Hiring a Business Lawyer in Alaska
How to form an LLC in Alaska, the state fees and yearly filings, how to check a lawyer's license, and the state bar's fee rules. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.
What a lawyer costs in Alaska: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | Contingent fees are allowed except where Rule 1.5(d) or other law prohibits them. A fee agreement that is wholly or partly contingent must be in writing and state the method for figuring the fee, including the percentage(s) to the lawyer on settlement, trial or appeal, the litigation and other expenses deducted from the recovery, and whether expenses come out before or after the fee is calculated. Alaska adds that the written agreement must include the Rule 1.4(c) malpractice-insurance disclosure (required if the lawyer lacks coverage of at least $100,000 per claim and $300,000 aggregate) and state any costs, fees or expenses the client may owe the lawyer or the opposing party. At the end, the lawyer must give a written statement of the outcome and the client's share. Contingent fees are banned for criminal defendants and for domestic relations fees contingent on securing a divorce or on establishing or modifying alimony, support or a property settlement. |
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| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | The Alaska Bar runs a fee arbitration program for disputes with a lawyer licensed in Alaska or over legal services in a matter conducted in Alaska. You must first try to resolve the dispute with the lawyer; it is not available when the fee was set by a court decision, statute or court rule. After the petition (mailed with an original signature) is filed, the lawyer gets a 10-day grace period to resolve it. Disputes of $5,000 or less are heard by one committee member; larger ones by a three-member panel including a non-lawyer. The decision is final and binding, and the hearing may proceed if a party fails to appear. If you hired the lawyer more than 3 years ago, you must explain the delay. |
| If a lawyer takes your money | The Alaska Bar's Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection, administered by the Board of Governors, can compensate people who lost money, property or other things of value because of a lawyer's dishonest conduct, if the loss is not covered by insurance or a bond and meets Alaska Bar Rule 45. The LFCP Committee investigates and the Board decides; compensation is in the Board's sole discretion. |
Alaska rules to know first
| How to form an LLC | File Articles of Organization – Domestic Limited Liability Company with the Corporations Section of the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, either online at Corporations.Alaska.Gov or by U.S. mail (not email) to PO Box 110806, Juneau, AK 99811. The articles must state the name, purpose and a 6-digit NAICS code, the registered agent, and whether the LLC is managed by members or managers, and be signed by at least one organizer. The Division says paper filings may take up to 3 weeks from the date received, and processing may be slower between October and February because of renewals. An initial report listing ownership is due within 6 months. Re-verified 2026-10-27. |
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| LLC filing fee | The Articles of Organization for a domestic LLC carry a nonrefundable filing fee of $250.00. Re-verified 2026-10-27. |
| Registered agent | An LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent and registered office in Alaska. The agent may be an individual resident of Alaska whose business office is the registered office, or a corporation authorized to do business in Alaska. The Division's form says the agent may be a corporation (not an LLC, LP, or LLP) or an individual with a physical location in Alaska, and cannot be out of state. Changes are made by filing a statement of change (Change of Registered Agent form) with the Division. Re-verified 2026-10-27. |
| Annual report | Alaska requires a biennial report (every two years), due before January 2 of the filing year and delinquent if not filed before February 1. LLCs formed in an even-numbered year file in even-numbered years; those formed in an odd-numbered year file in odd-numbered years. The report lists the registered agent, managers or members, and each person owning at least 5%. A new LLC must also file an initial report within six months after organizing. Re-verified 2026-10-27. |
| Operating agreement | Alaska law says the members "may adopt" an operating agreement; the statute does not require one. The Division's Articles of Organization instructions do not ask for an operating agreement to be filed. The LLC must keep a copy of any effective operating agreement at its main office. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: AS 10.50.095, 10.50.860 |
| Closing an LLC | After an LLC dissolves, it may file articles of dissolution with the Department stating the company's name, the filing dates of its articles, the reason for dissolution, and the effective date if not effective on filing. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: AS 10.50.400, 10.50.430 |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The Alaska Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service lists Alaska lawyers in good standing by practice area. A Lawyer Referral Service Assistant (not a lawyer, and unable to give legal advice) takes your name and a short description of the problem and gives you the names and phone numbers of up to three lawyers who handle that type of issue. Participating lawyers "will charge no more than $125 for the first half-hour of consultation"; later fees are agreed with the lawyer. The service does not rate lawyers and has no list of free or low-fee lawyers. Phone 907-272-0352, toll-free in Alaska 1-800-770-9999, email LRS@alaskabar.org; open 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:00-4:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The Alaska Bar Association (840 K Street, Suite 100, Anchorage) offers an online lawyer directory on its Member Directories page for searching Alaska Bar members. |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | Grievances about an Alaska lawyer go to the Alaska Bar Association. Review the bar's linked explanations first, then fill out the Attorney Grievance Form, print, sign and date it, and mail the original (no electronic, faxed or photocopied forms) to 840 K Street, Suite 100, Anchorage, AK 99501-3353, describing what the lawyer did or failed to do and attaching supporting documents. No filing fee is mentioned. Public discipline can be checked through the bar's Attorney Public Discipline Search; the bar also posts public notices regarding attorneys. Bar phone: 907-272-7469. Public discipline search: https://justiceweb.alaskabar.org/justiceweb |
All legal help in Alaska · Background guide
Last verified against official sources: October 27, 2026.
How we source this page: each state-specific rule links to the statute, court rule or official government page it comes from. A rule taken from a public copy of a state code (used only where the official code is not freely readable online) is marked as a secondary source. Spot an error? Use the contact page to report it. About our sources
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.