What To Do When Someone Dies in Hawaii
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This checklist provides general guidance for estate settlement. Requirements vary by state and circumstance. Consult a licensed attorney for legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
The immediate priorities are obtaining certified death certificates, securing the residence and valuables, notifying immediate family, and locating any estate planning documents. In Hawaii, you can request death certificates from the funeral home or state vital records office.
Not necessarily. Hawaii allows Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property for estates under $100,000. Estates with a properly funded trust also avoid probate.
In Hawaii, simple estates typically take 6-9 months. Average estates take 9-15 months. Complex estates with disputes can take 15-30 months or longer. The 4-month creditor claim period is a key factor.
Hawaii typically requires a probate bond, but it can be waived if specified in the will. Without a waiver, expect to pay about 0.5% of the estate value annually.
When someone dies without a will in Hawaii, their estate passes through intestate succession - state law determines who inherits. Typically, the surviving spouse and children receive the estate according to Hawaii probate code. A court-appointed administrator handles the estate through probate.
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