Going through a divorce is an emotional and stressful time in your life. If you and your spouse can't agree on whether or how to end your marriage, you will need to ask the court for a "contested" divorce. A contested divorce means that you will have to go to court many times, and you may have to go through a trial. The process for a contested divorce can take a long time and will likely cost both you and your spouse a lot of money.

In contrast, in an "uncontested divorce," you and your spouse agree on all of your divorce-related issues, such as property division and alimony, so the process is quicker, requires only one court appearance, and is usually much cheaper for both you and your spouse.

This article discusses what an uncontested divorce is and how to obtain one in Alaska. If you have further questions after reading this article, you should consult with an Alaska divorce lawyer. Even if you believe you and your spouse can manage an uncontested divorce, it is still a good idea to consult with an attorney. There may be legal consequences to the agreement you reach, including tax consequences, about which an attorney can advise you.

Overview of an Uncontested Divorce in Alaska

Contested actions are called divorces, and uncontested actions are called "dissolutions of marriage" in Alaska. In other words, if you and your spouse don't agree on whether to end your marriage, how to divide your property, or who should have custody of your children, you have to file for divorce. If you and your spouse agree that you should end your marriage, how to divide your property, and who should have custody of your children, you can file for a "dissolution" of your marriage.

Uncontested Divorce Requirements

To be able to file for dissolution (uncontested divorce) in Alaska, both you and your spouse must agree on the following things:

• to end your marriage because you no longer get along and don't want to be married anymore (what the statute calls an "irremediable breakdown of the marriage") (Alaska Stat. § 25.24.200 (a)(1).)
• how to divide your property (Alaska Stat. § 25.24.200 (a)(3).),
• who is responsible for marital debts (Alaska Stat. §25.24.200 (a)(4).), and
• whether one of you should pay spousal support (alimony) to the other or not.

Furthermore, when you and your spouse have children together under the age of 19 you must agree on:

• a parenting plan that determines legal and physical custody of the child as well as a visitation schedule to the non-custodial parent, and
• child support. (Alaska Stat. § 25.24.200 (a)(2).)

Also, to be able to file your papers in Alaska, either you or your spouse has to be a resident of Alaska. Being a resident of Alaska means that you currently live in Alaska and intend to stay living in Alaska for the foreseeable future.

If you and your spouse have children under age 19 together, the children must have lived in Alaska for at least the last six months and currently live in Alaska. (Alaska Stat. § 25.24.080.)

The Uncontested Divorce Process

Complete and file your divorce forms

Once you and your spouse agree on all of the issues required to obtain a dissolution of your marriage, you must fill out and file the dissolution forms in the clerk's office of the Superior Court of the judicial district where you or your spouse lives.

The legal forms are different depending on whether or not you have children under age 19 with your spouse and where you live. All of the required forms and instructions on how to fill them out are available online through the Alaska Courts' website.

If you and your spouse have no minor children (under the age of 19) together, you can file "Dissolution Packet #2" (DR-2) or the "Uncontested Complaint for Divorce Without Children Packet" (SHC-PAC9B).

If you and your spouse do have children under the age of 19 together, you file "Dissolution Packet #1" (DR-1). However, if you live in Anchorage, you must file DR-1 ANC and if you live in Fairbanks, you must file DR-1 FBKS. Depending on where you file your papers, the court may require you and your spouse to watch a video called "Listen to the Children" about the effects of divorce on children. If your court requires it, both you and your spouse will have to submit certificates of completion with your paperwork to prove that you viewed the video. Additionally, the court requires parents to complete the web-based class "Children in Between." For more information on both of these parenting requirements, you can visit this website.

All of the packets require you to fill out a petition (form) that explains what you're seeking (an end to your marriage) and why (the reason you no longer want to be married). You will also have to include basic information about:

• you and your spouse, including your occupations, incomes, property, and debts
• the children you and your spouse have together, and
• your agreements regarding the division of property and debts, spousal support, child custody, and child support. (Alaska Stat. § 25.24.210.)

Attend a court hearing

When you file your paperwork with the clerk, the clerk will schedule a "hearing date" at least 30 days after the day that you filed. The "hearing date" is the day that you will appear in front of a judge for the judge to consider your agreement and grant your dissolution.

At the hearing, a judge will make sure that both you and your spouse agree to everything in the paperwork and that the agreement is fair to both of you. If you or your spouse can't appear at the hearing, you can ask to appear at the hearing by phone or ask to be excused completely from the hearing by filing an "Appearance and Waiver of Notice of Hearing" (Form DR-110).

If the court thinks that your agreement is fair, the judge will sign a "Decree of Dissolution," granting your divorce.

Sources

For the full text of the law governing the dissolution of marriage in Alaska, see Alaska Stat. § 25.24.200 through 25.24.260.