Uncontested Divorce in Alaska
In Alaska, spouses can end their marital relationship in two ways: contested and uncontested divorce.
- A contested divorce means that the spouses disagree on at least one issue of the divorce terms. According to Alaska law, if the spouses can not find a common solution, their case will be considered contested, and the judge will make decisions for them.
- Amicable divorce or dissolution means that the spouses settle existing divorce matters out of court. They can do it on their own or with the help of a qualified mediator. In an uncontested divorce, the spouses sign a Settlement Agreement, which outlines decisions regarding custody over minor children, division of marital property and retirement accounts, Alaska child support, alimony (spousal support), and other marriage-related issues.
An uncontested divorce is a simpler and faster way to get a final court decree. Even if the spouses have minor disputes, with the help of mediation, they can take advantage of this option and save thousands of dollars.
Get Your Divorce Forms Completed Online
By using DivorceOnline.com, spouses can save themselves from the stress and hassle of preparing divorce filings for an uncontested case. They no longer need to delve into the intricacies of state law and spend time selecting and filling out legal forms.
At a bargain price, the parties involved can fill out the required forms in just a couple of hours from the comfort of home.
DivorceOnline.com does not sell blank forms. Instead, they help generate ready-to-file documents with your information entered.
To use the services of DivorceOnline.com, you only need to complete an online survey and provide correct information regarding your marriage and divorce. After that, you will receive a ready-made package of documents and filing instructions for applying to the court.
With DivorceOnline.com, you no longer have to spend thousands of dollars on Alaska attorney services. Instead, you will control the cost of your divorce.
However, if the spouses have a contested divorce and can not resolve existing disputes independently, they should contact lawyers for legal advice.
Getting a Divorce With Children
During the divorce process, spouses with children in uncontested and contested cases must go through custody determination. An Alaskan court will not grant a divorce until spouses agree on the following:
- type of guardianship; and
- child support calculation.
In addition, divorcing parents must resolve custody issues such as a parenting plan and which parent will qualify for the child tax credit.
Under Alaska law, there are two types of custody: sole custody and joint custody. Depending on the rights and obligations of parents, they are divided into:
- legal custody (gives the right to one or both parents to make decisions regarding the child);
- physical custody (determines with whom the child lives).
Courts prefer to grant joint custody as it can be in the child’s best interests. In joint child custody, both parents are often entitled to physical and legal custody.
To make a custody decision, the judge has to consider specific factors:
- each parent's mental and physical health;
- the child's preference (if they are enough old for decision-making);
- the child's physical, emotional, and educational needs;
- the child's relationship with each parent;
- the child's relationship with siblings and extended family;
- each parent's ability to provide a stable home environment;
- either parent's history of abuse or domestic violence; and
- any other factor the judge considers relevant.
Child Support is one of the crucial aspects of custody. Alaska courts follow specific rules to determine the amount of child support that one parent must pay to the other. Parents may also refer to these guidelines in Rule 90.3 of the Alaska Court Rules.
Determining child support amounts includes specifying each parent's annual or monthly gross income from all eligible sources. It includes unemployment compensation and employer-provided benefits. The only exception is public-assistance benefits.
After determining the net income, the court calculates the amount of child support. If the income conditions change after the final court order and the paying spouse can no longer pay the set amount, they can file a Petition for Review.
Filing for Divorce in Alaska Without a Lawyer
In an uncontested divorce, spouses can resolve divorce-related issues without costly legal assistance. It allows them to save two or three times on divorce proceedings and not hire lawyers to represent their interests in the court.
Couples who find it challenging to prepare Alaska divorce forms on their own can use specialized online platforms such as DivorceOnline.com. Thus, spouses can obtain divorce papers quickly and at an affordable price.
In addition, with DivorceOnline.com, spouses do not have to leave their homes to select and fill out paperwork. Which means they don't have to change their plans to meet an attorney.
Do-It-Yourself Divorce in Alaska
- A DIY divorce allows spouses to arrange divorce proceedings without an attorney. As a result, spouses can save money on law firm services and costly legal consultations.
- A DIY divorce implies that the spouses have an uncontested case and file their completed Settlement Agreement with supporting papers with the court. They are all fully responsive and act on their behalf, preparing the Alaska divorce forms and completing the filing process.
- People who have not experienced divorce may find it challenging to understand Alaska Family Law. Many couples use alternative and inexpensive ways to prepare the paperwork in a DIY divorce. One such tool is DivorceOnline.com. It is specially designed to help couples with their paperwork online.
Reviews
Frequently Asked Questions:
After filing with the court for an uncontested divorce in Alaska, it usually takes 30 to 90 days to get a final divorce decree. However, the start and end times of a divorce can vary. The court workload and the presence of available judges to sign the final decision on the dissolution of the marriage influence the dissolution length.
In a contested divorce, the court may take longer to get a final decision. On average, it can last from 6 to 12 months. During this period, the court reviews the proof provided (if any) and decides on each issue under the state law.
The average cost of an uncontested divorce in Alaska is $13,100, with a significant share spent on hourly attorney fees. This amount also includes legal fees, fees for online divorce services, and costs for parenting classes.
The best way to save money is to have a DIY divorce and use online divorce companies to prepare Alaska divorce forms.
As in most states in the US, if a petitioner can not pay the filing fees, they can file with the local court for a fee waiver. To do this, they should fill out a required form - Exemption From the Payment of Fees (TF-920). The divorce filing fee will be waived if the court confirms that the petitioner can not pay the filing fee.
To initiate a case in court, the petitioner has to file a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage and the necessary attachments. The type and amount of forms required vary depending on if a couple has minor children. Petitioner also needs to consider the county court to file. The Anchorage and Fairbanks courts use different types of divorce papers.