Alaska Pro Se Help: Free Court Self-Help Centers and Legal Aid by Borough

If you are handling a divorce, custody, support or protective order case in Alaska on your own, start with the free help that already exists. This page lists, for each of the 30 boroughs and census areas, the court's self-help program and the free legal aid office that serves it, with phone numbers and websites.

Statewide: Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free statewide help for people handling family, civil, probate, and other court cases without a lawyer.

Statewide: Family Law Self-Help Center Helpline, phone (907) 264-0851. Statewide phone line that walks parents without a lawyer through divorce, custody, child support, and paternity cases.

Anchorage: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Anchorage.

Fairbanks North Star: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Fairbanks and North Pole.

Juneau: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Juneau.

Kenai Peninsula: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Homer, Kachemak, Kenai, Seldovia, Seward, and Soldotna.

Matanuska-Susitna: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Houston, Palmer, and Wasilla.

Bethel: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Akiak, Aniak, Bethel, Chefornak, Chuathbaluk, Eek, Goodnews Bay, Kwethluk, Lower Kalskag, Mekoryuk, Napakiak, and Napaskiak.

Kodiak Island: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Akhiok, Kodiak, Larsen Bay, Old Harbor, Ouzinkie, and Port Lions.

Nome: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Brevig Mission, Diomede, Elim, Gambell, Golovin, Koyuk, Nome, Savoonga, Shaktoolik, Shishmaref, St. Michael, and Stebbins.

North Slope: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Anaktuvuk Pass, Atqasuk, Kaktovik, Nuiqsut, Point Hope, Utqiag?vik, and Wainwright.

Northwest Arctic: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Ambler, Buckland, Deering, Kiana, Kivalina, Kobuk, Kotzebue, Noorvik, Selawik, and Shungnak.

Prince of Wales-Hyder: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Coffman Cove, Craig, Edna Bay, Hydaburg, Kake, Kasaan, Klawock, Port Alexander, Thorne Bay, and Whale Pass.

Sitka: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Sitka.

Southeast Fairbanks: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Delta Junction and Eagle.

Chugach: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Cordova, Valdez, and Whittier.

Copper River: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Chisana, Chistochina, Chitina, Copper Center, Gakona, and Glennallen.

Kusilvak: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Alakanuk, Chevak, Emmonak, Hooper Bay, Kotlik, Marshall, Mountain Village, Nunam Iqua, Pilot Station, Russian Mission, Scammon Bay, and St. Mary's.

Wrangell: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Wrangell.

Yakutat: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Yakutat.

Aleutians East: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Akutan, Cold Bay, False Pass, King Cove, and Sand Point.

Aleutians West: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Adak, Atka, St. George, St. Paul, and Unalaska.

Bristol Bay: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers King Salmon, Naknek, and South Naknek.

Denali: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Anderson.

Dillingham: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Aleknagik, Clark's Point, Dillingham, Ekwok, Manokotak, New Stuyahok, and Togiak.

Haines: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Covenant Life, Excursion Inlet, Haines, Lutak, Mosquito Lake, and Mud Bay.

Hoonah-Angoon: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Angoon, Gustavus, Hoonah, Pelican, and Tenakee Springs.

Ketchikan Gateway: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Ketchikan and Saxman.

Lake and Peninsula: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Chignik, Egegik, Newhalen, Nondalton, Pilot Point, and Port Heiden.

Petersburg: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Kupreanof.

Skagway: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Skagway.

Yukon-Koyukuk: court help from Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation, phone (888) 478-2572. Covers Allakaket, Anvik, Bettles, Fort Yukon, Galena, Grayling, Holy Cross, Hughes, Huslia, Kaltag, Koyukuk, and McGrath.

Where can I get free help with a family court case in Alaska without a lawyer? Start with Alaska Court System Self-Help Center, run by Alaska Court System. It serves every borough or census area in Alaska. For free legal advice, contact Alaska Legal Services Corporation if you qualify by income.

Who gives free legal aid in Alaska? Alaska is served by one federally funded legal aid office: Alaska Legal Services Corporation. Each one serves set boroughs and census areas, so check the listing for your borough or census area. Help is free for people who qualify, usually by income.

What is a court self-help center? It is a free help desk run by or for the court for people handling their own case without a lawyer. Staff can explain which forms you need, how to fill them out, how filing and service work, and what happens next. They are not your lawyer, so they cannot tell you what to ask for or how to argue your case.

What is the difference between a self-help center and legal aid? A self-help center helps anyone who walks in or calls, whatever their income, with forms and court steps. A legal aid office is a nonprofit law office that can give free legal advice and sometimes a free lawyer, but only to people who qualify, usually by income. Many parents use both.

What should I have ready before I call? Your county, your case number if you have one, the names of both parents and the children, any papers you were served, and any deadline or hearing date. Write down the date you called, who you spoke to, and what they told you.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I get free help with a family court case in Alaska without a lawyer?

Start with Alaska Court System Self-Help Center, run by Alaska Court System. It serves every borough or census area in Alaska. For free legal advice, contact Alaska Legal Services Corporation if you qualify by income.

Who gives free legal aid in Alaska?

Alaska is served by one federally funded legal aid office: Alaska Legal Services Corporation. Each one serves set boroughs and census areas, so check the listing for your borough or census area. Help is free for people who qualify, usually by income.

What is a court self-help center?

It is a free help desk run by or for the court for people handling their own case without a lawyer. Staff can explain which forms you need, how to fill them out, how filing and service work, and what happens next. They are not your lawyer, so they cannot tell you what to ask for or how to argue your case.

What is the difference between a self-help center and legal aid?

A self-help center helps anyone who walks in or calls, whatever their income, with forms and court steps. A legal aid office is a nonprofit law office that can give free legal advice and sometimes a free lawyer, but only to people who qualify, usually by income. Many parents use both.

What should I have ready before I call?

Your county, your case number if you have one, the names of both parents and the children, any papers you were served, and any deadline or hearing date. Write down the date you called, who you spoke to, and what they told you.