What to Do After a Death in City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii
The first weeks after losing someone involve time-sensitive tasks. Here's what to prioritize and what can wait.
The first days after a death in City and County of Honolulu involve both practical tasks and court interactions. The First Circuit Court offers assistance where you can get procedural guidance, though they can't provide legal advice about your specific situation.
Death certificates are typically the first requirement—banks, insurance companies, and the First Circuit Court all require certified copies. You can often find ordering information through City and County of Honolulu vital records, though many families order extra copies during the initial filing to avoid delays later.
1. Order Death Certificates
Calculate the number of death certificates you'll need for banks, courts, and insurers:
2. Estate Settlement Checklist
Track your progress through the probate process:
Once appointed as personal representative, Hawaii law requires filing an inventory of estate assets with the First Circuit Court within 90 daysHRS § 560:3-706Verified Apr 14, 2026. The inventory includes identifying and valuing all property owned at the time of death—real estate, bank accounts, investments, vehicles, and personal belongings.
Hawaii requires publishing a notice to creditors in a local newspaper. Creditors then have 4 monthsHRS § 560:3-803(a)(1)Verified Apr 14, 2026 to file claims against the estate.
Start by securing the deceased's property—collect mail, lock up valuables, and document everything. Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to report the death and stop benefit payments before overpayments create a debt the estate must repay.
Contact banks and credit card companies immediately to freeze accounts and prevent unauthorized transactions.
When you're ready to start the probate process, contact the First Circuit Court at 808-539-4399 to confirm what documents you'll need. You can file in person or by mail—families handling probate themselves don't need to use e-filing.
Life insurance proceeds pass directly to named beneficiaries—no probate required. File claims early, as these funds can help cover immediate estate expenses while the probate process is underway.
An attorney is most valuable when there are contested claims, disputes between beneficiaries, or complex assets like businesses or out-of-state property that complicate the process.
Expect attorney fees of 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 in Hawaii. For simple estates without disputes, many Honolulu firms offer flat-fee alternatives.
Professional help is especially worthwhile when the estate triggers Hawaii estate tax requirements, involves procedures the executor hasn't navigated before, or raises liability concerns.
Legal Sources
- HRS § 560:3-706
- HRS § 560:3-721 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)
- HRS § 560:3-803(a)(1)
Data sourced from Hawaii statutes and official state code. How we research.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before anything court-related, handle three things: get the doctor or coroner to sign the death certificate, secure the home and any valuables, and locate the will. Only then does probate planning make sense.
Plan on 8–12 certified copies. Each financial institution, title company, insurer, and the City and County of Honolulu probate court will ask for an original. Ordering too few is the most common delay families run into. Use the Hawaii death certificate calculator for a personalized count.
Hawaii does not set a strict filing deadline for opening probate, but delay has costs: the creditor claim period is 4 months, assets stay frozen until probate opens, and some banks refuse to act without letters. Most families file within 30–60 days.
Funeral homes typically report the death to Social Security. Bank and brokerage notifications are on the executor — accounts freeze on notification, so timing matters. The Hawaii estate settlement checklist walks through the order.
Yes. A revocable living trust keeps the estate out of City and County of Honolulu probate entirely — no filing, no hearings, no public record. Families who plan ahead settle in weeks instead of months. Create a revocable trust online before the next generation has to go through what you're handling now.
Need Help Getting Started?
The First Circuit Court has a self-help center for families handling probate without an attorney.
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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