Alaska Statutes
Alaska Stat. § 25.20.060 (2026)
Petition for award of child custody
✓ current as of July 2026
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Sec. 25.20.060. Petition for award of child custody.
(a) If there is a dispute over child custody, either parent may petition the superior court for resolution of the matter under AS 25.20.060 — 25.20.130. The court shall award custody on the basis of the best interests of the child. In determining the best interests of the child, the court shall consider all relevant factors, including those factors enumerated in AS 25.24.150(c), and the presumption established in AS 25.24.150(g). In a custody determination under this section, the court shall provide for visitation by a grandparent or other person if that is in the best interests of the child.
(b) Neither parent, regardless of the question of the child's legitimacy, is entitled to preference in the awarding of custody.
(c) The court may award shared custody to both parents if shared custody is determined by the court to be in the best interests of the child. An award of shared custody shall assure that the child has frequent and continuing contact with each parent to the maximum extent possible.
(d) If the court finds that a parent or child is a victim of domestic violence, the court may order that the address and telephone number of the parent or child be kept confidential in the proceedings.
(a) If there is a dispute over child custody, either parent may petition the superior court for resolution of the matter under AS 25.20.060 — 25.20.130. The court shall award custody on the basis of the best interests of the child. In determining the best interests of the child, the court shall consider all relevant factors, including those factors enumerated in AS 25.24.150(c), and the presumption established in AS 25.24.150(g). In a custody determination under this section, the court shall provide for visitation by a grandparent or other person if that is in the best interests of the child.
(b) Neither parent, regardless of the question of the child's legitimacy, is entitled to preference in the awarding of custody.
(c) The court may award shared custody to both parents if shared custody is determined by the court to be in the best interests of the child. An award of shared custody shall assure that the child has frequent and continuing contact with each parent to the maximum extent possible.
(d) If the court finds that a parent or child is a victim of domestic violence, the court may order that the address and telephone number of the parent or child be kept confidential in the proceedings.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 63
cases (6 in the last 5 years), 1979–2026 · leading case: Evans v. McTaggart, 88 P.3d 1078 (Alaska 2004).
Evans v. McTaggart, 88 P.3d 1078 (Alaska 2004). “We also give a narrowing construction to AS 25.20.060 so that it need not be unconstitutional as applied.”
Harvey v. Cook, 172 P.3d 794 (Alaska 2007). “065, 36 a grandparent may petition for *801 visitation "/a/fter a decree or final order relating to child custody is entered under AS 25.20.060 or AS 25.24.150" 37 so long as the grandparent did not formally request visitation during the pendency of the custody proceedings.”
Elton H. v. Naomi R., 119 P.3d 969 (Alaska 2005). “The Superior Court's Findings of Fact Initial custody determinations in non-divorce disputes are governed by AS 25.20.060. 3 When faced with a custody dispute pursuant to AS 25.”
Ross v. Bauman, 353 P.3d 816 (Alaska 2015). “13 The statute at issue in Evans AS 25.20.060, allows a trial court to order visitation with "a grandparent or other person if that is in the best interests of the child" during a custody dispute between the parents.”
Farrell v. Farrell, 819 P.2d 896 (Alaska 1991). “NOTES [1] In an act amending AS 25.20.060, the legislature distinguished legal and physical custody and expressed a preference for joint legal custody: The legislature finds that .”
McClain v. McClain, 716 P.2d 381 (Alaska 1986). “AS 25.20.060 states that in determining the best interests of the child, the court shall consider all relevant factors including those enumerated in AS 25.”
Buness v. Gillen, 781 P.2d 985 (Alaska 1989). “4 Alaska’s other statute concerning a custody dispute is AS 25.20.060, which states in full: Custody of the child, (a) If there is a dispute over child custody, either parent may petition the superior court for resolution of the matter under AS 25.”
Carter v. Novotny, 779 P.2d 1195 (Alaska 1989). “AS 25.20.060 provides in part: (a) If there is a dispute over child custody, either parent may petition the superior court for resolution of the matter under AS 25.”
Bell v. Bell, 794 P.2d 97 (Alaska 1990). “The court also allowed Greg visitation with Scott (1) on alternate weekends from Friday afternoon through Monday morning and on Wednesday evening through Thursday mornings and (2) during four one-week periods spread throughout the year until Scott reaches school age.”
Borchgrevink v. Borchgrevink, 941 P.2d 132 (Alaska 1997). “150(c) and (d) provide: (c) The court shall determine custody in accordance with the best interests of the child under AS 25.20.060 25.20.130. In determining the best interests of the child the court shall consider (1) the physical, emotional, mental, religious, and social…”
Yelena R. v. George R., 326 P.3d 989 (Alaska 2014). “150's best interests factors, the legislative intent favoring "frequent continuing contact with both parents" expressed in AS 25.20.060, and the "right and responsibility of reasonable visitation" articulated in AS 47.”
Flores v. Flores, 598 P.2d 893 (Alaska 1979). “AS 25.20.060. Thus, as implied in Otton, supra, there is no special need for "the guiding hand of counsel .”
— Alaska Stat. § 25.20.060(a) — 19 cases
Evans v. McTaggart, 88 P.3d 1078 (Alaska 2004). “We also give a narrowing construction to AS 25.20.060 so that it need not be unconstitutional as applied.”
Harvey v. Cook, 172 P.3d 794 (Alaska 2007). “065, 36 a grandparent may petition for *801 visitation "/a/fter a decree or final order relating to child custody is entered under AS 25.20.060 or AS 25.24.150" 37 so long as the grandparent did not formally request visitation during the pendency of the custody proceedings.”
House v. House, 779 P.2d 1204 (Alaska 1989).
Ross v. Bauman, 353 P.3d 816 (Alaska 2015). “13 The statute at issue in Evans AS 25.20.060, allows a trial court to order visitation with "a grandparent or other person if that is in the best interests of the child" during a custody dispute between the parents.”
Garding v. Garding, 767 P.2d 183 (Alaska 1989).
— Alaska Stat. § 25.20.060(b) — 1 case
Co v. Matson, 313 P.3d 521 (Alaska 2013).
— Alaska Stat. § 25.20.060(c) — 10 cases
Elliott v. Settje, 27 P.3d 317 (Alaska 2001).
Jaymot v. Skillings-Donat, 216 P.3d 534 (Alaska 2009).
Yelena R. v. George R., 326 P.3d 989 (Alaska 2014). “150's best interests factors, the legislative intent favoring "frequent continuing contact with both parents" expressed in AS 25.20.060, and the "right and responsibility of reasonable visitation" articulated in AS 47.”
Red Elk v. McBride, 344 P.3d 818 (Alaska 2015).
Co v. Matson, 313 P.3d 521 (Alaska 2013).
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