Alaska Marriage Records

Alaska began maintaining centralized, statewide marriage records in 1913 under the jurisdiction of the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics, now part of the state Department of Health. Early records, pre-1913, were collected from territorial courts, churches, and local authorities and kept at the borough level.

Recent figures from the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control reveal that Alaska's marriage rate is slightly higher than the national average. Per the data, Alaska has a marriage rate of 6.4 marriages per 1,000 residents, slightly above the U.S. average of 6.2 marriages per 1,000 people.

Alaska marriage records are the legal documents that formally register marriages within the state. In Alaska, these documents encompass the following:

• Marriage License: A marriage license is a legal document that permits two individuals to get married within Alaska. Issued by the Borough Clerk, a marriage license is a prerequisite to getting married in the state and contains information about the intending couple, including their full names, gender, birthdates, birthplaces, and current addresses. The document also holds the officiant's name, application signatures, the issuing clerk's signature, license number, issued date, and validity period.
• Marriage Certificate: A marriage certificate serves as the legal proof of a marital union. Usually, after the wedding, the officiant completes the marriage license and returns the document to the borough clerk's office within seven days of the ceremony. The officer documents that the wedding took place and creates the marriage certificate. A marriage certificate contains the couple's full names, ceremony date and location, the name and signature of the officiant and witnesses, and the signature of the issuing officer. Marriage records also contain the certificate number, filing date, and a raised embossed borough seal.

How To Look Up Marriage Records in Alaska?

Eligible persons may access Alaska's marriage records through the following agencies:

• The Alaska Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics provides access to marriage certificates from January 1913 to the present.
• All marriage licenses and marriage certificates issued pre-1913 are accessible at the borough clerk's office.

Interested persons may order a certified copy of the Alaska marriage certificate issued from 1913 to date by mail, fax, in person, or online. Online requests for marriage certificates are through an independent service provider approved by the State Department of Health. The vendor offers faster processing for extra fees.

Persons ordering marriage certificates in person or by mail may complete the Alaska Marriage Certificate Request form. The mailing address and fax number are:

Walk-in requesters may visit:

Certified copies of Alaska marriage certificates and all marriage licenses issued in the state are accessible at the specific court location where the marriage license was issued. Generally, all requests for marriage records in Alaska must include the following:

• The full names of the couple
• The exact marriage date
• The marriage location
• A valid copy of a government-issued photo ID
• The fees

Are Marriage Records Public in Alaska?

Marriage records are not immediately public records in Alaska. Per the Alaska Public Records Act, marriage documents are confidential records for the first 50 years from the marriage date. During this period, only eligible persons, including the couple and their legal representatives, may access certified copies of the marriage record. Once the 50 years elapse, the record becomes public record, and anyone may request a copy without restrictions or proof of eligibility.

How Much Do Alaska Marriage Records Cost?

It costs $30 to order a certified copy of the Alaska marriage certificate, with an extra $25 for copies of the same record ordered simultaneously. Most counties charge the same fee as the state. There is no expedited processing for marriage certificates ordered from the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics. Faster processing is available for online requests for an additional $15-$20 as a service fee and $17.50 for overnight shipping.

Mail and fax requests are typically processed within 2-3 months. The standard processing times for marriage certificates ordered online are 2-3 weeks, with expedited processing received within 5-7 business days. In-person requests for a marriage certificate are usually processed on the same day.

Is It Possible to Make Your Marriage Records Confidential in Alaska?

Alaska does not permit confidential marriage records. Although the state restricts access to marriage certificates for the first 50 years, marriage certificates are not indefinitely unavailable to the public. In states where it is practiced, obtaining confidential marriage licenses restricts the marriage certificate from everyone, except the couple. The general public may access Alaska marriage records after 50 years. Likewise, couples cannot apply to the courts to seal their marriage records in Alaska.

How Do I Verify the Authenticity of Alaska Marriage Records?

Verifying the authenticity of a marriage record is essential for legal, financial, and personal purposes. Therefore, you may need your marriage certificate to apply for spousal visas, file joint taxes, access spousal healthcare or pension benefits, establish inheritance rights, change your legal name, and trace your family history.

