How to Make a Will in Alaska

If you're a resident of Alaska and thinking about making a will, you should understand what a will is and how to create one. A will, also called a "last will and testament," can help you protect your family and your property.

You can use a will to:

• leave your property to people or organizations
• name a personal guardian to care for your minor children
• name a trusted person to manage property you leave to minor children, and
• name a personal representative, the person who makes sure that the terms of your will are carried out.

In Alaska, your will dictates what happens to the property you own at the time of your death and any property your estate acquires after your death. (Alaska Stat. § 13.12.602 (2025).)

Below you'll find an overview of what a will can do for you, what Alaska laws require for making a valid will, and what the process looks like.

Steps to Create a Will in Alaska

Here's a quick checklist for making a will in Alaska:

1. Decide what property to include in your will.
2. Decide who will inherit your property.
3. Choose a personal representative to handle your estate.
4. Choose a guardian for your children.
5. Choose someone to manage children's property.
6. Make your will.
7. Sign your will in front of witnesses.
8. Store your will safely.

What Happens If I Die Without a Will in Alaska?

In Alaska, if you die without a will, your property will be distributed according to state "intestacy" laws. Alaska's intestacy law gives your property to your closest relatives, beginning with your spouse, children, and parents. The list of inheritors continues with increasingly distant relatives. If the court exhausts this list to find that you have no living relatives by blood or marriage, the state will take your property.

Can I Make My Own Will in Alaska?

Yes. You can make your own will in Alaska, using Nolo's Quicken WillMaker & Trust. However, you might want to consult a lawyer in some situations. For example, if you think that your will might be contested or you have especially complicated goals, you should talk with an attorney. See Do I Need an Attorney to Make My Estate Plan?

Legal Requirements for a Valid Will in Alaska

To make a valid will in Alaska, you must be:

• at least 18 years old
• of sound mind.

(Alaska Stat. § 13.12.501 (2025).)

Your will can also refer to a separate statement or list in which you describe how you want to dispose of your tangible, personal property (besides money), and your personal representative must follow the instructions in this document. To make this list a valid addendum to your will, you must:

• list your property and the people you want to inherit it
• sign the document
• refer to the statement or list in your will.

You can prepare this document before or after you execute your will. (Alaska Stat. § 13.12.513 (2025).)

Your will must be in writing on actual paper. Digital, video, audio, or other formats aren't currently accepted as valid wills in Alaska. (See "Can I Make a Digital or Electronic Will?" below.) (Alaska Stat. § 13.12.502 (2025).)

How to Sign and Execute My Alaska Will

To finalize your will in Alaska, you must sign it, and:

1. two people must witness the signing or witness you acknowledge that the will or signature is yours, and
2. have your witnesses sign your will within a reasonable time after witnessing your signature or acknowledgment.

(Alaska Stat. § 13.12.502 (2025).)

Unlike many other states, in Alaska, a beneficiary of the will can serve as a witness without losing the property gifted to them. However, you might still prefer to only have people who don't stand to benefit from your will serve as your witnesses to avoid any inference that you were under duress or unduly influenced at the time you signed your will. (Alaska Stat § 13.12.505 (2025).)

Holographic (handwritten) wills don't require witnesses as long as the signature and material portions of the will are in your handwriting. Even though Alaska permits handwritten wills, they are usually not a good idea. (Alaska Stat. § 13.12.502 (2025).)

Do I Need to Have My Will Notarized?

No, in Alaska, you don't need to notarize your will to make it legal. However, Alaska allows you to make your will "self-proving," and you'll need to go to a notary if you want to do that. A self-proving will speeds up probate because the court can accept the will without contacting the witnesses who signed it.

To make your will self-proving, you and your witnesses will go to the notary and sign an affidavit that proves who you are and that each of you knew you were signing the will. (Alaska Stat. § 13.12.504 (2025).)

Can I Make a Digital or Electronic Will?

In a handful of states, you can make a legal will digitally—that is, you can make the will, sign it, and have it witnessed without ever printing it out. Although such electronic wills are currently available in only a minority of states, many other states are considering making electronic wills legal. Alaska currently doesn't allow e-wills, but that could change in the future.

Can I Choose and Appoint a Personal Representative in My Will?

