How To Find Alaska Death Records
It was not until 1913, that Alaska started to keep records of the birth, deaths, marriages and divorces that took place within the state. These records are strictly confidential until a period of time has passed and they become part of the public record. Birth certificates, for instance, are not part of the public record until 100 years have passed. Marriages, divorces and Alaska public death records become part of the public record after 50 years have passed.
Limited Access To Records
Prior to the certificate becoming part of the public record, not everyone can purchase a death certificate. Purchases are limited to the immediate family of the deceased, including the spouse, parent, sibling or child. Once all of the paperwork requesting a death certificate has been completed, it is mailed to the receiving party about one month later. An Alaska death certificate costs $20, with extra charges applying to credit card payments or authentication for a foreign country.
What A Death Certificate Can Be Used For
Death certificates can be used by people tracing their family histories. The certificates are also required as proof that the deceased has actually passed away in order to execute the will or make a life insurance claim. In some areas, it may be necessary to make cremation arrangements.
How Alaskans Die
The leading cause of death in Alaska during the years 1994-2008 was malignant neoplasm, or cancerous tumor. The second leading cause of death during this period was heart disease. More than 600 people died of heart disease in 2008. Unintended injuries took the lives of 332 people.
Doing A Preliminary Search
Discovering whether or not Alaska death records exist for someone is quite simple. Start at a vital statistics website where there is a search engine for this purpose. Once you know if someone has a certificate, you will be able to proceed with filling out the paperwork and getting the certificate sent back to you in a timely manner.
