Executor Duties in Alaska

On appointment, the personal representative publishes a notice to creditors once a week for three successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the judicial district; creditors have four months after first publication to present claims. Within three months after appointment, the personal representative prepares an inventory of the decedent's property with fair market values as of the date of death and any encumbrances, sends a copy to interested persons who ask, and may file it with the court. The representative then pays allowed claims, distributes the estate, and closes it (by court order or, in many estates, a sworn closing statement).

Probate is handled by the Alaska Superior Court. An interested person may file a verified application for informal probate or informal appointment with the probate registrar, or a petition for formal (court-supervised) proceedings. The application lists the decedent's name, age, date of death and domicile and the names and addresses of the spouse, children, heirs and devisees; the original will is filed with it. After appointment and acceptance, the court issues letters (letters testamentary when there is a will, letters of administration when there is not). A bond is required unless the will waives it, the heirs or devisees waive it in writing, or the court excuses it. Most proceedings must start within three years after death.

Creditors must present claims within four months after the first publication of the notice to creditors. If no notice is published, claims that arose before death are barred three years after death.