Tools for Anchorage Guardians ad Litem, Therapists and Mediators

A co-parenting app and case tools you can recommend to the Anchorage families you work with, whether you serve as a guardian ad litem, a therapist, or a mediator. Messaging between co-parents is free for both parents, and every message is time-stamped and tamper-evident.

Families in Anchorage who end up in the Anchorage Superior Court, Third Judicial District rarely arrive at a mediation, a therapy session, or a home visit with their records in order. FamilyCourtHelp.com is a self-help platform built for those parents. Below is what it does for them, what it means for you as a guardian ad litem, therapist, or mediator, and what to know about family court in Anchorage.

Area covered: Municipality of Anchorage.

Court for custody cases: Anchorage Superior Court, Third Judicial District (Nesbett Courthouse).

Appointed for the child: Custody investigator.

Custody mediation: Depends on the county or judge (Parenting Plan Dispute Resolution Program).

Parenting class: Depends on the county or judge (Parent education class or video).

State family law: Alaska Statutes Title 25 - Marital and Domestic Relations.

Co-parent messaging (Free): One time-stamped, tamper-evident thread, free for both parents, with a Tone Meter that offers calmer rewrites.

Invite a professional into the conversation (Free): A parent can add a guardian ad litem or mediator to the co-parent conversation with a single-use link.

Parenting plan, built and shared (Free to build): Parents draft a parenting plan and can share it with you to read and comment on.

Verify a chat export (Free): Check that an exported message record (the JSON file) has not been changed. No account needed.

Court-Grade Journal (Paid plan): A dated, no-delete journal; a parent can send you a packet of chosen entries.

Expense Tracker (Paid plan): Shared child costs with receipts; a parent can give you a view-only look.

Parents can create an account and message their co-parent for free, with no credit card. Building a parenting plan is free; sharing, downloading, and printing it, and the tools marked as a paid plan, are part of a monthly plan a parent can start and stop.

For custody investigators and guardians ad litem in Anchorage

In Alaska, the court can appoint a custody investigator in a custody case. What the role involves is in the FAQ below.

On FamilyCourtHelp.com you see what a parent chooses to share. A parent can invite you into the co-parent conversation with a single-use link, which you accept with your own free account; from there you can read the thread, post in it, and review the shared calendar's requests and approvals. A parent can also share the parenting plan with you to read and comment on.

The invitation a parent sends is labeled Guardian ad Litem, the title most states use. It works the same if you serve as a custody investigator in Anchorage.

For therapists and counselors in Anchorage

Court-involved and reunification therapists, co-parenting counselors, and custody evaluators in Anchorage do not get an account view here, and that is deliberate: each parent keeps their own record and chooses what to bring you. The free messenger keeps the week's facts in one time-stamped thread, and its Tone Meter flags a heated message and suggests a calmer one before it is sent.

For mediators and parenting coordinators in Anchorage

In Alaska, custody mediation is set county by county. The details are in the FAQ below.

Sessions in Anchorage start further along when the draft is already on the table. Parents can share their parenting plan with you to read and comment on, and invite you into their conversation with a single-use link. Agreements then live in one time-stamped thread, and every schedule change is a request on the shared calendar that the other parent approves or declines.

Family court programs in Anchorage

Custody cases in Anchorage are heard in the Anchorage Superior Court, Third Judicial District. The court-connected programs below were checked against official sources.

Third Judicial District parent education order: The Superior Court for the Third Judicial District, which includes Anchorage, has its own court order on parent education for cases with children.

If you searched for a custody investigator, a family therapist, or a custody mediator in Anchorage, the court that has your case, the order in it, or your lawyer is the place to find who is appointed or approved. This site does not appoint professionals or refer you to one. What you can do here is come prepared: keep every message with your co-parent in one time-stamped thread, write down what happened with dates while it is fresh, and work on a parenting plan before the meeting.

Free help for parents in Anchorage: the court help desks and legal aid offices below were checked link by link for the site's free pro se help directory.

Anchorage: Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free statewide help for people handling family, civil, probate, and other court cases without a lawyer.

Anchorage legal aid: Alaska Legal Services Corporation, (888) 478-2572.

FamilyCourtHelp.com is a self-help platform, not a law firm and not a court, and nothing on this page is legal, clinical, or mediation advice. Court rules and local programs change, so confirm anything that matters for a case with the court, the order that appointed you, or the program itself.

Frequently asked questions

Where are custody cases heard in Anchorage?

Anchorage family cases are handled by the Alaska Court System's Anchorage courts in the Third Judicial District, at the Nesbett Courthouse in downtown Anchorage.

Where can parents in Anchorage get free help with a family court case?

Free court help for parents without a lawyer: Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid: Alaska Legal Services Corporation. Phone numbers and links are in the parents section above, checked link by link for the site's free pro se help directory.

How can parents prepare for custody mediation in Anchorage?

Bring the family calendar, a draft parenting plan, a list of the issues still open, and a list of shared costs with receipts. Parents can put all of that together on FamilyCourtHelp.com before the first session.

What does a custody investigator do in an Anchorage custody case?

In a contested Alaska custody case, the judge may appoint a custody investigator, a trained expert who looks into the family and recommends a parenting plan in the child's best interests. A guardian ad litem, who represents the child and becomes a party to the case, is appointed less often. You may also see "guardian ad litem" and "GAL". This is general information, not legal advice; the order in the case controls.

Is custody mediation required in Alaska?

The Alaska Court System offers mediation to parents who have a divorce with children, custody or custody change case pending in court. Sessions can be in person, by phone or by video.

Do parents in Alaska have to take a parenting class?

Parents in dissolution, divorce and custody cases with children are generally required to watch a parent education video at the courthouse or finish an online parenting class. Some judicial districts have their own orders on parent education, so the details can differ by district.