Matanuska-Susitna Borough Family Court Records

Family court records for Matanuska-Susitna Borough are on file at the Palmer Trial Courts, located in the borough seat of Palmer. This court is part of Alaska's Third Judicial District and handles all domestic relations cases for the Mat-Su area, including divorce, dissolution of marriage, child custody, child support, adoption, and protective orders. You can search many of these records through the CourtView public access system online, or contact the Palmer courthouse directly to get copies of documents. This page covers what you need to know to find and access Mat-Su family court records.

Palmer Trial Courts

The Palmer Trial Courts serve Matanuska-Susitna Borough for all family court matters. Palmer is the borough seat and home to the courthouse that handles divorce, custody, support, adoption, and probate cases for the entire Mat-Su area. The Superior Court at Palmer has full jurisdiction over these matters. District Court handles misdemeanors, small claims, civil cases under $100,000, and domestic violence protective orders. Both levels operate at the same courthouse location on South Denali Street.

Mat-Su is Alaska's fastest-growing region. Population growth in Wasilla and surrounding communities has increased the court's workload significantly over the past two decades. Because of this, online copy requests have a longer turnaround. The court currently warns that online copy requests may take two to four weeks to fill. If you need documents quickly, going in person is faster. The court processes in-person requests more quickly than those submitted online or by mail.

Protective order petitions and mental commitment petitions must be filed in person by 3:45 PM. Requests submitted by email or fax after 3:45 PM are processed the next business day.

The screenshot below shows the Palmer Trial Courts directory page from the Alaska Court System.

Check this page for the most current hours and contact information before visiting or sending a request.

Searching Mat-Su Family Court Records

The primary tool for searching Matanuska-Susitna family court records online is CourtView at records.courts.alaska.gov. CourtView has most case records from 1985 forward. You can search by name, case number, or attorney. Results show the case type, court location, filing date, and a list of docket entries. This is useful for confirming that a case was filed, checking status, and finding the case number you need to request documents.

For records not in CourtView, you need to contact the Palmer courthouse. Cases filed before 1985 are on paper only. Staff can search the paper indexes and pull files on request. If you need a certified copy of a divorce decree or custody order, the clerk can prepare one. Allow extra time for online or mailed requests given the current backlog. In-person visits to the Palmer courthouse remain the quickest way to get documents.

Note: CourtView shows docket entries and case information. It does not show the full text of court documents. To get those, you must contact the clerk's office directly.

What Mat-Su Family Court Records Are Public

Most family court records in Matanuska-Susitna Borough are public. This includes divorce petitions, dissolution agreements, property settlement documents, and many child custody orders. Anyone can request these records, whether or not they are a party to the case. You do not need to explain why you want them.

Some records are restricted. Domestic violence protective order records may be partially confidential depending on the circumstances. Juvenile court matters are sealed by default. Child-in-need-of-aid cases are also confidential. Adoption records are not public. Certain financial source documents filed in a case, like tax returns, may be restricted. The court follows Alaska Administrative Rule 37.5 and the Alaska Rules of Court when deciding what is public and what is sealed.

If you request a record and the clerk tells you it is sealed or restricted, ask them to explain why and what options you have. In some cases you can file a motion asking the court to unseal a record or to release specific information. Legal help from the Family Law Self-Help Center at (907) 264-0851 or (866) 279-0851 can help you understand your options.

Fees for Mat-Su Court Records

Standard copy fees at the Palmer Trial Courts are $5 for the first page and $3 for each additional page. Certified copies cost $10 for the first page and $3 for each additional page. If staff have to manually search for a case and cannot find it through electronic means, a search fee of $15 per name per year may apply. These are the statewide Alaska Court System rates and apply at Palmer as well.

To request copies online, email 3PACopyRequests@akcourts.gov. Include the case number, party names, filing year, and what documents you need. Be aware that the current wait for online requests is two to four weeks. For urgent needs, go in person. If you cannot afford the fees, use form TF-920 to ask the court to waive them. This form and all other family law forms are at courts.alaska.gov/forms/index.htm.

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough government website at matsugov.us has local government contact information and other borough resources.

The borough site can help you find local services related to housing, legal aid, and government contacts.

Wasilla and Mat-Su Family Court Records

Wasilla is the largest city in Matanuska-Susitna Borough and the fastest-growing community in the Mat-Su Valley. All residents of Wasilla who have family court matters file at the Palmer Trial Courts, just as residents throughout the rest of the borough do. There is no separate courthouse in Wasilla. The Palmer court is about 10 miles from Wasilla by road and handles all borough-wide family law cases regardless of where in the borough you live.

Wasilla city residents can find local government information at cityofwasilla.com.

The City of Wasilla website lists local contacts and services. For court records and family law matters, contact the Palmer courthouse at (907) 746-8181.

Alaska Vital Statistics handles birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates at the state level. If you need a certified divorce certificate rather than a court decree copy, contact the Alaska Division of Public Health Vital Statistics. Their site is at health.alaska.gov/dph/VitalStats/Pages/default.aspx. Court decrees and vital statistics certificates are different documents and serve different purposes.

Cities in Matanuska-Susitna Borough

Matanuska-Susitna Borough includes several communities large enough to have their own pages on this site. All of them file family court cases at the Palmer Trial Courts.

Other areas in the borough include Houston, Willow, Talkeetna, Sutton, and many rural communities. All Mat-Su family court cases are handled at the Palmer courthouse on South Denali Street.

Nearby Boroughs

These boroughs border Matanuska-Susitna. If you are near a border area and unsure which court to use, contact the Palmer court to confirm where your case should be filed.