Find Divorce Decree Records in Ketchikan Gateway Borough
Divorce decree records in Ketchikan Gateway Borough are held by the Ketchikan Superior and District Court, which operates as part of Alaska's First Judicial District. All divorce and dissolution of marriage cases filed by borough residents go through this court. You can search these records on CourtView, the Alaska Court System's free online case lookup tool, or visit the courthouse in person at the State Office Building on Main Street. Whether you need a certified copy of a final decree or want to check basic case details, the clerk's office at the Ketchikan court is your starting point for divorce decree records in this borough.
Ketchikan Gateway Borough Overview
Ketchikan Superior and District Court
The Ketchikan Superior and District Court is the court of record for all divorce and dissolution cases in Ketchikan Gateway Borough. It sits in the State Office Building at 415 Main Street and serves the First Judicial District. The clerk's office handles copy requests, processes new filings, and maintains case files for all divorce decrees. When you have a case number, staff can pull and copy records the same day. Without a case number, bring the full names of both parties and the approximate year the case was filed.
The District Court section is at Room 310 in the same building and handles limited civil and misdemeanor matters. For divorce, you need the Superior Court clerk. Hours are 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday, but the office closes for a lunch hour. Call ahead if you plan to visit near noon. You can submit copy requests by mail, fax, or by visiting the clerk's counter in person. The Ketchikan Court Directory lists current contact details, hours, and services.
| Court | Ketchikan Superior and District Court, First Judicial District |
|---|---|
| Address | State Office Building 415 Main Street Ketchikan, AK 99901 |
| Superior Court Phone | (907) 225-3195 |
| District Court Phone | (907) 225-3142 (Rm 310) |
| Hours | Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:00pm (closed lunch hour) |
| Self-Help Helpline | (907) 264-0851 or toll-free (866) 279-0851 |
| Case Prefix | 1KE (format: 1KE-YY-#####CI) |
| Request Form | TF-311 |
Note: The City of Ketchikan Clerk's office at city hall does not maintain divorce records. All divorce and dissolution case files are kept by the Alaska Court System at the courthouse, not by any local government office.
The Ketchikan Court Directory lists current addresses, phone numbers, and service details for the Superior and District Court serving Ketchikan Gateway Borough divorce decree cases.
Check this directory before mailing a records request or visiting the courthouse to confirm current hours and contact details.
How to Search Ketchikan Divorce Decree Records
CourtView is the main tool for finding divorce decree records in Ketchikan Gateway Borough. It is Alaska's public case access system, free to use, and does not require an account. Go to records.courts.alaska.gov and search by party name or case number. Ketchikan cases use the prefix 1KE followed by the two-digit year and a five-digit number with the CI suffix. For example, a case from 2021 might look like 1KE-21-00234CI.
A name search returns a list of matching cases. Click any result to see the case type, filing date, parties, and docket entries. CourtView does not display document images, only the case index. To get copies of the actual decree or other filed documents, you need to submit a request to the clerk's office at the Ketchikan courthouse. Use form TF-311 for Ketchikan records requests. You can download this form from the Alaska Court System forms catalog. Send your request by mail, drop it off in person, or call the clerk at (907) 225-3195 for guidance on the process.
If you need records for genealogy research, FamilySearch documents divorce records in Ketchikan Gateway Borough going back to 1950 and can help you locate older filings.
Note: A research fee of $30 per hour applies if you do not have the case number and staff must search for it.
Getting Copies of a Ketchikan Divorce Decree
The Ketchikan Superior Court uses the standard Alaska Court System fee schedule for copies. Plain copies cost $5 for the first page and $3 for each additional page. Certified copies cost $10 for the first page and $3 per additional page. These fees apply to all divorce decrees and other court records. If you need staff to search for a case number because you don't have it, a $30 per hour research fee applies. For a rough idea of how long a decree is, most uncontested decrees run between 5 and 15 pages depending on complexity.
To request copies, complete form TF-311 and submit it to the clerk. Include the full names of both parties, the approximate year of filing, and whether you want plain or certified copies. Payment can be made in person or mailed with your request. If the fee is a hardship, form TF-920 is the fee waiver application. You can find both forms through the Alaska Court System forms page. Processing time for mailed requests can vary depending on clerk workload. In-person requests with a case number are usually filled the same day.
Parent Education Requirement in Ketchikan
When children are involved in a divorce or dissolution case in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, both parents are required to complete a court-approved parent education program. The court accepts several options, and all of them can be completed online or via video. You must file the completion certificate with the court after you finish the program. The requirement applies to both parties, and cases with children generally cannot proceed to a final decree until both certificates have been filed.
Approved programs for Ketchikan Gateway Borough divorce cases include the following options:
- Zoom Family Law Education Class (FLEC) - Free; offered virtually through the court system
- Listen 2 Kids About Divorce - $15; available online
- Children in Between On-Line - $49.95; fee waiver available through the court
- Between Two Homes - $39.95; online completion
After completing a program, you must file the certificate with the Ketchikan court clerk as part of your divorce case record. More details on the requirement and approved programs are on the Alaska Court System parent education page. If cost is an issue for one of the paid programs, ask the clerk about the fee waiver process when you file.
The City of Ketchikan Clerk handles local municipal records and city licenses, but does not maintain divorce decree records, which are kept only at the Ketchikan Superior Court.
If you are looking for divorce decree records, contact the Superior Court clerk at (907) 225-3195, not the city clerk's office.
Vital Records and Divorce Certificates
The Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics holds a separate divorce certificate for every divorce granted in the state, including all Ketchikan Gateway Borough divorces. This record is different from the court's full case file. The certificate is a short summary document, not the full decree. It is created when the court submits a VS-401 statistical form to Vital Statistics at the time the final decree is entered.
If you need a certified copy of the divorce certificate rather than the full decree, you can order from the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics or use the online vital records ordering system. Processing time for certified records is typically 2 to 3 weeks. Under Alaska law, divorce certificates are confidential for 50 years after the event date. Records older than 50 years are available to the public. Newer records require proof of eligibility, such as being a party to the divorce or a direct family member.
Legal Help for Ketchikan Divorce Cases
The Alaska Court System runs a Family Law Self-Help Center for people handling a divorce or dissolution without an attorney. The center is online at courts.alaska.gov/shc/family. You can call the self-help helpline at (907) 264-0851 in Anchorage or toll-free at (866) 279-0851. Staff answer questions about forms and procedure but do not give legal advice.
Alaska Law Help at alaskalawhelp.org has written guides covering divorce, dissolution, custody, child support, and other family law topics under Alaska law. For people who want legal representation, Alaska Legal Services handles family law matters for those who meet income guidelines. The Alaska divorce statutes are found in Alaska Statutes Title 25, Chapter 24 (AS 25.24). Alaska requires a minimum 30-day wait after filing before the court can sign a final decree.
Cities in Ketchikan Gateway Borough
All divorce and dissolution cases filed by residents of Ketchikan Gateway Borough go through the Ketchikan Superior Court at the State Office Building on Main Street.
Nearby Boroughs
These neighboring boroughs are in the same region. Each maintains its own court records for divorce decree cases.