Find Wrangell City and Borough Divorce Decrees
Divorce decree records for Wrangell City and Borough are kept by the Alaska Court System's First Judicial District at the Wrangell courthouse on Front Street. The Wrangell Superior Court has jurisdiction over all divorce and dissolution cases filed by borough residents and handles the full range of family law matters including property division, spousal support, and child custody. You can search Wrangell divorce cases online through CourtView, Alaska's free public case access system, or contact the Wrangell court directly to request copies of decrees and other documents from a closed or active case file.
Wrangell City and Borough Overview
Wrangell Superior Court
The Wrangell Superior Court is part of the First Judicial District and handles all Superior Court matters for the City and Borough of Wrangell. The courthouse is located on Front Street in downtown Wrangell. It has jurisdiction over felony criminal cases, civil matters, family law proceedings including divorce and dissolution, probate, and appeals from the District Court. Because Wrangell is a small and remote community, some judges travel on a scheduled rotation to hold proceedings.
The clerk's office at the Wrangell courthouse maintains all case files and handles copy requests for divorce decrees and other court documents. Requests can be submitted in person, by mail, by fax, or by email. The Wrangell court directory page has current addresses, phone numbers, and email contacts for the clerk's office. Check it before you send a records request to confirm you have the right information.
| Court | Wrangell Superior Court, First Judicial District |
|---|---|
| Address | 215 Front Street Wrangell, AK 99929 |
| Phone | (907) 874-2311 |
| 1WRmailbox@akcourts.gov | |
| Case Prefix | 1WR |
The City and Borough of Wrangell website provides local government information, but divorce and dissolution case files are not held there. The borough does not maintain divorce records. All case files belong to the Alaska Court System.
The Wrangell court directory lists contact information, record request procedures, and service details for the Wrangell Superior Court in the First Judicial District.
Use the Wrangell court directory to confirm the current contact details before submitting a records request or planning a visit to the courthouse.
How to Search Wrangell Divorce Decree Records
CourtView is the main tool for finding Wrangell City and Borough divorce decree records online. It is free to use and does not require an account. Go to records.courts.alaska.gov and search by party name or case number. Wrangell cases use the 1WR prefix, which stands for First Judicial District, Wrangell. A name search returns a list of matching cases. Click any result to see case type, filing date, both party names, and docket entries. The system shows case index data only, not document images.
To get an actual copy of a divorce decree, submit a request to the Wrangell court clerk. You can do this in person at 215 Front Street, by mail to the same address, by fax, or by email at 1WRmailbox@akcourts.gov. Include the full names of both parties and the approximate filing year. If you have the case number, the process goes faster. Download the standard records request form from the Alaska Court System forms catalog. If you cannot find the case number, bring what you have and staff will search for it, though a research fee may apply.
Note: Given that Wrangell is a small community, the courthouse has limited staff. Calling ahead before an in-person visit is a good idea.
The City and Borough of Wrangell website provides local government contact details, but divorce decree records are held exclusively by the Alaska Court System at the Wrangell courthouse.
The borough clerk handles municipal records but does not maintain court records such as divorce decrees. Direct all divorce record requests to the Wrangell Superior Court.
Getting Copies of Wrangell Divorce Decree Records
The Alaska Court System charges set fees for copies of all court records including divorce decrees. Plain copies cost $5 for the first page and $3 for each additional page. Certified copies are $10 for the first page and $3 per extra page. If staff must search for a case number, a research fee of $30 per hour applies on top of the copy costs. The fee schedule is the same at the Wrangell court as at any other Alaska court.
Submit a records request to the Wrangell clerk using the standard request form available on the Alaska Court System forms page. Include the names of both parties, the approximate year of filing, and whether you need plain or certified copies. Payment is due when you pick up copies in person, or you can include a check or money order with a mailed request. If fees are a problem, form TF-920 is the fee waiver application. File it with your request and the court will review your financial situation. The trial courts information page has more details on copy procedures across the state.
