Estate Planning for City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii Property Owners

For most City and County of Honolulu homeowners, the house is what drags an estate into probate. A transfer-on-death deed or a living trust keeps it out—here is how to set up either one and record it locally.

Record a TOD deedWhere to recordLocal attorneys

For a City and County of Honolulu property owner, the biggest probate risk is the home itself. Real estate is what forces most families into the First Circuit Court. The two tools that keep a City and County of Honolulu home out of probate are a transfer-on-death deed recorded with the Bureau of Conveyances, and a revocable living trust that holds title to the property.

Without a recorded beneficiary designation or a trust, City and County of Honolulu property passes through the First Circuit Court — even simple Hawaii probates run 6+ months and start with $215 in filing fees.

Record a Transfer-on-Death Deed in City and County of Honolulu

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives City and County of Honolulu property automatically at the owner's death, without probate. It is recorded with the Bureau of Conveyances during the owner's lifetime and can be revoked at any time.

Before recording, a Hawaii transfer on death deed is signed with notary acknowledgmentHRS 527-1 to 527-17Verified Aug 24, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded before the owner's deathHRS 527-1 to 527-17Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.

Create a HawaiiTOD deed →City and County of Honolulusigning requirements →

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for City and County of Honolulu are recorded with the Bureau of Conveyances, led by Registrar of Conveyances Mike H. Imanaka, at 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 120, Honolulu, HI 96813. Phone: 808-587-0147. Hours: Office: 7:45 AM - 4:30 PM, Mon-Fri; Recording Window (Rooms 120 & 122): 8:01 AM - 3:29 PM, Mon-Fri; Public Research Room (Room 123): 8:15 AM - 3:30 PM, Mon-Fri. Closed State holidays. Hours may change on short notice due to staffing.

Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 2867, Honolulu, HI 96803.

The Bureau of Conveyances charges $41 for 1-50 pages, $106 for 51+ pages. Recording a 2-page transfer on death deed in City and County of Honolulu comes to $41. A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.

City and County of Honolulu accepts electronic recording through Simplifile / CSC / Indecomm / ePN.

Recording Office Record

Bureau of Conveyances

City and County of Honolulu · Registrar of Conveyances · Mike H. Imanaka

Address

1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 120Honolulu, HI 96813Mailing: P.O. Box 2867, Honolulu, HI 96803

Fax

808-587-0136

Hours

Office: 7:45 AM - 4:30 PM, Mon-Fri; Recording Window (Rooms 120 & 122): 8:01 AM - 3:29 PM, Mon-Fri; Public Research Room (Room 123): 8:15 AM - 3:30 PM, Mon-Fri. Closed State holidays. Hours may change on short notice due to staffing.

E-recording

Available via Simplifile / CSC / Indecomm / ePNE-recording info →
Visit recorder website →

Recording fees

1-50 pages$41
51+ pages$106
Oversize Document Fee (51+ pages)$65
Transfer tax on a TOD deedExempt

Bureau of Conveyances published fee schedule, eff. 2/27/2017 (dlnr.hawaii.gov/boc/recording-fees-new/, fetched 2026-09-04); rulemaking authority HRS 502-25(a); HAR § 13-16-22(a)(1)-(2) (am. and comp. 2/10/2017) states $35 / $100, raisable under HRS 92-28

Open in Google Maps

Verified September 4, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving City and County of Honolulu

FirmHonolulu, HI

Ashford & Wriston, LLP

Since 1955 · Serves 1 county

Serves Oahu from First Hawaiian Center in downtown Honolulu. The estate planning group handles probates and trust administration, advises trustees and beneficiaries of personal and large charitable trusts, and prepares wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, and charitable trusts. The firm has practiced in Hawaii for more than 65 years.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationConservatorshipand 3 more

Office
999 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, First Hawaiian CenterHonolulu, HI 96813

Solo PracticeHonolulu, HI

Bart M. Koza, Attorney at Law, LLLC

Serves 1 county

Serves Oahu from Central Pacific Plaza in downtown Honolulu, with a second office at the Mary Savio Medical Plaza in Aiea/Pearl City. Handles probate and estate administration alongside wills, trusts, powers of attorney, Medicaid planning, and elder law.

PracticesEstate PlanningElder LawMedicaid PlanningProbate Administration

Office
220 S. King Street, Suite 1600Honolulu, HI 96813

FirmHonolulu, HI

Bonner Sogi & Associates, A Law Corporation

Since 2017 · Serves 1 county

Serves Oahu from downtown Honolulu. Attorneys Geoff J. Sogi and George O. White handle probates, trust and estate administration, conservatorships, guardianships, and trust and estate litigation, along with estate, long-term care, and special needs planning.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationTrust LitigationElder Lawand 5 more

Office
705 S. King Street, Suite 105Honolulu, HI 96813
Free consultation

Solo PracticeWaipahu, HI

Brian Patrick Sheehy, Attorney at Law

Since 2010 · Serves 1 county

Serves West Oahu from an office on Farrington Highway in Waipahu. The practice prepares wills, living trusts, and health care and general powers of attorney alongside a family law practice. The office keeps Saturday hours, and the first consultation is free.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust Administration

Office
94-879 Farrington Highway, Suite EWaipahu, HI 96797
Free consultation

FirmHonolulu, HI

Chun Kerr LLP

Since 1970 · Serves 1 county

Serves clients from a Honolulu office in the First Hawaiian Center. Its trust and estate group provides trust administration counsel along with estate planning, estate and gift tax analysis, and tax planning for wealth transfers. The firm has practiced in Hawaii since 1970.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate Administration

Office
999 Bishop Street, Suite 2100Honolulu, HI 96813

FirmHonolulu, HI

Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert

Since 1963 · Serves 1 county

Serves Oahu from Pauahi Tower in downtown Honolulu. The Wills, Trusts & Estates group assists with probate and non-probate estate administrations, guardianships and conservatorships, and dispute resolution over wills, trusts, and estates through mediation, arbitration, or litigation. Also prepares wills, trusts, transfer on death deeds, and special needs trusts.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationTrust LitigationConservatorshipand 4 more

Office
1003 Bishop Street, Suite 1600, Pauahi TowerHonolulu, HI 96813
See all 42 firms serving City and County of Honolulu→

Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.

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