Yes. In Alaska, you can use your will to name a personal representative who will ensure that the provisions in your will are carried out after your death. Nolo's Quicken WillMaker & Trust software produces a letter to your personal representative that generally explains what the job requires. If you don't name a personal representative, the probate court will appoint someone to take on the job of winding up your estate.

Can I Revoke or Change My Will in Alaska?

In Alaska, you may revoke or change your will at any time. You can revoke your will by:

• performing a "revocatory act," such as burning, tearing, canceling, obliterating, or destroying all of the will or a portion of it for the purpose of revoking it. You can perform this revocatory act yourself or ask someone else to do it for you, or
• making a new will that states it is revoking the old will or that has contradictory terms.

(Alaska Stat. § 13.12.507 (2025).)

If you have two wills and it's not clear whether you revoked the old will or not, Alaska has rules that determine whether your new will revokes the old one or simply adds to it. If you intended to revoke the old will, the old will is revoked.

Alaska law presumes you intended to revoke your old will if the new will disposes of all of your estate. If you didn't dispose of all of your estate in your new will, Alaska law presumes you only meant to add on to your old will. In this situation, the executor should follow the instructions in both wills. If there's a contradictory term, the executor should follow the instructions of the new will for that particular term. (Alaska Stat. § 13.12.507 (2025).)

If you and your spouse divorce (or if a court determines that your marriage isn't legal), Alaska law revokes any language in your will that leaves property to your spouse or names your spouse to be your executor. This rule also applies to your former spouse's relatives. However, this rule doesn't apply if you remarry your spouse or you specifically state in your will (or a divorce decree or contract relating to the division of your property states) that divorce won't affect the provisions in your will. (Alaska Stat. § 13.12.804 (2025).)

If you need to make changes to your will, it's best to revoke it and make a new one. However, if you have only very simple changes to make, you could add an amendment to your existing will—this is called a codicil. In either case, you will need to finalize your changes with the same formalities you used to make your original will (see above).

Next Steps

You can find Alaska's laws about making wills here: Alaska Statutes, Title 13 Decedents' Estates, Guardianships, Transfers, Trusts, and Health Care Decisions, Chapter 12 – Intestacy, Wills, and Donative Transfers, Article 5 – Wills, Will Contracts, and Custody and Deposit of Wills.

To make your own will—as well as other estate planning documents, such as powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and living trusts—try Nolo's Quicken WillMaker & Trust.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you're still looking for information, check out these answers to frequently asked questions on Alaska wills.

Can a will help me avoid probate?

No. A will doesn't avoid probate. Instead, it acts as instructions to the probate court. If you want to avoid probate in Alaska, consider other estate planning strategies like a living trust or joint tenancy.

What's the cost of making a will in Alaska?

The cost for a lawyer to make a will depends on several factors, including the complexity of your finances, where you live in Alaska, and whether you want an entire estate plan with multiple documents. A simple will without other estate planning documents likely will cost at least a few hundred dollars—and potentially more than $1,000. DIY resources, like Nolo's Quicken WillMaker & Trust, will cost significantly less than hiring an attorney.

Where should I store my will after it's signed?

There are several options for places to store your will, and each has pros and cons. Some options are the court (discussed below), your home, your lawyer's office, or a safe deposit box (but ensure the bank will let your personal representative or other trusted people access it after your death). Wherever you store it, make sure the right people know where it is, so the probate process can start as soon as possible without confusion or delay. For more information, read How to Safely Store Your Will.

Do I need to file my will with the court or government after making it?

No. Your will doesn't need to be filed with the court or government until after your death. However, Alaska does allow will makers to deposit their wills with the court for safekeeping before they die. (Alaska Stat. § 13.12.515 (2025).)

Can a will help me avoid estate taxes?

No. A will won't help you avoid estate taxes. The good news is that Alaska doesn't have an estate tax, and very few people need to worry about federal estate taxes. Only people with estates worth several million dollars need to think about federal estate taxes, but a will won't help them avoid taxes. For more information on estate taxes, read Estate Tax: Will Your Estate Have to Pay?

Can someone challenge my will?

Yes, it's theoretically possible that someone could challenge your will. But very few wills are challenged in court because it's difficult to challenge a will.