Tanaina Marriage Records
Tanaina is a community in the Mat-Su Valley area of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. Marriage records for Tanaina residents are part of the Alaska statewide vital records system maintained by the Health Analytics and Vital Records Section. To find a Tanaina marriage record or get a certified copy, you work through HAVRS in Anchorage or Juneau. Local marriage license applications go through the Wasilla Court. This page covers how to request records, apply for a license, and locate older records from the Mat-Su area.
Tanaina Overview
How to Get Tanaina Marriage Records
The Alaska Health Analytics and Vital Records Section issues all certified marriage records in the state. There is no local vital records office in Tanaina or anywhere else in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. You must go through HAVRS. The closest walk-in option is the Anchorage office at 3901 Old Seward Highway, Suite 101, Anchorage, AK 99503. Phone: (907) 269-0991. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. In-person requests are typically completed the same day.
You can also order by mail through the Juneau office at 5441 Commercial Boulevard, Juneau, AK 99801. Phone: (907) 465-3391. Online orders go through the state portal at health.alaska.gov. Expedited service through VitalChek takes about three to four weeks. First copies cost $30 and additional copies cost $25 each when ordered together. Records less than 50 years old are restricted to the parties or their legal representatives. Records 50 or more years old are public records available to anyone.
| Office | Alaska HAVRS - Anchorage |
|---|---|
| Address | 3901 Old Seward Highway, Suite 101 Anchorage, AK 99503 |
| Phone | (907) 269-0991 |
| Juneau Office | (907) 465-3391 |
| Online Orders | health.alaska.gov |
Alaska's vital records portal at health.alaska.gov accepts online requests from Tanaina residents for certified marriage certificates from anywhere in the state.
The online ordering system lets you submit a request at any time. Once submitted, HAVRS processes it and mails or holds the certified copy for pickup depending on which option you choose.
Tanaina Marriage License Information
Tanaina residents apply for marriage licenses at the Wasilla Court, located at 3201 E Palmer-Wasilla Highway, Wasilla, AK 99654. Phone: (907) 352-3200. Both people must appear in person at the same time. The fee is $60. Mailed applications cost $70.50 and require notarized forms. Applications can also be made in person at either HAVRS office in Anchorage or Juneau.
Alaska requires a three-day waiting period after you apply before the license is valid. The license stays good for 90 days from the issue date. There is no common law marriage in Alaska, so every couple needs a license. Under AS 25.05.021, both parties must be present together at the time of application. If you have questions, call the Wasilla Court at (907) 352-3200 before your visit.
After the ceremony is done, the officiant sends the completed license back to the court. The court sends it to HAVRS for state recording. Give the process a few weeks before ordering a certified copy. If you think the license was returned but can't find the record, call HAVRS to check the status. The Palmer Superior Court at 435 S Dena'ina Street, Palmer, AK 99645 also serves the broader Mat-Su area for some family law matters, reachable at (907) 746-8181.
The Alaska Court System directory lists the Wasilla Court and other Mat-Su area courts that handle marriage license applications for Tanaina and surrounding communities.
The Wasilla Court covers a wide area of the Mat-Su Valley, including Tanaina, Knik-Fairview, North Lakes, and Meadow Lakes for marriage license applications.
Alaska Marriage Records and Mat-Su Borough Access
Alaska centralizes all vital records at the state level through HAVRS. This means Tanaina marriage records, like those from every other Alaska community, are only available through the state system. No local borough office keeps copies. The HAVRS system has marriage records going back to 1913, when Alaska began formal statewide vital records collection. For events before that date, historical archives and genealogical databases are the main sources.
The Alaska State Archives in Juneau holds historical territorial and early statehood records. Their genealogy page at archives.alaska.gov describes what is available. FamilySearch at familysearch.org has free searchable Alaska marriage collections covering many communities and time periods. For more recent records, HAVRS is the only official source for certified copies.
Under AS 25.05.301, Alaska marriage records are confidential for 50 years. After that, they are public records. For Tanaina area records from before the mid-1970s, public access is now available. For more recent records, you need to document your relationship to the parties to obtain a certified copy.
Matanuska-Susitna Borough Marriage Records
Tanaina is in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. The borough courts and state HAVRS handle marriage record requests for this area. Visit the borough page for more details on resources available across the Mat-Su region.
Nearby Cities
These communities are near Tanaina in the Mat-Su Valley. All use the state HAVRS system for marriage records.