Honolulu County
Probate Court
In Hawaii, estates are probated in the Circuit Court (Probate Division). This page gathers where to file in Honolulu County, the state rules that apply, and where every detail comes from.
Where to file in Honolulu County
- Handled by
- Circuit Court (Probate Division)In Hawaii, probate matters are handled by the Circuit Court of the four judicial circuits. Hawaii adheres to the Uniform Probate Code.
- Location
- Probate filings are made in the county seat, Honolulu. We have not found an open, verifiable address for the office yet — use the county website below.
- Phone
- No phone number published in an open source. Use the county website's contact page — we don't list numbers we can't source.
- Opening hours
- Not published in an open source. Check the court or county website before you go.
- County website
- dlnr.hawaii.govcounty website
- State courts & e-filing
- courts.state.hi.usCase search: Hawaii State Judiciary eCourt Kokua
How probate runs in Honolulu County
Six stages, with the Hawaii rules that set the pace.
- 01
Secure the original will
Find the original signed will and order certified death certificates. Hawaii deadline: Must be delivered to Circuit Court with reasonable promptness; 5-year probate bar.
- 02
Pick the right track
If the probate estate is under $100,000, a small-estate procedure (Haw. Rev. Stat. § 560:3-1201 (affidavit); § 560:3-1205 (summary administration)) may avoid full administration.
- 03
Petition the court
File the petition with the Circuit Court (Probate Division) for Honolulu County. The court appoints the executor or administrator and issues letters.
- 04
Inventory the estate
Open an estate bank account (the IRS issues the EIN), list assets at date-of-death values and file the inventory if the court requires it.
- 05
Notify creditors
Publish or send notice to creditors. Window: 4 months after the date of first publication of notice to creditors.
- 06
Account and distribute
Pay debts, taxes and fees (Haw. Rev. Stat. § 560:3-719), file the final account if required, distribute to heirs and ask to close the estate.
Where to get help.
We don't sell leads or take referral fees. Eligibility, availability and fees depend on the provider; confirm them directly.
- 01 Hawaii courts — self-help & formsOfficial judiciary website: forms, filing rules and e-filing.
- 02 Legal aid directory — LawHelp.orgNonprofit directory of free and low-cost legal aid by state, including probate and estates.
- 03 Find a probate lawyer — American Bar AssociationState-by-state links to bar lawyer-referral services and pro bono programs.
Hawaii rules that apply here
Probate law is state law — these apply in all 5 Hawaii counties.
- Small estates
- $100,000 gross value of Hawaii estate; personal property only (motor vehicles transferable regardless of value); real property requires court summary administration under § 560:3-1205Haw. Rev. Stat. § 560:3-1201 (affidavit); § 560:3-1205 (summary administration)
- Filing the will
- Must be delivered to Circuit Court with reasonable promptness; 5-year probate bar
- Creditor claims
- 4 months after the date of first publication of notice to creditorsHaw. Rev. Stat. § 560:3-801
- Executor fees
- Reasonable compensation under Hawaii Uniform Probate CodeHaw. Rev. Stat. § 560:3-719 · estimate the fee
- Handwritten wills
- Recognized. Hawaii recognizes holographic wills if signature and material provisions are in testator's handwriting (HRS § 560:2-502).
- Estate tax
- Yes — exemption $5.49 million.Hawaii imposes an estate tax on estates exceeding $5.49 million with graduated rates from 10% to 20%.
- Inheritance tax
- No.No state inheritance tax in Hawaii.
- Typical duration
- 7 to 14 monthsA lawyer is not required by statute, though most formal estates use one.
Rules re-checked Sept 2026 against: law.justia.com (statute)