Probate cost in Hawaii
In Hawaii, estates up to $100,000 can often skip full probate. For a $300,000 estate, the court fee is $215.
Hawaii's small estate limit is $100,000. Above it, the estate usually goes through probate.
- Court fee to open probate source$215
- Attorney feeNo legal schedule: set by agreement or the courtset by agreement
- Executor fee sourceNo legal schedule: set by agreement or the courtset by agreement
Probate total$215+
The total leaves out the costs shown without a number.
- Quicken WillMaker & Trust Plus sourceOne-time price for one person$149
- Yearly feeoptional yearly renewal$40
- Moving a home into the trustSet by your county recordercounty recording fee
Trust total$149+
Assets left outside the trust can still need probate.
Probate cost by estate size
| Estate value | Court fee | Attorney (law) | Executor (law) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100,000 | $215 | not set by law | not set by law | $215+ |
| $250,000 | $215 | not set by law | not set by law | $215+ |
| $500,000 | $215 | not set by law | not set by law | $215+ |
| $1,000,000 | $215 | not set by law | not set by law | $215+ |
"Not set by law" means the fee is agreed with the lawyer or set by the court, so it is not in the total. Use your own numbers.
The rules in Hawaii
- Small estate limit: $100,000 (Collection of personal property by affidavit (HRS 560:3-1201)). Does not cover real estate. Limit is the gross value of the decedent's estate in Hawaii. Moves personal property only. Motor vehicles can transfer regardless of value. The statute text sets no waiting period (a death certificate is required). Not indexed; last amended 2000 (L 2000, c 48 and c 102). capitol.hawaii.gov returned 403 (Cloudflare), so the Wayback Machine copy was read. Carried over from the first pass; not re-checked in this pass. Source
- Simplified probate: Estates of $100,000 or less; clerk of court to administer (HRS 560:3-1205), up to $100,000. Source
- Court fee: $215 for a $300,000 estate. Hawaii Judiciary civil filing fee list (updated 6/17/2022): Probate Application/Petition $100 (covers probate of will, informal proceedings, appointment of personal representative and others), plus Indigent Surcharge $65 and Admin Fee $50 in the same probate group. Total $215. Carried over from the first pass; not re-checked in this pass. Source
- Attorney fee: No legal schedule: set by agreement or the court. No statutory attorney fee schedule is known. Not verified against statute text (HRS 560:3-721).
- Executor fee: No legal schedule: set by agreement or the court. HRS 560:3-719: personal representative is entitled to reasonable compensation. Read via Wayback copy in the first pass. Source
Some Hawaii rules could not be checked on a current official page. Each rule links to the source we used. Confirm with the court or a lawyer before you rely on it.
General information from official state sources, not legal advice.