Quick answer: the deadline that shapes the whole schedule is the 4-month creditor claim period from first publication. See the full Alaska probate timeline calculator for your specific estimate.
The core deadlines, in order
| Deadline | Alaska rule | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Small estate affidavit, vehicles cap | $100,000 or less, 30 days after death | AS § 13.16.680 |
| Small estate affidavit, other personal property cap | $50,000 or less, a separate cap | AS § 13.16.680 |
| Notice to creditors published | Newspaper notice | AS Title 13, Ch. 16 |
| Creditor claim bar | 4 months from first publication | AS Title 13, Ch. 16 |
| Superior Court filing fee | Flat $150 | Alaska Supreme Court Order |
Two caps, not one combined number
Worth understanding clearly: Alaska's small estate affidavit under § 13.16.680 isn't a single dollar threshold covering the whole estate. It's structured as two separate caps: up to $100,000 in vehicles, and up to $50,000 in other personal property. An estate with a $95,000 vehicle and $45,000 in other personal property can still qualify, even though the combined total ($140,000) would exceed either cap alone — because each cap is checked against its own category, not the estate as a whole.
Fees run higher here, even on the same standard
Alaska's reasonable-compensation standard for the personal representative and attorney, under AS § 13.16.430, is the same bare Uniform Probate Code formula used in many other states — but Alaska's overall cost of living pushes hourly rates and total fees noticeably above the lower-48 norm for otherwise similar work.
Facing probate in Alaska?
Talk to an Alaska attorneyA local probate attorney can review your estate — many offer a free consultation.