Alaska Birth Records

Alaska birth records are kept at the state level by the Alaska Department of Health, Health Analytics and Vital Records Section in Juneau. The state runs a centralized system, which means every birth in Alaska is filed at one central office. You can order copies in person, by mail, by fax, or online through VitalChek. There is also a walk-in office in Anchorage. This page explains how to search for Alaska birth records, who can order them, and what you need to bring. Use the search tool below to start a quick lookup.

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About Alaska Birth Records

Alaska birth records are legal proof of when and where a person was born. The state has kept them since the 1890s, but most date from 1930 or later. Alaska began to require birth registration in 1913. By 1945, most births were filed with the state. Records before 1913 were not kept by any state agency. Many of those gaps were later filled by church records and delayed birth filings.

The Alaska Department of Health runs the system through its Health Analytics and Vital Records Section, often called HAVRS. This office in Juneau holds all birth records for the whole state. There is no county office that issues a birth certificate in Alaska. Each borough or census area sends its data to the state. To get a copy, you go through HAVRS or its Anchorage branch. You can read more about the office and what it does on the Alaska Department of Health vital records page.

Alaska birth records hold a lot of useful data. They list the full name of the child, the date and place of birth, the names of the parents, and the file number. Hospitals fill out most of the form. The state then files it as the legal record. People use these records to get a passport, prove age, claim benefits, or trace family history.

Birth records in Alaska are closed to the public for 100 years. That means a record made in 1925 or earlier is now public. Newer records are private and can only be ordered by people who are listed on them or by a few other parties named in state law. The Alaska State Archives genealogy page has more on what is open to the public.

The Alaska State Archives in Juneau is a great place to start research on older Alaska birth records. The archives holds vital statistics from 1816 through 1998, mixed with church and civil sources.

Alaska birth records directory from state resources

The archives also worked with FamilySearch to scan more than 1.1 million Alaska vital records. Many old Alaska birth records can be viewed for free through the FamilySearch Alaska Vital Records wiki. This includes birth, marriage, death, and probate files dating back to the mid-1800s.

How to Order Alaska Birth Records

You have four ways to order Alaska birth records. Each one works, but the speed and cost can vary. The fastest way is online through VitalChek. The cheapest way is by mail. Walk-in service is the only same-day option.

Online orders go through VitalChek. This is the only service that the state has approved for online vital records orders. You fill out the form on the site, upload your ID, and pay with a credit or debit card. There is an extra fee for the online service, but the order ships in about two to three weeks. Use the VitalChek Alaska page to start an order.

VitalChek Alaska birth records ordering portal

Mail orders take longer but cost less. You print the request form, fill it in, sign it, and send it with a copy of your ID and a check or money order. The state takes two to three months to fill mail orders. Send your packet to Health Analytics and Vital Records, P.O. Box 110675, Juneau, AK 99811-0675. Fax orders go to (907) 465-3618 and follow the same time frame as mail.

Walk-in service is open at two state offices. The main office is in Juneau at 5441 Commercial Boulevard. It is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Anchorage office at 3901 Old Seward Highway, Suite 101 is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Both offices can issue Alaska birth records the same day for in-person orders. You must bring your photo ID and the fee.

Pick one method per request. The state warns against sending the same order through more than one channel because that may cause double charges. The Alaska Department of Health vital records orders page has the latest steps and forms.

Who Can Order Alaska Birth Records

Alaska is a closed-record state. That means recent Alaska birth records are not open to the public. Only certain people can order a certified copy. The state checks ID for every order to make sure the rules are met.

You can order a copy of an Alaska birth record if you are one of the following:

The person named on the record, age 14 or older with a school or photo ID
A parent listed on the certificate
A legal guardian with court papers
A third party with a notarized letter from the person named on the record
An attorney or government agency with a letter on letterhead

Friends and other family members may order an heirloom birth certificate as a gift, but only for people who would also qualify to order the record on their own. The state form has full details on who counts as an eligible requester for Alaska birth records.

You must include a clear copy of a valid photo ID with every order. Accepted ID types are a driver's license, state ID, passport, military ID, Tribal or BIA card with photo, or a school ID for minors. Expired IDs are OK if they have not been expired for more than one year. Make sure to enlarge the copy and sign your name under it.

The state also handles requests for older Alaska birth records that are now public. Once a record is more than 100 years old, anyone can order it. These older Alaska birth records are useful for family history work and can be found through the Alaska record dates page.

FamilySearch catalog for Alaska birth records research

For records that may be hard to find, the state has a special research service. The fee is $75 per hour. You can call the office at (907) 465-3391 to ask about this service.

