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Rule 74.Books and Records Kept by Clerk and Entries Therein.

Last amended October 15, 2014 · Last verified July 6, 2026

In one sentenceRule 74 tells the clerk what records to keep for every civil case — an indexed case file, a record of judgments and orders, a public hearing calendar — and how exhibits and depositions are returned or disposed of once a case ends.

Full Text of Rule 74

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h)

(a) Civil Case File and Index. All papers filed with the clerk shall be marked with the case number and the date of filing and shall be placed in the case file in chronological order. The clerk shall maintain an alphabetical index of every civil case filed. All parties in each case shall be included in the index.
(b) Civil Judgments and Orders. The clerk shall keep, in such form and manner as the administrative director of courts may prescribe, a record of every final judgment or order.
(c) Civil Calendar. The clerk shall prepare a calendar listing all cases scheduled for hearings and trials. The calendar shall indicate the type of proceeding and shall distinguish jury actions from nonjury actions. A copy of the calendar shall be posted in a public place within the court building.
(d) Other Books and Records of the Clerk. The clerk shall also keep such other books and records as may be required from time to time by the administrative director of the courts.
(e) Records to Remain in Custody of Clerk. Except as otherwise provided by these rules or by order of the court, no record or paper belonging to the files of the court may be taken from the office or custody of the clerk.
(f) Use of Records by Court Officers. If it is necessary for a judge, master, examiner, magistrate judge, or court reporter to use pleadings or other papers for purposes of the action or proceeding, at places other than the clerk’s office, courtroom or judge’s chambers, the same may be taken from the office of the clerk upon the delivery to the clerk of a receipt signed by the officer who desires the use of said papers.
(g) Records After Final Determination.
(1) After final judgment and after the time has passed for taking an appeal or filing a petition for review, all models, diagrams, exhibits and depositions heretofore or hereafter filed in any action, shall be returned to the submitting party, without the necessity of filing any copies thereof.
(2) After final judgment, and upon the filing of a stipulation waiving and abandoning the right to appeal, to petition for review, or to move for a new trial, all such models, diagrams, exhibits and depositions may be withdrawn from the clerk’s office by the submitting party, without the necessity of filing any copies thereof.
(3) If such models, diagrams, exhibits, and depositions are not so returned or withdrawn as above indicated, the clerk shall destroy the same or make such other disposition of them as the court may approve.
(4) Nothing contained in this subdivision (g) of this rule shall prevent the court, for special reasons and after notice, from making such other order with respect to any files, models, exhibits and depositions as it may deem advisable.
(h) Documents Presented Ex Parte. Every document presented by counsel to the court ex parte in support of an order, when signed by the court, will be deemed to be in the custody of the court. Each such document shall forthwith be delivered by counsel presenting the same to the clerk for filing, unless the judge or the judge’s secretary desires to retain any such document in chambers for delivery by such judge or the judge’s secretary to the clerk.
End

Amendment History

(Adopted by SCO 5 October 9, 1959; amended by SCO 152 effective April 20, 1972; by SCO 163 effective May 30, 1973; by SCO 554 effective April 4, 1983; by SCO 1098 effective January 15, 1993; by SCO 1153 effective July 15, 1994; by SCO 1210 effective July 15, 1994; and by SCO 1829 effective October 15, 2014)

Plain-English Summary

The clerk marks every filed paper with the case number and filing date, keeps it in chronological order in the case file, and maintains an alphabetical index of every civil case and party. The clerk also keeps a record of every final judgment or order, prepares a calendar of scheduled hearings and trials that distinguishes jury from nonjury matters and is posted publicly, and keeps whatever other records the administrative director of courts requires. Court files generally can't leave the clerk's custody, though a judge, master, examiner, magistrate judge, or court reporter can check papers out with a signed receipt for use elsewhere.

After final judgment and the time to appeal or petition for review has passed, models, diagrams, exhibits, and depositions are returned to the party who submitted them without needing copies on file; the same happens sooner if the parties stipulate to waive their appeal rights. If items aren't returned or withdrawn this way, the clerk destroys them or disposes of them as the court approves, though the court can always make a different order for special reasons. A document a lawyer presents to the court ex parte and gets signed is treated as being in the court's custody, and generally has to go straight to the clerk for filing unless the judge or the judge's secretary wants to hold it in chambers for later delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to trial exhibits and depositions after a case is over?

Once final judgment is entered and the time to appeal has passed, they're returned to the party who submitted them; if the parties waive their appeal rights by stipulation, they can be withdrawn even sooner.

Can I take a case file out of the clerk's office to review it?

Court records stay with the clerk unless another rule or a court order says otherwise; a judge, master, examiner, magistrate judge, or court reporter may take papers for use elsewhere after leaving a signed receipt.

Is the court's hearing schedule available to the public?

Yes — the clerk prepares a calendar of scheduled hearings and trials, distinguishing jury from nonjury cases, and a copy is posted in a public place in the courthouse.

Source & verification. The rule text, Amendment History, and Notes are reproduced verbatim from the official Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure (Alaska R. Civ. P. 74). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Alaska (Alaska Const. art. IV, § 15). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 6, 2026. · Official source
Also known as: clerk's records Alaska civil casecase file index Alaska courtcivil docket Alaska courtAlaska R. Civ. P. 74