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.

Complete and sign the Application for Legal Name Change (VS-405) in its entirety.

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.

It is required to go to the court hearing and answer any questions the judge may have concerning the name change. If approved, the Certificate of Name Change (CIV-705) will be signed by the judge.

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.