Everything specific to Alaska in one place: what a death certificate costs and how to get one, who has the legal right to arrange the funeral, and where to find official help. Each section links to a full guide with its sources.
Alaska at a glance
| Certified death certificate (state fee) | $30 first copy, $25 each additional |
|---|---|
| Decides the funeral if nobody was named in advance | Spouse |
| Can you name someone in advance? | Yes |
| The law | Alaska Stat. §§ 13.75.010-13.75.195 |
Funeral cost calculator for Alaska
Pick the kind of arrangement and what it includes, and the estimate updates line by line, using Alaska funeral homes’ own prices where we have them. Every line shows its source.
Funeral costs in Alaska
We are collecting Alaska funeral homes’ own published General Price Lists, and state figures will appear here once there are enough of them to be reliable. Until then, the most recent national figure is the National Funeral Directors Association’s 2023 median of $8,300 for a funeral with viewing and burial, and $6,280 with viewing and cremation. Those are national midpoints, not Alaska prices.
Under the FTC Funeral Rule every funeral home must give you its prices over the phone, so calling two or three is the fastest way to a real number. How much a funeral costs, line by line.
Death certificates in Alaska
Certified copies come from Alaska Health Analytics & Vital Records Section, Alaska Department of Health. State page: "at least 2 – 3 weeks for requests made through VitalChek.com" and "2 – 3 months for requests made through mail or fax"; a death may take up to 3 months after it occurs to be registered. Full guide: getting a death certificate in Alaska.
Who decides the funeral in Alaska
Alaska law sets the order. The first people in line are: Disposition agent named in a disposition document; Personal representative acting on written instructions in the will; Spouse; Adult children (sole or majority). The full order, ties, deadlines and disputes.
Help paying for a funeral in Alaska
Federal help is the same in every state: Social Security’s one-time $255 payment to an eligible spouse or child, VA burial benefits for eligible veterans, and FEMA help only after a declared disaster. What each pays and how to apply.
Some Alaska counties and cities also help low-income families with burial or cremation costs. Ask the social services office in the county where the person died.
More official links for every state: funeral resources · all states.