Haines Borough Civil Court Records
Haines Borough civil court records are maintained through the Alaska Court System's First Judicial District. If you need to search for a civil case, request copies of court documents, or look up case status in Haines Borough, you can use the statewide CourtView online portal or contact the local court directly. Civil records in Haines cover matters such as contract disputes, property claims, small claims, and civil protective orders. This page explains how to find and obtain civil court records filed in Haines Borough.
Haines Borough Overview
Haines Borough Court Office
Haines Borough is part of the First Judicial District, which covers all of southeastern Alaska. The local court location in Haines handles civil filings for the borough. Civil court records here include case files, orders, judgments, and other documents filed with the court clerk. You can contact the clerk through the court directory at courts.alaska.gov/courtdir/1ha.htm.
The First Judicial District is one of four judicial districts in Alaska. It covers a large region from Ketchikan in the south to Haines and Skagway in the north. Civil cases filed in Haines Borough are assigned a case number with the prefix 1HA. The Superior Court handles large civil cases, domestic relations, and probate. The District Court handles smaller civil disputes, small claims up to $10,000, and cases up to $100,000.
Record requests for Haines can be submitted to the court by fax, email, or mail using the TF-311 form. The statewide form is used for all locations outside of Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Palmer.
| Court | Haines Court, First Judicial District |
|---|---|
| Judicial District | First District (Southeastern Alaska) |
| Court Directory | courts.alaska.gov/courtdir/1ha.htm |
| Record Request Form | TF-311 (All Other Locations) |
| Online Case Search | CourtView Case Search |
The court directory page lists the current phone number, fax, mailing address, and email for the Haines court. Hours and contact details can change, so check the directory before you visit or send a request.
The screenshot below shows the Haines court directory page on the Alaska Court System website, where you can find current contact information for submitting civil record requests.
The Alaska Court System court directory lists contact information for the Haines court location, including phone, fax, and email for civil record requests.
How to Search Haines Borough Civil Court Records
The fastest way to search civil court records in Haines Borough is through CourtView, the Alaska Court System's free online case database. You can find it at courts.alaska.gov/main/search-cases.htm. CourtView lets you search by party name, case number, or citation number. It covers civil cases filed in all Alaska trial courts, including Haines.
When searching by name, try a few different spellings. You can also search by first initial. CourtView will show you basic case information: party names, case type, filing date, and case status. Civil cases in Haines will have the prefix 1HA followed by the year and a sequence number, and the suffix CI for civil. For example, a civil case filed in Haines in 2022 might look like 1HA-22-00123CI.
CourtView does not show every document in the file. It gives you the case number, names, general case type, and docket entries. To get the actual documents, you need to submit a copy request to the court. Note: Some civil cases are sealed or confidential and will not appear in CourtView searches.
The screenshot below is from the Alaska Court System's main case search page, which gives access to CourtView and other search tools across all judicial districts including the First District serving Haines.
The CourtView case search portal at courts.alaska.gov gives free public access to civil court case information for Haines Borough and all other Alaska court locations.
Copy Fees and Request Procedures
To get copies of civil court records from Haines Borough, you submit a TF-311 form to the Haines court. The form asks for your name and contact info, the case name, the case number, and the specific documents you need. You can submit by fax, email, or mail. You can also request in person at the court.
Alaska courts charge set fees for copies of civil court records. These fees apply statewide, including for Haines Borough civil court records:
- Plain copies: $5.00 for the first document, $3.00 for each one after that
- Certified copies: $10.00 for the first certified copy, $3.00 for each additional
- Exemplified or authenticated copies: $15.00 each
- Audio recordings: $20.00 per CD (requires a TF-304 series form)
- Research fee: $30.00 per hour when you don't have a case number
If you know your case number, you avoid the research fee. Case numbers can be found for free through CourtView at courts.alaska.gov. Once you find the case number, include it on your TF-311 form. The court may require prepayment before they process your request.
In-person requests at the Haines court are handled on the spot when staff are available. For faxed or emailed requests, processing times depend on volume. Contact the court through the directory at courts.alaska.gov/courtdir/1ha.htm to ask about current wait times.
Note: Fees are set statewide by the Alaska Court System and apply to all court locations including Haines Borough.
Civil Case Types and What Records Contain
Civil court records in Haines Borough cover a range of non-criminal legal disputes. The Alaska Superior Court handles larger civil matters including cases over $100,000, domestic relations, probate, guardianships, and appeals from District Court. The District Court handles civil cases up to $100,000 and small claims up to $10,000.
Common civil case types in Haines Borough include contract disputes between individuals or businesses, property boundary disputes and easement claims, personal injury and negligence claims, landlord-tenant matters, debt collection cases, and small claims for amounts under $10,000. Family law matters like divorce, custody, and child support are also civil cases filed in the First Judicial District.
A civil court record file typically includes the original complaint or petition, any answer filed by the other party, motions and orders from the judge, hearing notices, settlement agreements, and the final judgment or order. Not every document in the file is public. Some financial documents and items involving minors may have limited access or be sealed under Alaska court rules.
The information visible on CourtView for a civil case includes the names of parties, attorneys of record, the case type, all docket entries with dates, and the current status. Full documents are only available by requesting copies from the court clerk.
Public Records Access in Haines Borough
Alaska law treats court records as public. Under AS 40.25.100 through AS 40.25.295, the Alaska Public Records Act gives every person the right to inspect and copy public records. For court records specifically, AS 40.25.120 states that every person has the right to inspect a public record in the state, subject to reasonable rules.
Access to court records is also governed by Alaska Administrative Rules 37.5 through 37.8. These rules set the framework for what records are public, what is confidential, and how requests are handled. The rules are designed to keep court records open while protecting private information like financial data, medical records, and victim information. Under Administrative Rule 37.6, some records may be designated as confidential or sealed by statute, court rule, or court order.
Cases that do not appear in public CourtView searches include sealed cases, foreign domestic violence protective orders under AS 18.66.140, certain cases dismissed at initial hearing, and cases where the defendant completed a suspended imposition of sentence. Just because a case does not show up on CourtView does not mean it does not exist.
Note: Only parties to a case can receive copies of confidential case files, and photo ID is required when requesting those records.
Legal Resources for Haines Borough
If you need help understanding civil court records in Haines Borough or filing a civil case, several resources are available. The Alaska Court System website at courts.alaska.gov has self-help guides, forms, and information about court procedures. The site covers how to file small claims, respond to civil suits, and request copies of records.
The Alaska Court System also offers the Trial Courts information page at courts.alaska.gov/trialcourts/index.htm, which explains how to request copies from any court location in the state, including Haines. This page lists the TF-311 form and describes how to submit it. You can learn what documents to ask for and how to pay.
For federal civil cases involving Haines Borough parties, the Public Access to Court Electronic Records system, known as PACER, is available at pacer.uscourts.gov. PACER covers the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Alaska. There is a small per-page fee for documents through PACER.
The CourtView online information guide at courts.alaska.gov/trialcourts/cvinfo.htm explains how the database works, what types of cases appear, and how to read case numbers. It is a useful starting point if you are new to searching Alaska civil court records.
The Alaska Trial Courts page explains how to request copies of civil court records statewide, including from the Haines Borough court location in the First Judicial District.
Nearby Boroughs
These boroughs and census areas neighbor Haines Borough in southeastern Alaska. Civil cases in this region are all handled through the First Judicial District.