What to Do When Someone Dies in City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii
Probate in City and County of Honolulu runs through the First Circuit Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in City and County of Honolulu, settling their estate runs through the First Circuit Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Probate Court Record
First Circuit Court
City and County of Honolulu · 1st Circuit
Address
Ka'ahumanu Hale, 777 Punchbowl StreetHonolulu, HI 96813-5093
Paper filing availableE-filing required for attorneysSelf-filing allowed
Departments
Estate & Probate808-539-4399
Documents Receiving/Filing808-539-4303
File Room/Records Requests808-539-4308
Cashier808-539-4349
Fiscal Office808-539-4350
Court Reporters808-539-4226
Land & Tax Appeal Court808-539-4777
Facilities Management808-538-5490
ADA Coordinator808-539-4400 · adarequest@courts.hawaii.gov
Court Concierge Desk: 808-539-4767. The Estate and Probate Office is on the first floor. Document Drop-off service was disabled for First Circuit as of October 31, 2022.
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In City and County of Honolulu, probate runs through the First Circuit Court at Ka'ahumanu Hale, 777 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu. The court sits in the 1st Circuit.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Hawaii intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Hawaii estates take 9 months to 15 months to move through this process. The 4 monthsHRS § 560:3-803(a)(1)(A)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What Probate Costs in City and County of Honolulu
What probate costs in City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the First Circuit Court at Ka'ahumanu Hale, 777 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu. The court is part of the 1st Circuit.
Probate matters are handled through Estate & Probate, Documents Receiving/Filing, File Room/Records Requests, and Cashier. Filing and payment go through these offices, not the main clerk window.
City and County of Honolulu runs a probate self-help center (First Wednesday of the month, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM (in-person); other Mon/Wed/Fri, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM (phone)), which is the single biggest cost-saver for families who can self-file. Staff can walk you through the paperwork and explain procedures, though they cannot give legal advice on your specific case. Call 808-909-2847.
Hawaii charges $215Haw. Rev. Stat. § 607-5(b)(14), (c)(32); § 607-5.7(a)(2); Hawaii State Judiciary, List of Civil Filing Fees (updated 6/17/2022)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
E-filing is mandatory for attorneys filing at the First Circuit Court (https://jimspss1.courts.state.hi.us/JIMSExternal/login.iface). Self-represented filers can request a paper-filing exemption.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Hawaii are negotiated, typically 2.3%HRS § 560:3-721 (court reviews attorney compensation for reasonableness; no statutory fee schedule)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.6%HRS § 560:3-721 (court reviews attorney compensation for reasonableness; no statutory fee schedule)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is based on reasonable pay for time and effort — the states that do set a schedule pay 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Hawaii requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.
Probate in Hawaii typically runs 9 months to 15 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the First Circuit Court
If you're handling probate yourself in City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, you can file at the First Circuit Court in person or by mail. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys but families filing without one are exempt and can use paper forms. The court sits in the 1st Circuit.
Filings here are routed through Estate & Probate, Documents Receiving/Filing, File Room/Records Requests, and Cashier. Confirm with the office which intake handles the petition type you're filing.
How to File Your Documents
Paper Filing Available
You can file your probate documents in person or by mail. While attorneys are required to e-file in City and County of Honolulu, families handling probate themselves are exempt and can file on paper.
E-Filing Also Available
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the First Circuit Court is realistic. City and County of Honolulu has a self-help center that assists people filing without an attorney.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
Ex Parte Petitions: Do NOT efile directly through JEFS. Submit unfiled original in paper form to Estate and Probate Branch. Email list of interested parties in Excel format to EstatesAndProbate.1CC@courts.hawaii.gov. Ex parte petitions efiled directly will be processed without opportunity for correction.
Case Type Notation: Documents must note proceeding type (Small Estate, Informal, Supervised, Will Deposit, Demand for Notice, No Fault, or Determination of Death). When a proceeding changes form, the same case number (P. No.) is used throughout.
Document Requirements
Death Certificates: Must be filed as sealed documents per Hawaii Rules of Probate Rule 3 (confidential by rule).
Getting to the First Circuit Court
Parking
Courthouse parking at South Street Garage (corner of South and Pohukaina Streets) and Makai Garage (Halekauwila Street). Municipal rates apply.
What to Bring
To file at the First Circuit Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
Transferring Property in City and County of Honolulu
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the Bureau of Conveyances.
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.
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
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.
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
Probate Attorneys Serving City and County of Honolulu
Hawaii allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in City and County of Honolulu without hiring an attorney. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.
Probate attorney fees in Hawaii are based on reasonable compensation — typically 2.3%HRS § 560:3-721 (court reviews attorney compensation for reasonableness; no statutory fee schedule)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.6%HRS § 560:3-721 (court reviews attorney compensation for reasonableness; no statutory fee schedule)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a City and County of Honolulu firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the First Circuit Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
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
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.
Serves all four Hawaii counties from a Honolulu office on Fort Street. Represents parties in probate and trust litigation, including will and trust contests based on undue influence or lack of capacity, disputes among beneficiaries over shares and distributions, and claims against trustees and personal representatives for mismanagement, improper fees, or self-dealing. The firm's page also addresses challenges involving no-contest clauses.
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
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
Serves Honolulu County from downtown Honolulu. Chris Dias practices probate administration and litigation, trust administration and litigation, and conservatorship and guardianship matters.
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.
Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
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Probate fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value, or net property after debts. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Actual costs vary significantly by county, attorney, and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
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