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Small claims court in Alaska (2026)

In Alaska you can sue for up to $10,000 in small claims. Court: District Court (small claims procedure). Lawyers: allowed. Appeal: either side, 30 days. For a broken written agreement you generally have 3 years to sue. Last checked .

Alaska small claims at a glance

Most you can sue for
$10,000
Court
District Court (small claims procedure)
Filing fee
$50–$100
Lawyers
Allowed
Appeal
Either side, 30 days
Ask for payment first
Not required by law

Can you sue in Alaska small claims?

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Alaska small claims limit

$10,000

Enter the amount to compare it with the limit.

The rule: Up to $10,000, not counting costs, interest and attorney fees. You can sue for more but must give up the excess. The Department of Labor may bring wage claims up to $20,000. Not available for claims against the State or the U.S., evictions, title to land, or injunctions.

Deadline to sue (general rule)

3 years for this kind of claim in Alaska. Enter the date it happened to see the last day.

Contracts, express or implied: 3 years. Personal injury and taking or injuring personal property: 2 years. Waste or trespass on real property: 6 years. Sale of goods (UCC): 4 years.

Lawyers: Lawyers may represent either side.

Before you file: The court calls it a good idea, not a requirement, to ask the defendant first, preferably in writing. Some statutes require a written demand, e.g. a bad-check penalty claim needs a demand at least 15 days before suit (AS 09.68.115).

Appeal: File a Notice of Appeal (AP-100) in superior court within 30 days from the date the judgment is sent or given to you. The superior court reviews the recording and record and hears no new evidence; trial de novo only if the district court proceedings were not of record. Filing a Notice of Appeal does not stop the winner from collecting the judgment.

Filing fee: $50 if the claim is $2,500 or less; $100 if more than $2,500. A fee exemption can be requested on form TF-920.

The deadline shown is the general statute of limitations counted from the date you entered. The real deadline can be later (for example when the problem was discovered later or the other side left the state) or earlier (a contract can shorten it, and claims against a government agency often need a written notice first, on a much shorter clock). If you are close to it, file now or ask a legal aid office. This is legal information, not legal advice.

All Alaska small claims rules →Write a demand letter →

Where to file and how much

  • Court. Small claims are heard by a district judge or magistrate judge. File at the district court nearest where the defendant lives or works, where the injury or damage happened, or (for a business) where it does or solicits business.
  • Limit. Up to $10,000, not counting costs, interest and attorney fees. You can sue for more but must give up the excess. The Department of Labor may bring wage claims up to $20,000. Not available for claims against the State or the U.S., evictions, title to land, or injunctions.
  • Filing fee. $50 if the claim is $2,500 or less; $100 if more than $2,500. A fee exemption can be requested on form TF-920.

Who can sue and who can speak in court

  • Anyone 18 or older may file; minors file through a parent or guardian. A corporation or other organization may be represented by an officer or employee authorized in writing. Only lawyers may represent other people; a power of attorney is not enough. An assignee (including a collection agency) must be represented by a lawyer.
  • Before you file. The court calls it a good idea, not a requirement, to ask the defendant first, preferably in writing. Some statutes require a written demand, e.g. a bad-check penalty claim needs a demand at least 15 days before suit (AS 09.68.115).
  • Jury and moving the case. No jury in small claims. The defendant may file a written request for formal civil rules within 20 days of service; the case then leaves small claims procedure and the plaintiff's jury waiver no longer applies.

How long you have to sue in Alaska

The general statute of limitations, counted from the day the agreement was broken or the damage happened. Contracts, express or implied: 3 years. Personal injury and taking or injuring personal property: 2 years. Waste or trespass on real property: 6 years. Sale of goods (UCC): 4 years.

Kind of claimTime to sue
Written contract3 years
Oral (spoken) agreement3 years
Damage to property2 years
Personal injury2 years

Law: AS 09.10.053; AS 09.10.070(a); AS 09.10.050; AS 45.02.725

After the hearing: appeals and collecting

Who can appeal
Either side can appeal.
Kind of appeal
Review of the record (no new trial)
Deadline
File a Notice of Appeal (AP-100) in superior court within 30 days from the date the judgment is sent or given to you. The superior court reviews the recording and record and hears no new evidence; trial de novo only if the district court proceedings were not of record. Filing a Notice of Appeal does not stop the winner from collecting the judgment.
Collecting the money
If the debtor does not pay, the winner asks the court for a Writ of Execution against wages, bank accounts or property (see CIV-550 Judgment Creditor Booklet); parties may agree to installments on form SC-18. After five years with no execution issued, a writ needs a court order.

Good to know in Alaska

  • Attorney fees recoverable in small claims are capped at $1,000 (SC-100).
  • The plaintiff must serve the defendant within 120 days of filing; the defendant has 20 days to answer (40 if served outside the U.S.).
  • Litigants must be told whether mediation, conciliation or arbitration is available (AS 22.15.040(b)).
  • A counterclaim over $10,000 requires the defendant to waive the excess or ask for formal rules.

Official help and forms

Sources

Court information, not legal advice. Limits and fees change — confirm with the court before you file. How we check: methodology.

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