How to Make a Will in Alaska (2026 Guide)

A will made in Alaska must be signed by you and by 2 witnesses to be valid. Yes (Alaska Stat. § 13.12.504). It lets the court accept the will without tracking down the witnesses later. Below is everything the signing cover sheet in your free Alaska will covers, generated from the same rules.

Make my free Alaska will

Alaska will requirements at a glance

Witnesses required	2
Self-proving affidavit	Yes
Notary required for the will	No
Notary for the affidavit	Yes
Holographic wills recognized	Yes
Electronic wills recognized	No
Remote witnessing allowed	No
Community property state	No
Personal property memorandum	Yes
No-contest clause	Limited
Will execution statute	Alaska Stat. § 13.12.502
Financial POA statute	Alaska Stat. § 13.26.600 et seq. (Alaska Uniform Power of Attorney Act, 2016); statutory form at § 13.26.645
Healthcare directive statute	Alaska Stat. § 13.52.010 et seq. (Health Care Decisions Act); optional statutory form at § 13.52.300

Witnesses

Two witnesses. The will must be in writing, signed by the testator (or by another in the testator's conscious presence and at the testator's direction), and signed by at least two individuals, each of whom signed within a reasonable time after witnessing either the signing or the testator's acknowledgment of the signature or of the will (Alaska Stat. § 13.12.502(a)). Any person generally competent to be a witness may act, and the signing of a will by an interested witness does not invalidate the will or any provision of it (Alaska Stat. § 13.12.505). Use adults who take nothing under the will anyway. Witnesses need not sign in each other's presence, but signing together in one sitting is the safest practice.

Do you need a notary in Alaska?

Not for the will itself. A notary is needed only to make the will self-proving through the affidavit, which is strongly recommended.

Self-proving affidavit

Yes (Alaska Stat. § 13.12.504). It lets the court accept the will without tracking down the witnesses later. What a self-proving affidavit does.

How to sign your will in Alaska

1. Read the signing cover sheet. It is generated with your will and lists every requirement below in checklist form.
2. Gather your witnesses. You need 2 adult witnesses who are not beneficiaries. Two witnesses. The will must be in writing, signed by the testator (or by another in the testator's conscious presence and at the testator's direction), and signed by at least two individuals, each of whom signed within a reasonable time after witnessing either the signing or the testator's acknowledgment of the signature or of the will (Alaska Stat. § 13.12.502(a)). Any person generally competent to be a witness may act, and the signing of a will by an interested witness does not invalidate the will or any provision of it (Alaska Stat. § 13.12.505). Use adults who take nothing under the will anyway. Witnesses need not sign in each other's presence, but signing together in one sitting is the safest practice.
3. Sign in front of your witnesses. Declare that the document is your will, sign at the end, and have the witnesses sign while you are all together.
4. Complete the self-proving affidavit before a notary. Optional but strongly recommended (Alaska Stat. § 13.12.504). Many people sign the will and the affidavit at the notary's office in one sitting.
5. Store the original safely. Alaska allows a testator (or the testator's agent) to deposit a will with the court for safekeeping during the testator's lifetime; it is kept confidential and released only to the testator or, after death, to the named personal representative (Alaska Stat. § 13.12.515). If you do not deposit it: Keep the original in a safe, fireproof place your executor can access without a court order; a safe-deposit box may be sealed at death. Tell your executor where it is and give them a copy.
6. Tell your executor. Your executor needs to know the will exists and where it is. Give them the Executor Information Sheet.

Your spouse's rights

A surviving spouse cannot be completely disinherited. The spouse may elect to take one-third of the augmented estate, which includes certain non-probate transfers (Alaska Stat. § 13.12.202), plus the homestead allowance, exempt property and family allowance (Alaska Stat. §§ 13.12.402 to 13.12.404).

Homestead

No special restriction on devising a homestead by will. A surviving spouse (or minor/dependent children) is entitled to a homestead allowance of $27,000 that has priority over most claims and devises (Alaska Stat. § 13.12.402); the general homestead exemption from creditors is in Alaska Stat. § 09.38.010.

If you die without a will in Alaska

If you die without a will in Alaska, your spouse takes everything if you leave no descendants and no parents, or if all of your descendants are also your spouse's and the spouse has no other descendants. If you leave parents but no descendants, the spouse takes the first $200,000 plus three-quarters of the balance. If your spouse has descendants who are not yours, the spouse takes the first $150,000 plus half; if you have descendants who are not your spouse's, the spouse takes the first $100,000 plus half (Alaska Stat. §§ 13.12.102, 13.12.103). With no spouse, everything passes to descendants, then parents, then siblings and their descendants. More on intestacy.

