Nome Census Area Obituary Records
Searching for obituary records in the Nome Census Area means working across state vital records, local court files, and published newspaper notices that cover Nome and western Alaska communities like Unalakleet, Shishmaref, and Gambell. This page covers where to look, what each source contains, and how to request certified death records for Nome Census Area residents.
Nome Census Area Overview
Death Certificates in the Nome Census Area
All death certificates for Nome Census Area residents are issued by the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics. The bureau accepts requests by mail, in person at the Juneau or Anchorage office, or online through VitalChek. The first certified copy costs $30. Additional copies ordered at the same time are $25 each. Standard processing by mail takes four to six weeks. Expedited service is available for roughly an additional $25 and typically takes five to ten business days.
Access is governed by Alaska Statute 18.50. Deaths that occurred more than fifty years ago are public records. More recent deaths can only be obtained by immediate family members, legal representatives, or others with documented legal need.
For the Nome Census Area specifically, vital statistics data shows 54 deaths recorded in 2007 alone, with a death rate of 5.8 per 1,000 residents. That same year saw 215 births for the census area. These figures show that Nome's vital records system captures a substantial number of events each year, even in a region with a small overall population.
Note: Marriage licenses in the Nome area cost $60, require no waiting period, and require no blood test under current Alaska law.
Nome Court System and Probate Records
The Nome Superior Court handles felony cases, civil matters over $100,000, juvenile matters, domestic relations, guardianship, and probate for the census area. It is located at 113 Front Street, 2nd Floor, Nome, AK 99762, and can be reached at 907-443-5216. This court is part of Alaska's Second Judicial District. When a Nome Census Area resident dies, their estate may go through probate here, and those case files often include a death certificate.
There is also an Unalakleet District Court at 250 UVEC Way, Unalakleet, AK 99684 (907-624-3015). This court handles misdemeanors, small claims, and traffic matters for the eastern portion of the census area. It does not handle probate. All probate work stays with the Superior Court in Nome.
Divorce records for the Nome area are maintained by the Alaska Court System and can be searched through CourtView, the state's free online case search tool. CourtView also covers probate cases and shows basic case information by party name.
AKGenWeb Nome Obituaries
The AKGenWeb Nome obituaries page is a free genealogical resource that collects published death notices and obituaries for Nome Census Area residents. The entries were pulled from regional newspapers and other sources by volunteer genealogists. The page includes some notable entries that show the depth of information available.
Hannah Ahwinona of Nome, age 73, died December 17, 2006 at Providence Extended Care Center. Herbie Nayokpuk, known as "The Shishmaref Cannonball" and a celebrated Iditarod competitor, died December 4, 2006 at Alaska Native Medical Center after suffering a massive stroke in mid-November. He was born in Shishmaref. Ralph Nulikina Noyakuk, born June 16, 1916 in Shishmaref, died September 5, 2003 at Alaska Native Medical Center.
These entries often include birth dates, birthplaces, cause or location of death, and surviving family members. Published obituaries from the Nome Nugget newspaper are a key source for recent notices from Nome and surrounding villages. Older notices may also be found through the Alaska State Library newspaper indexes.
Historical Records on FamilySearch
FamilySearch holds a collection called Alaska, Nome, Death Records that covers 1813 through 1959, making it one of the oldest local vital records collections in Alaska. These records were maintained by missionaries, government agents, and local officials long before statehood. Statewide vital registration began in 1913, but the Nome area had some form of records going back more than a century earlier due to Russian and early American presence in the region.
The Nome Court Records collection, also on FamilySearch, includes probate records from the Cape Nome Precinct from 1918 through statehood. This collection spans five volumes and may include estate settlements, guardianship records, and other documents tied to deaths in the region.
All FamilySearch collections are free to access. Searching by name pulls up index entries, and many collections include scanned images of the original handwritten or typed pages. This is a strong starting point for anyone researching Nome Census Area deaths before 1960.
Note: The 1813 start date in the Nome FamilySearch collection reflects early missionary record-keeping in western Alaska, not formal government registration.
State Archives and Research Tools
The Alaska State Archives holds government records from across the state, including Nome-area materials. Their collection guides are searchable online and help researchers identify what record types exist and how to request them. Materials from Nome often include territorial-era government records that predate statehood.
The Alaska State Library newspaper indexes cover regional publications that served the Nome area and surrounding communities. If a death notice ran in a Nome Nugget edition or a statewide Fairbanks or Anchorage paper, the state library index may help you find the reference quickly without reading through full paper archives.
The CDC's Where to Write for Vital Records provides updated information on Alaska's vital records request process, including required forms, fees, and acceptable identification. It is a useful reference for anyone who has not requested Alaska death records before.
The Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics is the official source for certified death certificates covering Nome and all communities in the census area.
Public records access for the Nome Census Area includes death certificates, court filings, and vital records processed through the Alaska state vital records system.
The AKGenWeb Nome obituaries collection is a free volunteer-maintained index of published death notices from Nome and surrounding communities in western Alaska.
The Nome obituary index on AKGenWeb includes entries pulled from regional newspapers and other published sources, covering deaths from across the census area.
The BRB Publications Nome Census Area page lists county-level public records sources for the region, including pointers to court records, vital records, and other official databases.
Public records resources for Nome Census Area span state-level vital records, court databases, and genealogical archives maintained by Alaska agencies and volunteers.
The Alaska probate records guide at the State Archives covers how probate files from Nome and other census areas are maintained and how researchers can access them.
Probate records for Nome Census Area residents may include death certificates, estate inventories, and biographical details that supplement published obituaries.
Nearby Census Areas and Boroughs
These neighboring areas also have obituary records pages with search guidance for local records.