How to Use TrueFiling for Alaska Divorce

TrueFiling (AKFile at akfile.truefiling.com) is Alaska's electronic filing system for court documents. Under Administrative Bulletin 92, most self-represented litigants are required to use it when it is available for their case type and court location. If you're filing for divorce or dissolution in Alaska and electronic filing is available for your case and location, you'll submit your petition or complaint and supporting documents through this portal rather than walking paper copies to the clerk's window; in a divorce case, the clerk issues the summons after the case opens for later service.

The system works, but it's not intuitive if you've never used a court e-filing platform. Registration requires specific information, documents need to be bundled in a particular way, and electronic signatures follow a format ("s/ Your Full Name") that gets rejected if it's wrong. Here's how to get through it.

Before You Start: What You Need

You'll need the following ready before you create your TrueFiling account:

• A valid email address you check regularly — the court sends filing confirmations, rejection notices, and hearing dates here
• Your completed court forms saved as PDFs — the Petition for Dissolution (DR-100/DR-105) or Complaint for Divorce (DR-50/DR-55), plus the Vital Statistics Certificate (VS-401), Information Sheet (DR-314), and any other required documents like the Confidential Cover Sheet
• The correct judicial district and courthouse — you need to select this during filing, and choosing the wrong location can result in a rejected submission
• A payment method for the $250 filing fee, unless you will request a fee exemption — TrueFiling accepts credit/debit cards for fee payment at submission

Step 1: Register for an AKFile Account

Go to the Alaska Court System's e-filing page and follow the link to TrueFiling. Registration asks for your full legal name, email, mailing address, and phone number. You'll create a login that you'll use for all future filings in this case.

A few things to watch:

• Use your legal name exactly as it appears on your petition. A mismatch between your TrueFiling account name and your filing name can trigger a clerk review.
• Set up your account before your filing day. Registration confirmation can take time, and you don't want account issues delaying your submission when you're ready to file.

Step 2: Bundle Your Documents Correctly

TrueFiling expects you to upload the completed forms as a single PDF bundle.

For a standard dissolution filing, your bundle typically includes:

1. Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (DR-100 or DR-105) — or Complaint for Divorce (DR-50 or DR-55) if you're on the solo track
2. Vital Statistics Certificate (VS-401)
3. Information Sheet (DR-314) and Confidential Cover Sheet
4. Any additional documents — parenting plan, child support calculation (DR-305/306), or property settlement agreement if applicable

For divorce cases, the clerk issues the Summons (CIV-100) after the case is opened. You then include it with the complaint and standing order when you serve the defendant; dissolutions don't require service.

The PDF bundle should be clearly named and correctly oriented. Scanned pages should be legible — blurry or sideways pages get flagged.

Step 3: Format Your Electronic Signature

This is where most first-time filers run into trouble. TrueFiling permits either an electronic signature in the form "s/ printed name" or a conventional signature under Civil Rule 76(e). For the electronic option, type your signature directly into the document using this format:

s/ Your Full Legal Name

That's a lowercase "s", a forward slash, a space, and then your name exactly as it appears on the form. For an electronic signature, use this typed format rather than a different electronic signing format.

Where the form has a signature line, delete the blank line and type:

s/ Jane M. Smith

If you use a different electronic format — "/s/" or "signed by," for example — the clerk may reject the filing and you'll need to re-upload. A conventional signature follows Civil Rule 76(e).

Step 4: Select the Right Case Type and Location

During submission, TrueFiling asks you to specify:

• Case type — select "Dissolution of Marriage" or "Divorce" depending on your track
• Court location — choose the specific courthouse within your judicial district

Alaska has four judicial districts:

• First District: Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, and Southeast communities
• Second District: Nome, Barrow/Utqiaġvik, Kotzebue, and Western Alaska
• Third District: Anchorage, Palmer, Kenai, Kodiak, and Southcentral communities
• Fourth District: Fairbanks, Bethel, Delta Junction, and Interior communities

Filing in a location that does not match the applicable venue rule can require a transfer or refiling.

Step 5: Pay the Filing Fee and Submit

The $250 filing fee is non-refundable. If your filing is rejected for a technical issue, correct it and follow the clerk's instructions; selecting the wrong TrueFiling case type may require refiling and another processing fee. If you file a dissolution but no longer agree, Alaska provides a Motion & Affidavit to Convert Dissolution to Divorce (SHC-1330); dismissing and filing a new case would be a new fee.

After payment processes, TrueFiling generates a confirmation with a timestamp and filing reference number. Save this as proof of the filing date, which starts the mandatory 30-day waiting period. For divorce cases, the 120-day service period starts when the summons is issued, and the response deadline starts when service occurs.

Common Rejection Reasons

Not every submission goes through on the first try. Common reasons clerks reject TrueFiling submissions:

• Wrong electronic signature format — for an electronic signature, use "s/ Full Legal Name"
• Missing required documents — forgetting the Vital Statistics Certificate (VS-401) or Information Sheet (DR-314)
• Incorrect case type selection — selecting "Divorce" when you're filing a joint dissolution, or vice versa
• Illegible scanned documents — pages that are too dark, too light, or rotated
• Wrong courthouse selection — choosing a location inconsistent with the applicable venue rule (joint dissolution: where either spouse resides; solo divorce: where the respondent resides, unless the parties agree otherwise)

Rejections come back via email with a reason code. Correct the issue and follow the clerk's instructions; a wrong case type may require refiling and another processing fee.

What Happens After You File

Once TrueFiling accepts your submission, keep the filing confirmation and copies of the filed documents. For dissolution cases, both spouses have signed the joint petition — the process moves to the waiting period. For divorce cases, you now need to serve your spouse (TrueFiling doesn't handle service — that's a separate step involving certified mail or a process server).

The Alaska Divorce Filing Process Guide covers the complete post-filing sequence: service of process, the Civil Rule 26.1 disclosure exchange, and hearing preparation, with a deadline calculator that tracks every milestone from your filing date forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is TrueFiling mandatory for self-represented divorce filers in Alaska?

Under Administrative Bulletin 92, self-represented litigants are required to use TrueFiling for most case types, including divorce and dissolution, when it is available for their case type and court location. Exemptions exist for filers who are incarcerated, have an ADA-qualifying disability, lack safe access to a computer, internet, or email, cannot get the help they need to eFile, or have a language barrier or limited English proficiency. An exempt filer can proceed on paper using the exemption box on the complaint or petition.

Can I file through TrueFiling from outside Alaska?

Yes, you can access the portal from outside Alaska, but to file in Alaska you must meet Alaska's residency requirement: generally, you must be physically present in Alaska when the case begins and plan to remain. You must also select the correct judicial district.

What if TrueFiling rejects my filing — do I lose my filing fee?

Not necessarily. A rejected filing means the clerk found an issue with your submission. Correct the problem and follow the clerk's instructions; if the wrong case type requires refiling, another processing fee may apply. Dismissing the case and filing a new one would also require a new filing fee.

How long does it take for TrueFiling to process a divorce filing?

Processing time varies by court and workload. The filing date shown for the submission is not simply the date the clerk reviews it; for divorce cases, the 120-day service period and response deadline begin at their own triggering events.

See more Alaska guides →