The figures on this page are general estimates. Laws, fees, thresholds, and prices differ by state and change often, and your own situation may change the result. Before you act, confirm the current numbers and rules for Hawaii with a licensed professional — an attorney, tax advisor, or licensed agent as appropriate. Reading this page does not create a professional relationship.
This page is built to print. Use your browser's Print command and choose "Save as PDF" for a one-page Hawaii reference. Every figure below is compiled from the statutes and state authorities listed at the bottom — the same sources cited on our Hawaii probate pages.
Hawaii probate fees
| Item | Hawaii |
|---|---|
| Court filing fee | The base probate filing fee in the Circuit Court is about $100 (HRS § 607-5.5), plus newspaper publication of the notice to creditors (commonly $150–$300). |
| Attorney fees | Not statutory. Attorneys charge an hourly rate or a flat fee; some use percentage arrangements. Fees must be reasonable and are reviewable under HRS § 560:3-721. |
| Executor / personal representative fees | Reasonable compensation under HRS § 560:3-719, not a fixed percentage. Family personal representatives frequently waive it. |
| Fee basis | reasonable |
| Appraisal / referee | Not used. Hawaii does not appoint a state appraiser. The personal representative prepares an inventory and may hire appraisers as needed. |
Worked example
On a $500,000 Hawaii estate there is no statutory percentage; a personal representative's fee of about 2–4% ($10,000–$20,000) would be typical for ordinary administration, subject to court review under HRS §560:3-721.
Hawaii thresholds and deadlines
| Item | Hawaii |
|---|---|
| Small-estate threshold | Estates not exceeding $100,000 can use simplified procedures — a small-estate affidavit for personal property and summary administration — under HRS § 560:3-1201 and the Uniform Probate Code's small-estate provisions. |
| Creditor claim period | A claim is barred unless presented within the earlier of two periods (HRS §560:3-803(a)). The first is four months after the date of first publication of the notice to creditors under §560:3-801(a), or 60 days after service of written notice under §560:3-801(b), whichever of those two expires later. The second is 18 months after the decedent's death, which applies where notice has neither been published nor served — because the statute bars a claim unless it is presented within the earlier of the two paragraphs, the 18 months operates as a ceiling rather than an extension. A claim barred by the nonclaim statute of the decedent's domicile before notice is given in Hawaii is barred in Hawaii too (§560:3-803(b)), and §560:3-803(d) leaves untouched, to the limits of the insurance only, a proceeding to establish liability covered by liability insurance. A disallowed claim is barred unless the claimant petitions or sues within 60 days of the notice of disallowance (§560:3-806). |
| Statutory floor (creditor period) | A claim is barred unless presented within the earlier of two periods (HRS §560:3-803(a)). The first is four months after the date of first publication of the notice to creditors under §560:3-801(a), or 60 days after service of written notice under §560:3-801(b), whichever of those two expires later. The second is 18 months after the decedent's death, which applies where notice has neither been published nor served — because the statute bars a claim unless it is presented within the earlier of the two paragraphs, the 18 months operates as a ceiling rather than an extension. A claim barred by the nonclaim statute of the decedent's domicile before notice is given in Hawaii is barred in Hawaii too (§560:3-803(b)), and §560:3-803(d) leaves untouched, to the limits of the insurance only, a proceeding to establish liability covered by liability insurance. A disallowed claim is barred unless the claimant petitions or sues within 60 days of the notice of disallowance (§560:3-806). |
| Transfer-on-death deed | No transfer-on-death deed statute for real property was found in the Hawaii statutes, and no source publishing one is cited here. The Hawaii statutes could not be read at a primary source from the environment this page was checked in, and the only source previously cited for this field was a commercial reproduction of the code. |
What passes outside Hawaii probate
These transfers are not part of the estate the fees above are calculated on:
- Beneficiary designations — retirement accounts, life insurance, payable-on-death accounts.
- Joint ownership with right of survivorship.
- Transfer-on-death deed — No transfer-on-death deed statute for real property was found in the Hawaii statutes, and no source publishing one is cited here. The Hawaii statutes could not be read at a primary source from the environment this page was checked in, and the only source previously cited for this field was a commercial reproduction of the code.
- Assets titled into a funded living trust.
Sources for this sheet
- Statutes: HRS § 560:3-719 (personal representative compensation); HRS § 560:3-801 (notice to creditors); HRS § 560:3-803 (limitation on claims); HRS § 560:3-806 (allowance of claims); HRS § 560:3-1201 (small-estate collection); HRS Ch. 527 (transfer-on-death deed)
- State authority: Hawaii State Judiciary (courts.state.hi.us)
- Creditor claim period: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/vol12_ch0501-0588/hrs0560/HRS_0560-0003-0803.htm
Compiled August 15, 2026 from the sources listed above. Fee schedules, thresholds, and court costs are amended by legislatures and courts — confirm each figure against the cited statute or the Hawaii court before relying on it.
The full Hawaii guides
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How Much Does Probate Cost in Hawaii? — the full cost breakdown.
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How Much Does an Executor Get Paid in Hawaii? — the fee rule in detail.
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How Long Does Probate Take in Hawaii? — the timeline and its statutory floor.
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How to Avoid Probate in Hawaii — the transfers that pass outside it.
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How Much Does a Will Cost in Hawaii? — execution requirements and pricing.
Fee sheets for other states
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This sheet sets out Hawaii probate figures as published at the time of compilation. It is not legal advice. Figures and statutes change and their application depends on the specific estate. Confirm current figures with the Hawaii courts or a licensed Hawaii attorney.