Yes — under Alaska practice you can sometimes claim repayment or credit for mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, and other carrying costs from sale proceeds. How much you receive depends on who paid, the legal relationship between the payor and other owners (co-owners, former spouse, tenant, etc.), whether you have an agreement, and whether a court orders reimbursement. Lenders and recorded liens get paid first at closing. After liens are satisfied, any owner claims for contribution, equitable accounting, or reimbursement must be proved and may reduce or increase a co-owner’s net share.

Detailed answer — how this usually works in Alaska

This section explains the common rules that govern what will happen when multiple parties sell the same property and one or more people paid carrying costs.

1. First: closing pays liens, then owners split the remainder

When real estate sells, closing typically pays recorded liens and mortgages out of gross sale proceeds. That means the mortgage balance and other recorded liens are paid before owners divide the remaining cash. If you personally paid the mortgage or taxes before the sale, those payments usually increased your equity, but they do not replace a recorded lien that the title company must satisfy.

2. Ownership share is the starting point

If title lists owners as tenants in common or joint tenants, proceeds are usually distributed according to ownership shares unless the owners agree otherwise or a court orders a different allocation. Pro rata ownership is the baseline, not a determination of whether payments you made should be credited to you.

3. Claims for reimbursement or contribution

If one owner paid more than their ownership share of carrying costs, that owner can often assert a claim for contribution or equitable reimbursement. Common claims include:

• Payment of the mortgage or other secured debt from personal funds
• Property taxes and hazard insurance paid to avoid foreclosure or preserve value
• Property management, reasonable repairs, or necessary maintenance

The success of these claims depends on proof (receipts, canceled checks, bank statements, mortgage payoff statements, escrow statements, and communications) and the legal relationship between parties. Courts weigh fairness and may grant a credit to the paying owner or order an accounting between the owners.

4. Improvements vs. maintenance

Payments for capital improvements that increase the property’s value commonly increase your basis and are more likely to be credited at sale. Routine maintenance and cosmetic repairs are less likely to be separately reimbursed unless the parties agreed otherwise, though they may affect the sale price and thus indirectly benefit all owners.

5. Family law context (divorce or separation)

In a divorce or separation, Alaska courts distribute marital property equitably. A spouse who paid mortgage, taxes, or other carrying costs from separate funds or after separation can present those payments as part of the property accounting. The court will consider contributions when making an equitable division, but it is not an automatic dollar-for-dollar reimbursement unless the facts and law support it.

6. Partition actions and disputes between co-owners

If co-owners cannot agree, an owner can file a partition action asking a court to divide or sell the property and settle accounts between owners. In that proceeding, courts can order an accounting, give credits for payments made to preserve the property, and adjust distribution of net proceeds. Partition remedies vary with the facts and the equities.

7. Taxes and closing statements you should expect

At closing you will receive a settlement statement (Closing Disclosure or HUD-1 for older transactions) that shows itemized payoffs (mortgages, liens), prorations (property taxes, HOA dues), and seller net proceeds. This document is key evidence of what was paid from sale proceeds and what remains to be divided among owners.

8. Hypothetical example

Two tenants in common each own 50%. One owner paid the mortgage entirely for two years and paid property taxes to avoid a tax lien. On sale, the lender mortgage is paid from proceeds. The paying owner may seek an accounting and a credit for their extra payments. A court reviewing evidence could order that the paying owner receive a disproportionate share of net proceeds to compensate for the extra payments, or it could order reimbursement plus interest — depending on the proof and equities.

9. Practical burden of proof

To get a reimbursement or credit you must document your payments and show they were necessary or fair. Evidence includes bank records, paid invoices, mortgage statements, tax receipts, escrow statements, and any written agreement allocating expenses.

How to proceed — step-by-step

1. Gather documents: title, deed, mortgage payoff statements, cancelled checks, bank statements, tax bills, insurance invoices, and the closing statement.
2. Determine legal relationship: are you co-owners, spouses, heirs, or tenants? Different rules apply.
3. Ask for an accounting: request a written accounting of payments and proposed distribution from the other owner or the closing agent.
4. Negotiate settlement: many disputes resolve by agreement — e.g., give a dollar credit to the payor or adjust shares.
5. Consider a partition or family-law petition: if negotiation fails, file a partition action or raise the issue in divorce property division.
6. Talk to a lawyer: an attorney can evaluate claims, calculate a fair accounting, and represent you in court if needed.

Tax considerations

Payments that qualify as capital improvements can raise your cost basis in the property and reduce capital gains at sale. Mortgage payments themselves are not deductible from sale proceeds, though interest may have been deductible for income tax purposes while you owned the home. Reimbursements received from co-owners can have tax consequences. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.

Helpful hints

• Keep clear records: receipts, canceled checks, escrow statements, and bank transfers are the best evidence.
• Get written agreements: if you and co-owners plan unequal payments, document the arrangement in writing and sign it.
• Use the closing statement: insist on a full settlement statement at closing and save a copy.
• Distinguish improvements from repairs: classify expenditures to justify reimbursement or basis adjustments.
• Consider mediation: a neutral mediator can often resolve disputes faster and cheaper than litigation.
• File an accounting request early: delays can weaken your position and increase the chance of disputes.
• Consult both a real property attorney and a tax advisor for complex cases.