Fees for Alaska Birth Records

The fee for a certified copy of an Alaska birth record is $30. Each extra copy ordered at the same time costs $25. The state also offers heirloom birth certificates for $55 per copy, with extra copies at $50 each. Two heirloom designs by Alaska artists are sold through the state.

Other fees may apply for special services. A name change or amendment to an Alaska birth record costs $60, which includes one new certified copy. An apostille for use in a foreign country costs $42 plus the fee for the record itself. Special research costs $75 per hour. Make checks payable to the Alaska Vital Records Office. Credit and debit cards are accepted at walk-in offices.

Note: Pick one ordering method per request to avoid double charges, since the state will not refund duplicate orders.

Alaska Vital Records Offices

The state runs two walk-in vital records offices. Both can issue Alaska birth records for any birth that took place in the state. You do not need to live near the office where the birth was filed. Every Alaska birth record is in the same central system.

The Juneau main office is at 5441 Commercial Boulevard, Juneau, AK 99801. The mailing address is P.O. Box 110675, Juneau, AK 99811-0675. The phone is (907) 465-3391. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Walk-in orders are filled the same day. The Anchorage office is at 3901 Old Seward Highway, Suite 101, Anchorage, AK 99503. The phone is (907) 269-0991. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Same-day service is also offered here.

If you live in a remote part of the state, you must use the mail or VitalChek option. There is no third walk-in office. Many small towns do not have a courthouse or clerk that handles vital records. The state has set up the central system to make sure that anyone in Alaska can still get a birth certificate. The CDC where to write page for Alaska has more contact info.

The Alaska State Archives is also in Juneau, at 141 Willoughby Avenue. While this is not where you order new birth records, it is where you find old public ones. The archives has free access to indexes and digital scans of older Alaska birth records.

Alaska State Archives collection guides for birth records research

Researchers can plan a visit through the Alaska State Archives collection guides.

Historical Alaska Birth Records

Older Alaska birth records are key for family research. The state began to file births in 1913, the year after Alaska became a U.S. territory. Most births were filed by 1945. Before 1913, no state office kept birth records at all. Some events were noted by churches, mission stations, and Russian Orthodox parishes. These church books are the best source for births before 1950.

Researchers can use a few tools to find older Alaska birth records. The Alaska State Archives has indexes from 1816 to 1998. FamilySearch has scanned 1.1 million pages with the help of the archives. MyHeritage and Ancestry also have indexes that go back to 1816. Some are free, while others need a subscription.

Alaska Statute 18.50 sets the rules for what is open to the public. Under Alaska Statute Title 18, Chapter 50, birth records become public 100 years after the date of birth. Death, marriage, and divorce records become public after 50 years. The same chapter, AS 18.50.160, covers birth registration in the state.

Old records may also be in the FamilySearch catalog. The Alaska State Library and Alaska State Archives put up a digital collection of vital records that anyone can search. You can browse the full set on the FamilySearch Alaska vital records catalog page. This is one of the largest free sources of Alaska birth records online.

Some of the most useful old Alaska birth records are listed below. Each one covers a part of the state and a span of years.

Aleutian Islands birth records 1915 to 1952
Bethel and Kusilvak Census Areas birth records
Fairbanks birth records 1904 to 1967
Juneau birth records 1913 to 1915
Kenai birth records 1889 to 1948
Ketchikan birth records 1912 to 1915

You can also search by name in the Alaska vital statistics index, which is also free.

FamilySearch Alaska vital records wiki for birth records

The full how-to is on the FamilySearch Alaska vital records wiki.

Amendments and Delayed Filings

Sometimes a birth record needs to be fixed or built from scratch. The Special Services Unit at HAVRS handles all changes to Alaska birth records. The cost is $60, which includes one new certified copy. The standard wait is about three months, and there is no rush option.

Common changes include adding a parent's name, fixing a spelling, or changing a child's name. The unit also handles paternity, adoption, and legal name changes. All papers must be sent by mail or hand-carried because the state needs the original signed forms. You can reach the unit at (907) 465-1200 or by email at BVSSpecialServices@alaska.gov.

Delayed birth records are made for people who were born in Alaska but never had a birth filed. This was common before 1930. The process takes proof from church books, school records, family Bibles, or other sources. The state then issues a delayed certificate that has the same legal weight as a normal one. The full rules are found in Alaska Statute Title 18, Chapter 50.

For help with a complex case, you can also reach out to a borough clerk or a local Tribal office. Many small communities help newborns get registered through the local clinic.