Under Alaska law,^[1] a person requesting to change their name can do so under the following requirements:

• Must be made to the Superior Court;
• Must disclose if a person is:
  • In the custody of the Dept. of Correction (or under probation or parole);
  • Required to register as a sex offender;
  • Charged with a criminal offense;
• Not for a fraudulent purpose;
• Not to hinder or obstruct law enforcement purposes; and
• Does not interfere with the rights of others.

Complete the Petition for Change of Name (CIV-700). Leave the “CASE NO.” line blank and all areas below “VERIFICATION.” It can be signed when filing with the court clerk or beforehand in the presence of a notary public.

The applicant will be required to file the following documents at a Superior Court Filing Location:

• Vital Records Form: (bring 1 of the following)
  • Birth Certificate – If not after a marriage or divorce, a certified copy of a birth certificate (use the Birth Certificate Request Form if born in Alaska);
  • Marriage Certificate
  • Divorce Certificate
• Petition for Change of Name (CIV-700)
• Application for Legal Name Change (VS-405)
• Filing fee. Bring a check or money order for $200.^[2] If you cannot afford the filing fee, file a Request for Exemption From Payment of Fees (TF-920).
• (Optional) Request to Waive Posting in Adult Change of Name Cases (CIV-708) – Only file if the applicant has safety concerns and would prefer not to have their name posted publicly (as required by law).^[3]

It is required to make a copy of each form that is filed with the court clerk for your records.

After filing, the clerk will mail the Order for Hearing, Posting, and Additional Service (CIV-701),^[4] which mentions the court hearing date (minimum of 40 days).^[5] Read any feedback made by the court. If additional notice or instructions are given, specifically sending a notice to other parties, it must be followed before the court hearing date.

If additional notice is required, the applicant must complete and sign the Affidavit of Additional Service (CIV-702) in the presence of a notary public or court clerk.

The court will publish your new or proposed name for four consecutive weeks on the local court’s website (unless this was requested to be waived). After four weeks, the court will file the Clerk’s Certificate of Service of Posting (TF-815) and post it on its website.

A copy of the Order for Hearing, Posting, and Additional Service (CIV-701) must also be sent to a local county newspaper to be published for four consecutive weeks. If the newspaper does not give you a receipt for the posting, an Affidavit (TF-940) can be filed to declare that the newspaper’s public posting was completed.

The court will automatically post the new name to its website after the Certificate of Name Change (CIV-705) is issued. The judge will commonly request you to post again in the local newspaper (just once).

This must be completed within 20 days of the Certificate of Name Change (CIV-705) being issued. Afterward, the Affidavit of Additional Service (CIV-702) must be filed with the court to complete the process.

If a spouse changes their name at the time of getting married, they can use the marriage certificate to change their name with government offices and agencies.

To obtain a marriage certificate, submit a Marriage Certificate Request Form to the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics ($60 fee). Included with your request form must be a copy of an unexpired ID and payment for the $30 filing fee.

If a spouse did not change their name at the time of marriage, following the court process is required.

A spouse seeking to change back to their maiden or former name may do so when filing the Marital Settlement Agreement during the divorce process. After filing, the judge will review the request at the hearing and include it in the final divorce certificate, which can be used to change their name at other government departments and agencies.If a spouse would like to request their divorce certificate, they can do so by filing the Divorce Certificate Request Form ($30 fee).

If a spouse did not change their name during the divorce process, they must follow the court process.

To update your driver’s license, you must appear in person^[6] at an Alaska Department of Motor Vehicles location within thirty (30) days^[7] of the name change.

Complete a Driver’s License Application (Form D1) and bring the Certificate of Name Change (CIV-705). The cost is $15 to obtain a new driver’s license (for Alaskans 60 years or older, this is no fee).

To update your name for voter registration purposes, use one of the methods below:

• Apply Online -When using the online process, it will verify your new name with the DMV. Therefore, it is recommended to update a driver’s license before voting records.
• PDF Application – Change the name on your voter registration by submitting a new State of Alaska Voter Registration Application to one of the following Division of Elections offices:
  • Region I Elections Office – P.O. Box 110018, Juneau, AK 99811-0018
  • Region II Elections Office – 2525 Gambell Street, Suite 100, Anchorage, AK 99503-2838
  • Region III Elections Office – 675 7th Avenue, Suite H3, Fairbanks, AK 99701-4542
  • Region IV Elections Office – P.O. Box 577, Nome, AK 99762-0577