How Much Does Probate Cost in City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii?
Understanding what probate costs before you start helps you plan and avoid surprises. Here's what families in City and County of Honolulu can expect.
One of the most common concerns families in City and County of Honolulu have is how much probate will actually cost. The answer depends on the estate's value, complexity, and whether you hire an attorney.
Attorney fees in Hawaii are based on reasonable compensationHRS § 560:3-721 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Apr 14, 2026, typically 2%HRS § 560:3-721 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Apr 14, 2026 to 4%HRS § 560:3-721 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Apr 14, 2026 of estate value. Many Honolulu-area attorneys offer flat-rate arrangements for straightforward estates.
Run the numbers for this estate:
Court filing fees to open probate are $100HRS § 607-5(b)(14)Verified Apr 14, 2026 in Hawaii, plus additional fees for motions and final accounting.
Attorney fees in City and County of Honolulu typically range from 2%HRS § 560:3-721 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Apr 14, 2026 to 4%HRS § 560:3-721 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Apr 14, 2026 of estate value, though many local attorneys offer flat-rate arrangements for straightforward cases. Executor compensation in Hawaii is 2%HRS § 560:3-719 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Apr 14, 2026 to 4%HRS § 560:3-719 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Apr 14, 2026 of estate value based on reasonable payment for time and effort managing the estate.
You'll need to publish a creditor notice in a local City and County of Honolulu newspaper ($200-$500). Real estate and business interests also require professional appraisals, typically $300-$600 each.
Expect the full process to run 9 monthsHRS § 560:3-1201Verified Apr 14, 2026 to 15 monthsHRS § 560:3-1201Verified Apr 14, 2026 at the First Circuit Court. The 4 monthsHRS § 560:3-803(a)(1)Verified Apr 14, 2026 creditor claim period is the single biggest driver of that timeline, and costs continue to accrue while the estate remains open.
Legal Sources
- HRS § 560:3-1201
- HRS § 560:3-719 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)
- HRS § 560:3-721 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)
- HRS § 560:3-803(a)(1)
- HRS § 607-5(b)(14)
Data sourced from Hawaii statutes and official state code. How we research.
Frequently Asked Questions
Total probate costs usually run 3–8% of the estate value. For City and County of Honolulu, that means filing fees ($100 to open), attorney fees, executor compensation, publication costs, and possibly a bond. The calculator on this page runs the math for your estate size.
The petition to open probate costs $100 in City and County of Honolulu. Additional filings during administration (inventory, accounting, final petition) can add to the total. The calculator above shows the full picture.
Hawaii uses "reasonable fees" — usually hourly billing or a percentage of the estate. Typical range is 2%–4% of estate value, negotiable based on complexity.
Hawaii allows "reasonable" executor compensation, typically 1–5% of estate value depending on complexity. Family executors often waive fees because the fee is taxable income while an inheritance is not.
Yes. Hawaii estates under $100,000 can use a Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property and avoid most probate costs. Check the Hawaii self-filing assessment to see if this applies.
A revocable living trust skips probate entirely — no filing fee, no attorney schedule, no executor commission. The cost of setting up the trust is typically recovered many times over compared to what probate would cost the estate. Create a revocable trust online and keep the estate out of City and County of Honolulu probate.
First Circuit Court
City and County of Honolulu
Ka'ahumanu Hale, 777 Punchbowl Street
Honolulu, HI 96813-5093
Phone:
808-539-4399Fax:
808-539-4314
Hours:
8:00 AM - 4:15 PM, Mon-Fri (except State holidays)
Paper Filing Available
E-Filing Optional
Notify Banks & Financial Institutions
Each institution has a separate death claim process. Find yours below.
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