Small Estate Affidavit in Alaska
How to collect a loved one's property in Alaska without full probate: the dollar limit, waiting period and official form.
Short answer: Thirty days after death, a successor can collect the decedent's personal property (money owed, bank accounts, stock and other personal items) by giving the holder an affidavit, if the whole estate, after liens and debts, is no more than $100,000 in registered vehicles plus no more than… AS 13.16.680; Alaska Court System self-help (Collecting Property Without a Court Case)
| Small estate affidavit | Thirty days after death, a successor can collect the decedent's personal property (money owed, bank accounts, stock and other personal items) by giving the holder an affidavit, if the whole estate, after liens and debts, is no more than $100,000 in registered vehicles plus no more than $50,000 in other personal property, and no personal representative has been requested or appointed anywhere. The court's form is the Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property of Decedent (P-110). It cannot be used if the decedent owned real estate, except property held as tenants by the entirety or passing by a transfer-on-death deed. Re-verified 2026-10-27. |
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| Simplified probate | If the inventory shows the estate is worth no more than the homestead allowance, exempt property, family allowance, administration costs, reasonable funeral expenses and last-illness medical costs, the personal representative may distribute the estate right away without notice to creditors and close it by filing a sworn closing statement (form P-350). The personal representative's appointment ends one year after the statement is filed if nothing is pending. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: AS 13.16.690, 13.16.695 |
| Deadline for creditor claims | 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. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: AS 13.16.450, 13.16.460 |
Official forms
- Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property of Decedent (P-110)
- Sworn Statement of Personal Representative Closing Small Estate (P-350)
- Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property of Decedent (P-110)
More Alaska estate law
- Medical Power of Attorney in Alaska
- Power of Attorney in Alaska
- Quitclaim Deeds and Transferring Property in Alaska
- Who Inherits If You Die Without a Will in Alaska
- How to Make a Valid Will in Alaska
- How Probate Works in Alaska
- Living Wills and Advance Directives in Alaska
- Revocable Living Trusts in Alaska
- Executor Duties in Alaska
- Letters Testamentary in Alaska
- Affidavit of Heirship in Alaska
- How to Avoid Probate in Alaska
- Transferring a Car After Someone Dies in Alaska
- All Alaska wills, probate and estate rules
FAQ
What is the small estate limit in Alaska?
Thirty days after death, a successor can collect the decedent's personal property (money owed, bank accounts, stock and other personal items) by giving the holder an affidavit, if the whole estate, after liens and debts, is no more than $100,000 in registered vehicles plus no more than $50,000 in other personal property, and no personal representative has been requested or appointed anywhere. The court's form is the Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property of Decedent (P-110). It cannot be used if the decedent owned real estate, except property held as tenants by the entirety or passing by a transfer-on-death deed.
Is there a simplified probate process in Alaska?
If the inventory shows the estate is worth no more than the homestead allowance, exempt property, family allowance, administration costs, reasonable funeral expenses and last-illness medical costs, the personal representative may distribute the estate right away without notice to creditors and close it by filing a sworn closing statement (form P-350). The personal representative's appointment ends one year after the statement is filed if nothing is pending.
How long do creditors have to file claims against an estate in Alaska?
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.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.