How Alaska Death Records Work

Alaska keeps death records closed for 50 years, with access limited to family and documented legal interest. At the 50-year mark the record opens, and a cheap non-certified 'white copy' becomes available. No informational copies before 50 years; after that, open-records copies run about half the certified price.

The state actively warns about imposter ordering sites — the only authorized online vendor is VitalChek, and walk-in counters are in Juneau and Anchorage. Content reviewed July 30, 2026 by the SearchSystems editorial team.

Where to Order

Alaska Health Analytics & Vital Records Section
Official Free
Where the official record lives. Current forms, fees, and who-can-order rules, direct from the custodian.
🌐 health.alaska.gov
CDC — Where to Write for Vital Records
Official Free
The federal directory of every state's vital records office — the authoritative answer to 'where do I order' for any state and any year.
🌐 www.cdc.gov

Frequently Asked Questions

How long are Alaska death records restricted?
Alaska keeps death records closed for 50 years, with access limited to family and documented legal interest.
What can non-family requesters get?
No informational copies before 50 years; after that, open-records copies run about half the certified price.
Can I search Alaska deaths online for free?
No official online death index exists for Alaska; ordering runs through the state's single authorized vendor.
What if I just need to confirm a death or find an obituary?
Skip the certificate entirely: newspaper obituaries (many are indexed by library databases), the Social Security death index carried on the big genealogy platforms, and probate case files in the county court that handled the estate all confirm a death without touching the restricted certificate.

Related Alaska Records

The Alaska vital records page covers the full birth-marriage-death picture; birth certificates follow their own (usually longer) privacy clock; probate lives in Alaska court records; and people search shows how death records fit a full person lookup. County pages list the local offices that issue copies.