There are many reasons people seek vital records. Perhaps a copy of a birth certificate is needed for identification purposes, or a death certificate for insurance reasons. Or maybe a person is seeking a marriage certificate to aid in their family’s genealogy research. Whatever the reason is, Alaska vital records are frequently requested. Here is some basic information about Alaska vital records:What information is contained in vital records?
Generally speaking, vital records contain information about births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. These records are kept on file at governmental offices, and different states have different sets of rules regarding their distribution. In Alaska, where records have been maintained since 1913, birth certificates become part of the public record 100 years after the birth, and death, marriage, and divorce are available for public viewing 50 years following the event. All records are kept confidential until they become public record, with the exception of marriage license applications. People can request copies of these vital records, but there are certain restrictions on who can obtain these statistics.
Why do people request Alaska vital records?
People request vital statistics for a number of reasons. Oftentimes, they are requested simply so family members can have a copy of this pertinent information on file. Birth certificates are often used as a form of identification, and death certificates are needed to prove that an individual has expired, usually for insurance or financial purposes. Marriage and divorce certificates are frequently used in genealogy research (especially marriage certificates), and simply to prove that a marriage or divorce occurred or to adjust an individual’s status for governmental purposes.
How are Alaska vital records obtained?
In Alaska, people can request vital records by providing certain information and following particular guidelines, as detailed below:
Birth records- Records can only be requested by the individual named on the certificate, or by the parents or legal guardian of the individual on the certificate.
- A request form must be completely filled out with a copy of a government-issued picture ID of the person making the request.
Death records
- Death records can only be requested by family members of the deceased (spouse, parent, child, or sibling) or to a legal representative or other person providing information that the certificate is required for determination of property rights.
- A request form must be completely filled out with a copy of a government-issued picture ID of the person making the request.
Marriage/divorce records
- Only the husband and wife can request a copy of a marriage or divorce certificate. Legal representatives may also obtain copies of records.
- A request form must be completely filled out with a copy of a government-issued picture ID of the person making the request.
All requests must be mailed or faxed to the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics, or they can be hand delivered at the Bureau’s offices in Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Juneau. Expect to pay a processing fee to obtain the records and to receive them in approximately 2-3 weeks.
