Probate in Maui County runs through the Second 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 Maui County, settling their estate runs through the Second 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
Maui County · 2nd Circuit
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
Departments
Second Circuit includes the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, and Molokini. Satellite courts: Lahaina District Court at 1870 Honoapiilani Hwy, Lahaina, HI 96761 (808-661-0970), Hana District Court (808-661-0970), Lanai District Court at 312 Eighth Street, Lanai City, HI 96763 (808-565-6447), Molokai District Court at 55 Makaena Street, Kaunakakai, HI 96748 (808-553-1100, closed 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM for lunch). Document Drop-off service was disabled for Second Circuit as of April 25, 2022.
Verified July 3, 2026 · Source
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 Maui, probate runs through the Second Circuit Court at Hoapili Hale, 2145 Main Street, Suite 106, Wailuku. The court sits in the 2nd Circuit. The same 2nd Circuit also serves Kalawao.
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 Maui County, 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 Second Circuit Court at Hoapili Hale, 2145 Main Street, Suite 106, Wailuku. The court is part of the 2nd Circuit.
Probate matters are handled through Chief Court Administrator, Court & Operational Support Services, Estate & Guardianship, and Legal Documents/File Room. Filing and payment go through these offices, not the main clerk window.
Maui County runs a probate self-help center (2nd & 4th Thursday, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM (in-person); other Mon/Thu, 10:00 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 808-909-2841.
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 Second 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.
If you're handling probate yourself in Maui County, Hawaii, you can file at the Second 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 2nd Circuit.
Filings here are routed through Chief Court Administrator, Court & Operational Support Services, Estate & Guardianship, and Legal Documents/File Room. Confirm with the office which intake handles the petition type you're filing.
How to File Your Documents
You can file your probate documents in person or by mail. While attorneys are required to e-file in Maui County, families handling probate themselves are exempt and can file on paper.
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
View E-Filing InformationPaper Filing Required For
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Second Circuit Court is realistic. Maui County has a self-help center that assists people filing without an attorney.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Maui County Self-Filing Assessment.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Ex Parte Petitions: Do NOT efile directly through JEFS. Submit unfiled original in paper form to the court. 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.
Death Certificates: Must be filed as sealed documents per Hawaii Rules of Probate Rule 3 (confidential by rule).
To file at the Second 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.
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 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.
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
Hawaii allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Maui County 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 Maui County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Second 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.
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.
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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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