To this end, you may verify the authenticity of your Alaska marriage records at the state Bureau of Vital Statistics or at the local courts where the marriage license was issued. To determine if your document is genuine, visit the courthouse or state office, or request a certified copy and compare your copy against the court's original license application on file or the state's master record bearing the official seal.

Authenticated Alaska marriage certificates contain security features that validate the document's credibility. Generally, it contains the signature of the State Registrar, a seal reading "State of Alaska - Division of Public Health", and a unique certificate number. In addition, certified copies of Alaska marriage certificates are printed on a watermarked or patterned background designed paper to deter copying and tampering.

Can I Find Alaska Marriage Records Online for Free?

Alaska marriage records are available to eligible requesters for a fee. Therefore, persons not authorized to access certified copies may find Alaska marriage records online for free through non-governmental sources.

FamilySearch.org provides free access to a vast collection of historical records, including Alaska marriage records. The collection includes digitized images and indexes of Alaska marriages from 1816 to 2005. The database also provides access to borough-level marriage documents, including marriage certificates, applications, affidavits, and licenses.

Ancestry.com is a genealogy platform that requires a subscription for full access. It hosts Alaska Vital Records collections from 1818-1963, including Alaska marriage records. Users may access information on the couples' names, marriage dates, marriage locations, ages, occupations, and parents' names. Detailed access may require viewing at a Family History Center in Alaska.

PublicRecords.us aggregates public records from multiple state and borough resources to provide a vast database of vital records, including Alaska marriage records. Users may generally access more recent but basic information on marriage records, such as couples' names, dates of birth, and birthplace, on the platform. Detailed access requires a paid subscription.

What Is Required to Get an Alaska Marriage License?

Couples intending to get married in Alaska must meet state requirements and provide the local courts with relevant documentation before they may obtain the document. In Alaska, these requirements include:

• Both parties must be 18 years and older. Minors aged 16-17 years require a court order and parental consent signed by both parents to get married.
• Be present together at the courthouse.
• Complete the Alaska Marriage License Application form.
• Present the birth certificate if either party is under 18.
• Both parties must present a government-issued photo ID.
• Both parties must be sworn in by a licensing officer and sign the application in the presence of a notary.
• Indicate the date previous marriages ended, if applicable.
• Provide a copy of your divorce or annulment decree if the previous marriage ended within 60 days.
• The marriage license application fee.

It costs $60 to purchase a marriage license and $70 if you want the document mailed to you in Alaska. Alaska has a three-day waiting period. After applying, couples may wait three days before the license becomes valid for use. The marriage license is valid for 90 days from the issue date. If the couple does not get married within the period, the document becomes invalid. The couple must reapply for the document and pay the fees to get married.

Can You Amend Marriage Records in Alaska?

Alaskans may amend the following errors on their marriage license and certificate:

• Clerical mistakes, such as misspelled names, typos in birthdates, or incorrect license dates
• Incomplete data, including fields previously left blank
• Transposed information or digits
• Factual inaccuracies, such as wrong marriage date and witness or officiant's information
• Administrative omissions, such as a missing signature or seal of the issuing borough

Amending Alaska Marriage License

You may amend inaccuracies on your marriage license before the wedding ceremony by contacting the local court that issued the document. Bring the marriage license containing the error to the issuing office. Notify the clerk of the error and the correct information. Also, come along with documentations that prove the correct information.

If the error is minor, the clerk will strike through the incorrect information and sign the alteration. No correction fee is required for such amendments. However, if the clerk has to reissue a new marriage license because the error is substantive, the marriage license fee of $60 is applicable.

Amending the Alaska Marriage Certificate

The Special Services Unit of the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics handles marriage certificate amendments. To amend your marriage certificate, send an email to the unit, and ensure you include your mailing address in the email. The Special Service Unit will send the amendment packet with instructions on filling out the form and the fees required to amend your marriage certificate. Complete and sign the forms, and include your original certificate, government-issued photo ID, and any court documents, if necessary. Submit the form with the $30 amendment fee. Amendment requests are typically processed within 3 months.