ALASKA COURT RULES

(b) A party defending against a claim shall file an answer on the form provided by the Alaska court system. The answer is a short, plain statement showing the nature of the defense and any claim that the defendant has against the plaintiff arising from the same transaction or occurrence and shall conform with Rule 12 of these rules. The answer must be filed with or mailed to the court where the action was commenced and be signed by the defendant. When the answer or counterclaim is based upon a written document, the document or a copy of it shall be attached to the answer. The defendant’s mailing address shall be shown on the answer. The defendant shall serve a copy of the answer on the plaintiff. (c) An answer form shall be served with the complaint and shall advise the defendant of the right to proceed informally under this Part II or formally under Part I of these rules. The form shall contain a statement that when the defendant requests informal proceedings, the defendant waives the right to trial by jury and to proceed formally. A plaintiff against whom a counterclaim is filed shall have ten days after such claim is mailed to the plaintiff to withdraw the plaintiff’s election to proceed under Part II, and failure to withdraw the election waives the plaintiff’s right to trial by jury and formal procedure as to the counterclaim. (d) A defendant who does not wish to contest the claim may default by failing to file an answer or may file an answer agreeing with the complaint. The latter shall be sufficient basis for entry of judgment on the pleadings by the court or clerk when the claim is for a specific amount of damages. (SCO 225 effective May 1, 1976; amended by SCO 713 effective September 15, 1986; by SCO 740 effective August 28, 1986; by SCO 1153 effective July 15, 1994; by SCO 1829 effective October 15, 2014; by SCO 1965 effective April 15, 2021; and by SCO 2022 effective October 15, 2024)