Alaska living trusts & estate documents

Living trust law in Alaska

A revocable living trust holds your home, accounts, and other property during your life — you stay in full control as trustee and can change or revoke it any time — then passes it to your beneficiaries without probate when you're gone. In Alaska, trusts are governed by the Alaska trust statutes, AS Chapters 13.36 and 13.38.

Avoiding probate in Alaska

Probate in Alaska is governed by the Alaska Probate Code, AS Title 13 and handled by the Superior Court. See state probate code for administration options.

Alaska allows collection by affidavit when non-vehicle personal property is $50,000 or less and Alaska-registered vehicles total $100,000 or less, with no real property in the estate (AS § 13.16.680). That simplified procedure is set out in Collection by affidavit, AS §13.16.680. A funded living trust passes outside probate entirely, whatever the size of the estate — which is why Alaska homeowners in particular set one up. Alaska also authorizes a transfer-on-death deed (Alaska Stat. § 13.48.010) to pass real estate outside probate — a living trust does the same for every asset, not just real estate.

In Alaska, creditors generally have 4 months after the first published notice (3-year outside bar from death) to file claims against the estate (AS 13.16.460) — one reason court probate takes time that a funded trust avoids.

Estate and inheritance tax in Alaska

Alaska imposes no estate tax and no inheritance tax, and no state income tax: Alaska has no estate, inheritance, or state income tax. (Alaska permits OPT-IN community property agreements — the national templates do not use them.) The separate federal estate tax reaches only estates above $15 million per person (2026, adjusted yearly), so most families never owe it.

Protecting a surviving spouse in Alaska

A surviving spouse in Alaska who is left out of the will can instead claim an elective share of one-third of the augmented estate (at least $50,000) under Alaska Stat. § 13.12.202 — a protection the will itself cannot override.

Alaska also sets aside a homestead allowance of $27,000 for a surviving spouse and minor children (Alaska Stat. § 13.12.402), protected ahead of most creditors.

Signing your Alaska documents

1. Sign the living trust. Executed and acknowledged before a notary.
2. Sign the will. Two witnesses; notarized self-proving affidavit included (standalone and pour-over wills).
3. Sign the power of attorney. Sign your Durable Power of Attorney before a Notary Public.
4. Sign the health care documents. Sign your Advance Health Care Directive either before a Notary Public or in the presence of two adult witnesses. The form lists who may not serve as a witness — follow it exactly.
5. Follow your package instructions. Your package includes page-by-page signing instructions written for Alaska — follow those as the authoritative guide.

Serving all of Alaska

Answer the questionnaire from anywhere in Alaska and download your completed documents in minutes: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Wasilla, Sitka, Ketchikan, Kenai, Kodiak, Bethel, Palmer, Homer, Soldotna, and every community in between.