For most Maui County 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.
For a Maui County property owner, the biggest probate risk is the home itself. Real estate is what forces most families into the Second Circuit Court. The two tools that keep a Maui County 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, Maui County property passes through the Second Circuit Court — even simple Hawaii probates run 6+ months and start with $215 in filing fees.
A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Maui County 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.
Deeds and other real property documents for Maui County 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 Maui County comes to $41. A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.
Maui County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile / CSC / Indecomm / ePN.
Recording Office Record
Maui County · Registrar of Conveyances · Mike H. Imanaka
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
E-recording
Recording fees
| 1-50 pages | $41 |
| 51+ pages | $106 |
| Oversize Document Fee (51+ pages) | $65 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | Exempt |
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
Verified September 4, 2026 · Source
Solo PracticePaia, HI
Serves Maui's North Shore from Paia. Solo attorney David R. Spee handles probate and estate administration and prepares wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and beneficiary deeds. Licensed in Hawaii since 1989 and does not use mass-marketing seminars.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate LitigationProbate Administration
FirmKahului, HI
Serves Maui from Kahului. Handles probate proceedings, including estate disputes, alongside wills and living trusts. Attorney Jessica Daye holds a certificate in Native Hawaiian Law from Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate Administration
Solo PracticeKihei, HI
Serves Maui County from Kihei. The practice lists probate and fiduciary services together with estate planning, tax planning, and income tax assistance.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationElder LawProbate Administration
Solo PracticeWailuku, HI
Serves Maui County from Wailuku. Handles trust administration and probate proceedings alongside estate planning, with legal assistants experienced in transfer (gift and estate) tax returns, deeds, and transfer on death deeds. Dwight Muraoka is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and has practiced solely in estate planning on Maui for over 34 years.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate Administration
Solo PracticeLahaina, HI
Serves West Maui, including Lahaina, and has practiced there since 1977. Handles probate filing and court representation, guidance for executors and beneficiaries, resolution of estate disputes, and trust administration, along with wills and revocable, irrevocable, and special needs trusts. Offers a free initial consultation for estate planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate Administration
Solo PracticeWailuku, HI
Serves Maui from Wailuku. Handles the initial stages of probate, including appointment of personal representatives, probate of wills, intestate estates, and appointment of special administrators, as well as trust interpretation, guardianship, and conservatorship, and prepares wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. The attorney was raised on Maui; the practice also covers landlord-tenant, criminal defense, and family law.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate Administration
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.
Data sourced from Hawaii statutes and official state code. How we research.
Estate planning articles for Hawaii.
Forms and tools for property owners in Maui County.
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
Create a free, state-specific will with witness and notarization requirements included.
Transfer assets to your existing trust. State execution requirements included.
Transfer real property to a beneficiary upon your death without probate.
Designate someone to make medical decisions on your behalf.
Designate someone to manage your financial affairs.
Answer questions about your estate size, real estate ownership, marital status, and family situation to see how a revocable trust compares to a will alone. Includes estimated probate costs for your state.
Answer questions about your property type, ownership structure, and estate plan to see if a TOD deed is the right approach. Includes state-specific availability, signing requirements, and recording fees.
Compare trusts vs wills for your specific situation. See probate costs, trust administration expenses, and whether your estate qualifies for simplified procedures based on your state and estate value.
Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.
Compare the cost of creating a revocable living trust. See how SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys compare over 5 years including life events.
Estate planning articles for Hawaii.
