Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska: Small Claims for a Security Deposit

Limits: $10,000 (District Court small claims only). E-filing: Yes. Court: Palmer Trial Court. Statewide filing fee: $50 for claims of $2,500 or less; $100 for claims over $2,500.

Filing facts

State small claims limits	$10,000 (District Court small claims only)
Statewide filing fee	$50 for claims of $2,500 or less; $100 for claims over $2,500.
E-filing	Yes
Time limit to sue in Alaska	3 years.
State deposit return deadline	14 calendar days after the tenancy is terminated and possession is delivered by the tenant. proper termination notice under AS 34.03.290 AND no damage deductions for noncompliance with AS 34.03.120. 30 calendar days after the tenancy is terminated. proper notice given but costs are deducted for damages from tenant noncompliance with AS 34.03.120. 30 calendar days after the later of tenancy termination, delivery of possession, or landlord awareness of abandonment. tenant did not give notice complying with AS 34.03.290.
Penalty formula	wilful violation: landlord liable for twice the amount of the security deposit wrongfully withheld. Bad faith required: Yes.
Deposit statute	Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070

The fee depends on how much you claim; the court's schedule above shows the tiers.

Where to file

Palmer Trial Court

Courthouse city: Palmer

Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.

Official court website

Court page check not recorded

See how to file in Alaska for the state filing procedure.

Rent and deposits in Matanuska-Susitna Borough

County median gross rent: $1,258 per month.

County median gross rent by bedroom count
Bedrooms	Monthly rent
Studio	$845
1 bedroom	$908
2 bedrooms	$1,192
3 bedrooms	$1,704
4 bedrooms	$2,069

Illustrative deposit example computed from the county median rent: one month of the Census two-bedroom median is $1,192; two months is $2,384. This is an example computed from the county median, not a legal cap or a survey of deposits. The calculations below use the one-month deposit of $1,192.

State legal maximum deposit in Alaska: Not more than two months' periodic rent ($2,384 at the example rent), except the two-month cap does not apply where rent exceeds $2,000 a month. Landlord may require an additional pet deposit of up to one month's rent ($1,192 at the example rent) for a pet that is not a service animal, accounted for separately.

Total households in Matanuska-Susitna Borough: 39,682.

Renter households: 9,271 (23.4% of all households).

Renters spending more than half their household income on rent: 7.9%. A delayed deposit refund can leave these households with less money for their next rent payment.

County rent and household source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070. Accessed 2026-09-21.

Will my deposit claim fit the limit?

Using the county Census figure: two-bedroom median gross rent for Matanuska-Susitna Borough, $1,192 per month.

The deposit range does not include penalties, interest, or other amounts you may claim.

Compared with $10,000 (District Court small claims only), the whole deposit range fits.

A claim above the applicable limit must either be reduced to that limit or go to a different court.

Towns this court serves

A deposit claim is usually filed where the property sits or where the landlord is.

Houston
Palmer
Wasilla

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file.

Courthouse details

Address: 435 South Denali Street, Palmer, AK 99645

Phone: (907) 746-8181

Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Statewide e-filing portal

Statewide self-help centre

From the state court directory; the source is a PDF our automated check cannot read

Court contact source

Statewide help

Alaska Legal Services Corporation
free civil legal aid on housing problems including landlord-tenant disputes, eviction concerns, and property maintenance, plus a Landlord and Tenant Helpline at 1-855-743-1001
Phone: 1-888-478-2572

These are independent organisations, not DemandLetterLab.

From letter to filing

Send an Alaska security deposit demand letter stating the deposit amount supported by your records.
Before you file: review the deposit return deadlines above and allow the typical response window of 14 days after your letter.
Time limit to sue in Alaska: 3 years.
Check the court's filing instructions. Keep your lease, payment records, photos, letter, and proof of delivery ready.

This template uses Alaska law. Your county decides where you file, not which law applies.

Choose how to send your letter

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$49, done for you.

We write the letter from the facts you send, mail it by USPS Certified Mail with tracking, and send you the tracking number and a PDF record of what was sent.

Mailed within 2 business days of your completed form, or a full refund.

Document preparation and mailing, not legal advice. We do not assess your claim, choose a strategy, or promise a recovery.

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A print-ready PDF of the Alaska letter template, ready to download after payment.

Certified-mail instructions: what to ask for at the counter and what it costs.
Alaska small-claims details: the limit, the deadline to sue, and where to file.

You fill in the template, print it, and pay postage. The same letter template is also available free by email below. The kit adds the print-ready PDF, mailing guide, and local details in one place.

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Free Alaska template, built from verified state data

Methodology: every statute verified against primary sources. See how verification works.

I rented [rental property address] from [lease start date] to [move-out date]. I paid a security deposit of $[amount]. I returned the keys on [date] and gave you my forwarding address in writing on [date]. Under Alaska law (Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070), a landlord must return the deposit or respond in writing within [14 calendar days / 30 calendar days, see the note above] after [the event listed in the note above].

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Matanuska-Susitna Borough?

Statewide filing fee: $50 for claims of $2,500 or less; $100 for claims over $2,500.

How long do I have to sue?

Time limit to sue in Alaska: 3 years.

Where do I file?

Palmer Trial Court. Courthouse city: Palmer. Check the court's instructions for the right filing location.