Other estate-planning documents in Alaska

• Durable financial power of attorney: Alaska Stat. § 13.26.600 et seq. (Alaska Uniform Power of Attorney Act, 2016); statutory form at § 13.26.645. The power of attorney must be signed by the principal (or by another in the principal's conscious presence at the principal's direction) and the signature must be acknowledged before a notary public or other authorized officer (Alaska Stat. § 13.26.610). Witnesses are not required by statute; two adult witnesses are recommended. Record the instrument with the district recorder before using it for real estate.
• Advance healthcare directive: Alaska Stat. § 13.52.010 et seq. (Health Care Decisions Act); optional statutory form at § 13.52.300. An advance health care directive must be signed by the principal and either (a) signed by two adult witnesses or (b) acknowledged before a notary public (Alaska Stat. § 13.52.010(b)). A witness may not be the appointed agent or the principal's health care provider or an employee of the provider, and at least one witness must be someone who is not related to the principal by blood, marriage or adoption and is not entitled to any part of the estate (Alaska Stat. § 13.52.010(c)). The statutory form is optional; any form that satisfies the statute is valid.
• HIPAA authorization: HIPAA authorization is governed by federal law (45 C.F.R. § 164.508); no state-specific execution formality. Sign and date it; no witnesses or notary are required, though notarization does no harm.
• Personal property memorandum: Recognized (Alaska Stat. § 13.12.513).

Alaska notes

• Alaska is not a community property state, but married couples may opt in to community property treatment by agreement or by a community property trust under the Alaska Community Property Act (Alaska Stat. § 34.77.010 et seq.). If you have signed such an agreement, tell your attorney; only your half of community property passes under your will.
• Alaska recognizes holographic (handwritten) wills whose signature and material portions are in the testator's handwriting (Alaska Stat. § 13.12.502(b)), but a typed, witnessed will is far easier to prove.

Frequently asked questions

How many witnesses does a will need in Alaska?

Alaska requires 2 witnesses (Alaska Stat. § 13.12.502). Two witnesses. The will must be in writing, signed by the testator (or by another in the testator's conscious presence and at the testator's direction), and signed by at least two individuals, each of whom signed within a reasonable time after witnessing either the signing or the testator's acknowledgment of the signature or of the will (Alaska Stat. § 13.12.502(a)). Any person generally competent to be a witness may act, and the signing of a will by an interested witness does not invalidate the will or any provision of it (Alaska Stat. § 13.12.505). Use adults who take nothing under the will anyway. Witnesses need not sign in each other's presence, but signing together in one sitting is the safest practice.

Does a will need to be notarized in Alaska?

Not for the will itself. A notary is needed only to make the will self-proving through the affidavit, which is strongly recommended.

Does Alaska have a self-proving affidavit?

Yes (Alaska Stat. § 13.12.504). It lets the court accept the will without tracking down the witnesses later.

Are handwritten (holographic) wills valid in Alaska?

Yes, Alaska recognizes holographic wills under certain conditions, but a typed, witnessed will is far safer and is what this service produces.

Can I disinherit my spouse in Alaska?

A surviving spouse cannot be completely disinherited. The spouse may elect to take one-third of the augmented estate, which includes certain non-probate transfers (Alaska Stat. § 13.12.202), plus the homestead allowance, exempt property and family allowance (Alaska Stat. §§ 13.12.402 to 13.12.404).

What happens if I die without a will in Alaska?

If you die without a will in Alaska, your spouse takes everything if you leave no descendants and no parents, or if all of your descendants are also your spouse's and the spouse has no other descendants. If you leave parents but no descendants, the spouse takes the first $200,000 plus three-quarters of the balance. If your spouse has descendants who are not yours, the spouse takes the first $150,000 plus half; if you have descendants who are not your spouse's, the spouse takes the first $100,000 plus half (Alaska Stat. §§ 13.12.102, 13.12.103). With no spouse, everything passes to descendants, then parents, then siblings and their descendants.

Is a no-contest clause enforceable in Alaska?

A provision purporting to penalize an interested person for contesting the will is unenforceable if probable cause exists for instituting the proceeding (Alaska Stat. § 13.12.517; see also § 13.16.555).

Statutes cited are for reference and may have been amended. This page is general information, not legal advice.