Do I Need a TOD Deed in Kauai County, Hawaii?
Hawaii authorizes transfer on death deedsHRS 527-1 to 527-17Verified Oct 17, 2026View source; in Kauai County the Bureau of Conveyances records one for $41 for 1-50 pages, $106 for 51+ pages.
The Bureau of Conveyances charges $41 for 1-50 pages, $106 for 51+ pages. Most transfer on death deeds run two to four pages. Transfer on death deeds are exempt from transfer tax in Kauai County.
Record the transfer on death deed at the Bureau of Conveyances, 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 120, Honolulu, HI 96813. Office hours: Monday-Friday 7:45 AM-4:30 PM (except state holidays).
Yes. Kauai County accepts e-recording through Simplifile, CSC, Indecomm and ePN. The office's e-recording portal carries the details.
A transfer on death deed in Hawaii requires notary acknowledgmentHRS 527-1 to 527-17Verified Oct 18, 2026View source before it can be recorded in Kauai County.
No. A transfer on death deed transfers only the property described in it. Bank accounts, vehicles and other real estate pass through a will (probate) or a trust. When a single deed is not enough, SimplyTrust sets up a revocable trust online that covers every property and account in one document.
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New Baby or Adoption
Your family is growing. Your protection should too. Guardian nominations, trusts for minors, beneficiary updates, and the documents new parents need in place.
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Marriage
What married couples need in place: one joint trust or two, wills, beneficiary updates, and the spousal rights your state grants you automatically.
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New Home
How to put your house in a revocable trust: the deed you record, what it does to your mortgage and property taxes, and when a TOD deed is simpler.
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Retirement
Retirement changes your financial picture. Healthcare directives, beneficiary reviews, long-term care planning, and protecting what you've built.
Learn moreForms for Planning Your Estate in Hawaii
Free forms for planning your estate in Hawaii: will, living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney and TOD deed. Prepare each form for Hawaii.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Hawaii allows a choice for a healthcare power of attorney: 2HRS § 327E-16Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses or a notary.
HIPAA Release
In Hawaii, a HIPAA release names who may receive your records and, as the state requires, names HIV/AIDS-related information and reproductive health informationHRS § 325-101(a); HRS § 323J-2(a)Verified Jun 19, 2026View source expressly before a provider releases them.
Financial Power of Attorney
Hawaii treats a power of attorney as durable by defaultHRS § 551E-3, § 551E-5, § 551E-9, § 551E-15, § 551E-16, § 551E-31, § 551E-47, § 551E-51 (L 2014, c 22); HRS § 502-84, § 501-174 (recording)Verified Sep 18, 2026View source, and it is signed with no witness or notary requirementHRS § 551E-3, § 551E-5, § 551E-9, § 551E-15, § 551E-16, § 551E-31, § 551E-47, § 551E-51 (L 2014, c 22); HRS § 502-84, § 501-174 (recording)Verified Oct 21, 2026View source.
Transfer on Death Deed
In Hawaii, a transfer on death deed is signed before a notaryHRS 527-1 to 527-17Verified Oct 18, 2026View source, then recorded with the county before the owner's deathHRS 527-1 to 527-17Verified Oct 18, 2026View source. Hawaii does not recognize a Lady Bird deed.
Living Will
In Hawaii, the living will is the Advance Health-Care DirectiveHRS ch. 327E (Uniform Health-Care Decisions Act (Modified)), §§ 327E-1 to 327E-16Verified Sep 27, 2026View source, a written instruction that is valid with no agent named.
Last Will and Testament
In Hawaii, a will is signed before 2HRS § 560:2-502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyHRS § 560:2-502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.
Codicil to a Will
In Hawaii, a codicil is signed before 2HRS § 560:2-502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, like a will, and the self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyHRS § 560:2-504Verified Oct 25, 2026View source.
Tools for Planning Your Estate in Hawaii
Free tools for planning your estate in Hawaii: will and trust costs, trust or TOD deed, and the signing rules. Run each tool for Hawaii and read its answer.
Do I Need a Vehicle TOD?
Hawaii does not offer a transfer-on-death designation on a vehicle title; a vehicle passes by will, trust, joint title, or probate.
How Much Is the Federal Gift Tax?
Whether a gift owes federal gift tax, how much of the annual exclusion and lifetime exemption it uses, and whether Form 709 is due.
What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?
An attorney-prepared revocable trust in Hawaii runs $3,900Estimate: 10 hours at $390, Clio's Hawaii Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $5,850Estimate: 15 hours at $390, Clio's Hawaii Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source and a simple will $1,218Estimate: 3 hours at $406, Clio's Hawaii Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,436Estimate: 6 hours at $406, Clio's Hawaii Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?
In Hawaii, four years at a public university cost about $90,456NCES Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 330.20, public 4-year in-state tuition, fees, room and board, academic year 2022-23Verified Oct 17, 2026View source and the cost of living is 10% above the U.S. averageBEA Regional Price Parities, all items, by state, 2024Verified Oct 17, 2026View source; the state levies an estate taxHRS § 236E-6, § 236E-8Verified Sep 15, 2026View source above $5,490,000HRS § 236E-6, § 236E-8Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected?
Hawaii automatically revokes an ex-spouse as beneficiary at divorceHRS § 560:2-804Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; employer plans under ERISA follow federal rules either way, so a 401(k) beneficiary changes only by a new designation.
How Do I Sign Estate Documents?
In Hawaii, a will is signed before 2HRS § 560:2-502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and notarization is not requiredHRS § 560:2-502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.
Will My Estate Documents Transfer?
Hawaii recognizes a will signed under the law of the place where it was signedHRS § 560:2-506Verified Oct 18, 2026View source; a will signed in Hawaii itself needs 2HRS § 560:2-502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and notarization is not requiredHRS § 560:2-502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Hawaii costs an estimated $28,206HRS § 560:3-721 (court reviews attorney compensation for reasonableness; no statutory fee schedule)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees run 2.3%Modeled estimate under HRS § 560:3-721 (court reviews attorney compensation for reasonableness; no statutory fee schedule): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.6%Modeled estimate under HRS § 560:3-721 (court reviews attorney compensation for reasonableness; no statutory fee schedule): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.
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Hawaii Estate Planning Resources
In-depth guides covering Hawaii probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.