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Parent Education Requirements

Before granting a final decree in divorce, custody or dissolution cases, the Alaska Court System requires:

viewing the 48-minute video Listen to the Children, OR
completing the on-line internet class Children in Between (formerly Children in the Middle). For more information and instructions for Children in Between Online (CIBO), please read and print instructions for CIBO in English or CIBO Español .

Requirements in specific locations:

Courts such as Fairbanks, Ketchikan and Juneau also require a court-sponsored class in contested cases.
Some courts may require the 20-minute Two Homes video which you can watch for free on-line.

The parent education requirement for you will depend on your court location. The requirements for each location are listed below.

REMEMBER: You will be responsible for filing your Certificate of Completion once you complete your local court requirements. In dissolution cases, some courts require that both parents file their Certificate of Completion at the clerk's office at the same time they file their petition for dissolution. In those courts, this means that you must see the video or complete the on-line class BEFORE you file your dissolution packet with the court. Check with your local court to understand when you need to file the Certificate of Completion.

Please visit the Family Law Self-Help Center’s Parenting and Custody page for more information to help you develop a parenting plan for a court order.

Anchorage

Parents with a dissolution or uncontested divorce or custody case are required to watch the Listen to the Children video, or complete the Children in Between On-Line at online.divorce-education.com. See instructions in CIBO English or CIBO Español .

The video Listen to the Children is available on a first-come, first served basis at:

Anchorage Clerk’s Office in the Nesbett Courthouse, 825 W. 4th Ave. between 8 am and 3:40 pm, or
Probate/Children's division, located in the Boney Courthouse, 303 K Street on the 2nd floor between 8 am and 3 pm.
You may also view the video after the Family Law Education Class. See schedule and location.

You will receive a certificate after you have viewed the video; do NOT bring children.

Aniak

Please contact the Aniak court at 675-4325 to schedule a viewing of the video.

Angoon

Please contact the Juneau Court at 463-4719 to have the video sent to you for viewing. You may watch the Two Homes video online.

Barrow

Public showings are available by contacting the court at 852-4800 for an appointment.

Bethel

Public showings are available daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on a walk-in basis.

Chevak

Please contact the Chevak court at 858-7231 to schedule a viewing of the video.

Cordova

Public showings are available by contacting the court at 424-3378 for an appointment.

Craig

Parents are required to watch two videos. Two Homes (20 minutes long) and Listen to the Children (45 minutes long). Contact the court at 826-3316 for an appointment. You may watch the Two Homes video online.

Delta Junction

Public showings are available by contacting the court at 895-4211 for an appointment.

Dillingham

Public showings are available by contacting the court at 842-5215 for an appointment. The video can be waived for people filing from out of town.

Emmonak

Please contact the Emmonak court at 949-1748 to schedule a viewing of the video.

Fairbanks

Dissolutions & Uncontested Divorce & Custody Parents going through a dissolution case are required to watch the Listen to the Children video, which is shown Tuesday & Thursday at 3 p.m. in Room 200 or complete the Children in Between On-Line class at online.divorce-education.com. See instructions in CIBO English or CIBO Español .

Custody & Divorce In custody and divorce cases, each parent must attend the workshop "Helping Your Child Through a Custody Dispute," given by the Fairbanks Custody Investigator's Office. The workshop is one evening each week, for four consecutive weeks. You must complete all four classes within 90 days of filing your complaint. The Listen to the Children video will be shown as part of one of the classes. You may take this workshop before you file. To register, please call 907-452-9255.

Glenallen

Public showings are available by contacting the court at 822-3405 for an appointment.

Haines

Please contact the Juneau court for information at 463-4719. You may watch the Two Homes video online.

Homer

Public showings are available by contacting the court at 235-8171 for an appointment.

Hoonah

Please contact the Juneau court for information at 463-4719. You may watch the Two Homes video online.

Juneau

Parents are required to attend a workshop presented by the Child Custody Investigator's office the first Thursday of the month from 4-6 pm. The workshop incorporates the videos Listen to the Children and Two Homes. Contact 463-4719 for the next available workshop. You may watch the Two Homes video online.

Kake

Please contact the Petersburg court at 772-3824 to have the video sent to you for viewing. You may watch the Two Homes video online.

Kenai

Public showings are Tuesday & Friday at 3pm check in at the front counter.

Ketchikan

Parents are required to attend a three-hour workshop presented by the Child Custody Investigator's office in the evening once a month. The workshop incorporates the videos Listen to the Children and Two Homes. Contact 225-9876 for the next available workshop. You may watch the Two Homes video online.

Kodiak

Public showings are Wednesdays at Noon. Please check-in at the front counter. The Women's Resource Center also offers showing. Please call 486-6171 for more information.

McGrath

Please contact the Bethel court at 225-3195 to have the video sent to you for viewing.

Metlakatla

Public showings of Listen to the Children and Two Homes are available at Metlakatla Indian Community Tribal Court by calling 907-886-4021 M-F 9-5 for an appointment.

Naknek

Please contact the court at 246-4240 to have the video sent to you for viewing.

Palmer

Public showings every Saturday morning at 1 p.m. The Clerk asks that you arrive a few minutes early so that the video is not interrupted by late arrivals.

Pelican

Please contact the Sitka Court at 747-3291 to have the video sent to you for viewing. You may watch the Two Homes video online.

Petersburg

Parents are required to watch two videos. Two Homes (20 minutes long) and Listen to the Children (45 minutes long). Contact the court at 772-3824 to arrange a viewing. You may watch the Two Homes video online.

Quinhagak

Please contact the Bethel court at 225-3195 to have the video sent to you for viewing.

St. Mary's

Please contact the St. Mary's court at 438-2912 to schedule a viewing of the video.

Sand Point

Public showings are available by contacting the Cordova court at 424-7312 for an appointment.

Seward

Public showings are available by contacting the court at 224-3077 for an appointment.

Sitka

Parents are required to watch two videos. Two Homes (20 minutes long) and Listen to the Children (45 minutes long). Contact the court at 747-3291 to arrange a viewing. You may watch the Two Homes video online.

Skagway

Please contact the Juneau court at 463-4719 to have the video sent to you for viewing. You may watch the Two Homes video online.

St. Paul Island

Please contact the custody investigator's office in Anchorage at 264-0428 for a waiver if you will not be able to attend a viewing.

Tok

Public showings are available by contacting the court at 883-5172 for an appointment.

Unalaska

Public showings are available by contacting the court at 581-1379 for an appointment.

Valdez

Public showings are available by contacting the court at 835-2266 for an appointment.

Wrangell

Parents are required to watch two videos. Two Homes (20 minutes long) and Listen to the Children (45 minutes long). Contact the court at 874-2311 to arrange a viewing. You may watch the Two Homes video online.

Yakutat

Please contact the Juneau court at 463-4719 to have the video sent to you for viewing. You may watch the Two Homes video online.

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