DOCUMENT APOSTILLE GUIDE
Alaska Court Documents Apostille Requirements
Learn how to prepare your document for apostille processing, including applicable notarization requirements, required certifications, and important submission guidelines.
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Preparation Requirements
Identify the Court Document
Common documents include divorce decrees, court judgments, name change orders, custody orders, adoption decrees, probate documents, guardianship orders, and other official court records.
Obtain an Official Certified Court Copy
Request a certified copy from the Alaska Court System at the court location where the case was filed.
The copy must be officially certified by an authorized court official. Ordinary photocopies and uncertified online printouts are not acceptable substitutes.
Divorce Decrees and Court Judgments
If the receiving country requires a divorce decree or complete court judgment, obtain an official certified copy from the Alaska Court System.
A divorce certificate issued by Alaska Vital Records is a different document and may not satisfy the receiving authority's requirements.
Name Change Orders
Request a certified copy of the final name change order or court-issued name change certificate from the appropriate Alaska court.
Adoption and Guardianship Records
Adoption decrees, guardianship orders, and certain family court records may be confidential or restricted.
Eligible applicants may need to provide identification, proof of authorization, or a court order to obtain particular records.
Certified or Exemplified Copies
The Alaska Court System offers certified copies and exemplified, also called authenticated, copies.
A certified copy may be sufficient for an Alaska apostille if the issuing official's signature can be verified.
An exemplified copy may be appropriate when specifically requested by the receiving authority.
Original Official Certification
The document must bear the original official certification or be the certified document issued directly by the Alaska Court System.
A photocopy or scan of a previously certified document is not acceptable for apostille processing.
Identify the Certifying Court Official
Alaska recommends having the court clerk clearly print their name beneath the signature or otherwise identify the signing official.
This helps the Lieutenant Governor's Office verify the signature.
Older Court Documents
Older certified copies may contain signatures that can no longer be authenticated.
A newly issued certified copy may be necessary.
Important Information
The destination country may require a specific court order, additional pages, or an exemplified copy.
National Apostille Center can review your documents before processing to help determine the appropriate certification requirements.
Required Certification
Official Alaska Court Certification
Court documents must be certified by the Alaska Court System or another appropriate issuing authority.
The certification must contain an official signature that the Alaska Lieutenant Governor's Office can authenticate.
Authorized Court Official
The Alaska Lieutenant Governor's Office accepts official certified court documents and properly notarized documents issued by eligible court officials when the official's signature is on file.
Original Certification
The official certification must be original or appear on an authentic certified copy issued by the Alaska Court System.
Photocopied official signatures are not accepted for authentication.
Court Clerk Identification
The signing court official should be clearly identified.
Alaska recommends requesting that the clerk print their name beneath their signature to help facilitate authentication.
Exemplified Court Records
When an exemplified or authenticated court record is required, the Alaska Court System provides a certification involving the court clerk's attestation and a judge's verification of the clerk's authority.
An exemplified copy is not automatically required for every Alaska court document apostille.
Notarization
An official certified Alaska court record does not ordinarily require additional notarization when its certifying official's signature is eligible for authentication.
Confidential Court Records
Restricted or sealed documents must be obtained through the appropriate court authorization process.
An apostille does not override confidentiality rules or establish a right to access sealed records.
Federal Court Documents
Documents issued by U.S. federal courts follow federal authentication procedures and are not processed as Alaska state court records.
Apostille Issuing Authority
Office of the Lieutenant Governor — State of Alaska.
Important Notice
An apostille authenticates the signature and official capacity of the certifying public official. It does not establish the legal validity of the court order in another country or guarantee recognition by a foreign court.