Divorce Certificates Through Vital Statistics
Alaska keeps two separate records for each divorce. The Wrangell Superior Court holds the full case file with all documents. The Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics holds a divorce certificate. These are different things. The divorce certificate is a short summary, not the full decree. When the court files a final decree, it also sends in a VS-401 statistical form to Vital Statistics, and that form becomes the certificate.
For Wrangell City and Borough divorces, the Bureau of Vital Statistics has records going back to 1950. You can order divorce certificates through the state's online vital records ordering system or get more information at the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics website. The fee is $30 for the first copy and $25 for each additional copy. Under Alaska Statutes AS 40.25.120, records 50 years or older become public. Newer certificates have restricted access.
What a Wrangell Divorce Decree Contains
A final divorce decree from the Wrangell Superior Court is a court order that legally ends the marriage. It lists the full legal names of both spouses, the date the dissolution takes effect, and all the terms the court has approved. That covers property and debt division, any spousal support ordered, and all matters related to children if the couple has them.
Cases without children use form DR-806 as the decree. Cases with children use form DR-805, which includes a parenting plan that sets out custody, a schedule for each parent, and child support. These forms are standard across the Alaska court system. If a name change was part of the case, it appears in the decree itself. The decree is the legal document you use to update your driver's license, passport, Social Security records, and other ID documents. You do not need a separate name change order when the decree includes the name change. Most Wrangell divorce records are public. Sealed cases and matters involving protected parties are exceptions.
Divorce and Dissolution in Wrangell
Alaska gives married couples two ways to end a marriage through the courts. Dissolution is the faster and less expensive option. Both parties agree on all terms before they file, and the court reviews the agreement. A contested divorce starts when one party files and the other responds. If they cannot agree on everything, a judge decides. Both paths result in a final decree from the Superior Court.
For a dissolution without children, use form DR-100. When children are involved, use form DR-105. Both forms are in the Alaska Court System forms catalog. The Family Law Self-Help Center has step-by-step guides for people handling their own case. Alaska law requires a 30-day wait after filing before the court can enter a final order. The full legal framework for divorce in Alaska is in Alaska Statutes Title 25, Chapter 24. Accepted grounds for divorce include incompatibility of temperament, willful desertion, cruelty, habitual drunkenness, felony conviction, insanity, and addiction.
Legal Resources for Wrangell Divorce Cases
The Alaska Court System's Family Law Self-Help Center is available to all Alaska residents regardless of location. You can reach it at courts.alaska.gov/shc/family or call the toll-free line at 866-279-0851. The center helps people find and complete the right forms, understand what to expect at each step, and prepare their paperwork. They do not give legal advice, but they can answer procedural questions and explain how the process works at the Wrangell court.
Alaska Law Help at alaskalawhelp.org has written guides on divorce, child custody, support, and related family law topics specific to Alaska. For Wrangell residents who need an attorney, the State Bar of Alaska has a referral service. Legal Aid Services of Alaska also handles family law matters for qualifying individuals. The FamilySearch genealogy guide for Wrangell is a useful resource for historical records research, noting that the Bureau of Vital Statistics has divorce records for Wrangell dating back to 1950.
Additional background on Wrangell court records is available through the FamilySearch genealogy guide for Wrangell City and Borough, which covers the history of vital records and court filings in this First Judicial District community.
Use this resource as a starting point for historical divorce record research in Wrangell, then follow up directly with the Wrangell Superior Court for official copies.
Cities in Wrangell City and Borough
Wrangell City and Borough has no qualifying cities with separate records pages. All divorce and dissolution cases filed by borough residents go through the Wrangell Superior Court in the First Judicial District.
Nearby Boroughs
These boroughs are close to Wrangell City and Borough. Each is served by the First Judicial District and maintains its own set of divorce decree records through the Alaska Court System.