Either you or your spouse may file for divorce in Alaska as long as the filing spouse is a resident of the state. Generally, you are an Alaska resident for the purposes of filing for divorce if you are in Alaska when you file and intend to stay as a resident. Also, if you don't live in Alaska and were married outside of Alaska, but your spouse is an Alaska resident, you can file for divorce in Alaska. The final divorce decree cannot be signed in Alaska until at least 30 days have passed since filing the divorce papers.
A divorce may be granted for any of the following grounds:
Alaskan courts will divide all property, including retirement benefits, acquired during the marriage in a just manner regardless of fault. However, the court may invade property acquired before the marriage and award it to the other party to balance the equities between the two spouses. When making its decision on whom to award property to, the court will consider the following factors:
Maintenance may be awarded for a limited or indefinite period of time, in lump sum payments or installments, and without regard to which of the parties is at fault. The award of maintenance is based on a consideration of the following factors:
In order for the Alaska court to have jurisdiction or authority to decide about child custody, a child normally must have been a resident of the state for at least 6 months before filing the custody case. Otherwise, the court may not have jurisdiction to decide custody issues. The court will determine child custody by using the best interests of the child standard. Such factors include:
Child Support is calculated according to Court Civil Rule 90.3. When someone has primary physical custody, the payments are based on what the noncustodial parent earns. Primary physical custody refers to the parent with whom the child resides at least 70% of the time. That court rule says that the noncustodial parent of one child should pay 20% of his or her adjusted income to support one child. Adjusted income means earning after deductions for taxes, union dues, retirement deductions and other mandatory deductions.
Sources:
http://www.childsupport.alaska.gov/;
Alaska Legal Resource Center;
http://www.courts.alaska.gov/;
http://www.legis.state.ak.us/