through TrueFiling when it is required for your case and location, and pay $250. Upload the packet at akfile.truefiling.com. If you qualify for a fee waiver, attach form TF-920.

4. Serve your spouse (divorce track only). Dissolution filers skip this. Divorce filers must serve via certified mail (restricted delivery, return receipt) or a process server under Civil Rule 4. The defendant has 20 days to respond in-state, 30 days out of state.

5. Wait out the 30-day period. No decree can issue until 30 days after filing, regardless of how cooperative both spouses are.

6. Attend the final hearing. For a joint dissolution, at least one spouse must appear (telephonic attendance is possible via form TF-710). The judge or Master reviews the agreement, and if everything checks out, the decree is entered.

Costs for an Uncontested Divorce

The mandatory cost is the $250 Superior Court filing fee. Beyond that:

• Certified mail for service runs about $15–$20
• A process server in Anchorage or Fairbanks typically charges $40–$150
• Notarization for the petition usually costs $5–$15 per signature

If both spouses can agree on terms and handle the paperwork themselves, the total out-of-pocket cost stays under $300 in most cases. Compare that to attorney retainers of $2,500–$5,000 or automated document services charging $100–$500.

Timeline

Joint dissolutions typically take 30–60 days. Uncontested divorces where one spouse files alone take 90–150 days because of the service and response windows. The 30-day statutory waiting period runs in parallel with the service timeline, so it rarely adds extra time on the solo track.

The Alaska Divorce Filing Process Guide covers both the dissolution and uncontested divorce paths with filing checklists and deadline trackers for each.

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