Child custody and support in Alaska

Custody of the Children In Alaska

Although it is not always awarded by the court in a contested divorce, parties may agree upon shared legal custody of the children. In a shared legal custody situation, both parties will have equal decision-making power over important decisions regarding the children. Physical custody is determined according to the best interest of the child and may depend somewhat on the parents' agreement.

When making child custody decisions, the court will often keep the following factors in mind: the needs of the children, the ability of the parent to meet those needs, the child’s wishes, bonds between the child and parents, the length of time that the child has lived in a particular environment, and the desire and ability of the custodial parent to allow frequent contact between a non-custodial parent and child.

Alaska Child Support Guidelines

Barring special circumstances, Alaska's standard state child support guidelines will apply in virtually every case. Both parties' gross income and other child-related expenses will be taken into account when calculating child support. Child Support continues until the child reaches age 18 and may be extended through the completion of his or her secondary education.