Child custody and support in Alaska
Custody and child support in a Alaska divorce: the legal term for custody, the parenting class, the official support calculator, custody mediation and the child support agency.
Checked against official sources: Oct 24, 2026
The short answer
Alaska law uses the term “custody and visitation (parenting plan)” for custody. Parenting class: Not required: the Alaska Court System no longer requires a parent education program in divorce or custody cases; optional classes are listed by the court: courts.alaska.gov: Parent ed. Alaska publishes an official child support calculator or guidelines.
- Custody term
- Custody and visitation (parenting plan)
- Parenting class
- Not required
- Child support calculator
- Official child support calculator or guidelines
- Child support agency
- Alaska Child Support Enforcement Division (CSED)
Custody terms in Alaska
Custody and visitation (parenting plan)
Mediation
Not required, but the court offers free mediation in divorces with children and in custody cases; you can ask the court to refer you. If you are a domestic violence victim, you can't be required to mediate: courts.alaska.gov
Parenting class in Alaska
Not required: the Alaska Court System no longer requires a parent education program in divorce or custody cases; optional classes are listed by the court: courts.alaska.gov: Parent ed
Child support in Alaska
Child support follows Alaska's guidelines. Estimate it with the official calculator, and contact the state's child support agency for help setting up or collecting it.
Good to know
There is no minimum residency time, but the court may not be able to divide property or decide custody if your spouse or children have little connection to Alaska (Self-Help Center).
Children in a Alaska divorce: what the process includes
Custody
The court's orders use Alaska's term for custody: custody and visitation (parenting plan).
Parenting class
Take the parenting class described above if Alaska requires it in your case.
Mediation
If the court sends you to mediation, go to every session; the rule is above.
Child support
Estimate it first: the official calculator
The child support agency
For help setting up or collecting support, contact the state's child support agency.
Questions about custody and child support in Alaska
What is child custody called in Alaska?
Alaska uses the term “custody and visitation (parenting plan)”.
Do parents have to take a class in a Alaska divorce?
Not required: the Alaska Court System no longer requires a parent education program in divorce or custody cases; optional classes are listed by the court: courts.alaska.gov: Parent ed
Is there an official child support calculator for Alaska?
Yes. Alaska's official calculator or guidelines: the official calculator
Which agency handles child support in Alaska?
Is mediation required for custody in Alaska?
Not required, but the court offers free mediation in divorces with children and in custody cases; you can ask the court to refer you. If you are a domestic violence victim, you can't be required to mediate: courts.alaska.gov
More about divorce in Alaska
- All Alaska divorce laws
- Uncontested divorce in Alaska
- Alaska divorce forms and filing fees
- Alimony in Alaska
- Serving divorce papers in Alaska
- Divorce timeline estimator for Alaska
- Divorce checklist for Alaska
- How to file for divorce without a lawyer
- Served with divorce papers: what to do
Custody and support in nearby states
Sources
Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.