Hawaii County Probate Court Records Lookup

Hawaii County probate court records live at the Third Circuit Court, which runs two divisions on the Big Island. The Hilo Judiciary Complex on Kilauea Avenue serves East Hawai'i. The Keahuolu Courthouse in Kailua-Kona serves West Hawai'i. Each division keeps its own set of probate files. You can search Hawaii County probate court records online through the state Judiciary portal or visit the clerk's counter in person to pull a file. Staff help you find a case by decedent name or case number. Most files are public, though some parts may be sealed.

Third Circuit Court for Hawaii County

The Third Circuit Court handles all probate work for Hawaii County. Because the Big Island is so spread out, the court runs two full divisions. The Hilo Judiciary Complex sits at 777 Kilauea Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720, with the phone at (808) 961-7300. The Keahuolu Courthouse is at 74-5451 Kamakaeha Avenue, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, with the phone at (808) 327-6800. Filings can usually go to either division, though local practice and convenience often decide.

The Probate Division in the Third Circuit takes decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust cases. Small estate petitions for simpler matters run here too. The court provides an online document drop-off for Hawaii County, so attorneys and self-represented filers can submit papers without a trip to the counter. The Circuit Courts page lists each division's hours and service area.

Hawaii County probate court records are mostly public. Walk into either clerk's office with the case number or the decedent's name and ask for the file. Bring a photo ID. The clerk pulls the file and lets you read it at a public counter. Plain copies cost less than certified ones. Certified copies carry the court seal and are needed for things like real estate transfers and bank closings.

Here is the Circuit Courts page. The Hawaii State Judiciary publishes Circuit Court info at courts.state.hi.us/courts/circuit, which is the portal for Hawaii County probate court records.

The page includes the Third Circuit's Hilo and Kona addresses, plus the clerk's phone lines.

Hawaii County Government Resources

The County of Hawai'i runs the Real Property Tax Division out of two offices. The East Hawai'i office is at the Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 4, Hilo, HI 96720, phone (808) 961-8201. The West Hawai'i office is at 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building D, 2nd Floor, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, phone (808) 323-4880. Hours run 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. Lisa Miura serves as Administrator.

The division assesses every parcel on the Big Island based on fair market value. It also collects taxes set under Chapter 19 of the Hawai'i County Code. Executors and heirs use the online property search to find every parcel the estate owns. Tax Map Key numbers help cross-reference records with the probate inventory. Delinquent taxes must be paid before any parcel can transfer to a beneficiary.

The Office of the County Clerk handles legislative and election records. County Clerk Jon Henricks leads the office. The phone is (808) 961-8255 and the email is clerk-council@hawaiicounty.gov. While the County Clerk does not handle probate matters, the office's public documents can help with property research and with understanding local ordinances that affect estate property. Visit the Clerk's page for details.

The Hawai'i County Prosecuting Attorney handles criminal cases that sometimes touch probate. That includes elder abuse, financial exploitation, and identity theft tied to a decedent. The East Hawai'i Victim Assistance line is (808) 934-3306. The West Hawai'i Victim Assistance line is (808) 322-2552. The Hawaiʻi Police Department answers non-emergency calls at (808) 935-3311, and police reports tied to a death can be ordered through (808) 961-2233 in East Hawai'i or (808) 326-4646, ext. 285 in West Hawai'i.

Hawaii County Death Certificates

The Third Circuit Court needs a certified death certificate to open a probate case. The Hawaii Island District Health Office in Hilo handles local vital records service. For questions, call the main state office at (808) 586-4539. You can also order online through the state's vital records portal for mail delivery to any Big Island address.

Most estates need five to ten certified copies. Banks, brokerages, insurance companies, and the property tax office all need one. The probate petition filed at Hilo or Kona needs one too. The main Vital Records Office in Honolulu at 1250 Punchbowl Street can mail copies statewide. Online orders are the fastest route for Big Island residents who do not want to travel.

Here is the Vital Records page. The Department of Health Vital Records runs its site at health.hawaii.gov/vitalrecords, which issues the death certificates needed for Hawaii County probate court records.

Order online for fast mail delivery to Hilo, Kona, or anywhere else on the Big Island.

Hawaii County Business and License Records

When an estate includes Big Island businesses, the personal representative has to research them. The DCCA Business Registration Division keeps entity records for the whole state. Executors can search by company name or by officer name. The search shows filings, annual reports, and current status. Certified copies of articles of incorporation can be ordered online for mail delivery.

RICO maintains two Hawaii Island offices. The Hilo office is at 120 Pauahi Street, Suite 212, Hilo, HI 96720. The Kona office is at the Hualalai Center, Room C-309, 75-170 Hualalai Road, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. Both offices handle license verifications and complaint intake for Hawaii County. Executors use RICO to verify that real estate agents, contractors, and financial advisers are properly licensed before hiring them to handle estate work.

Here is the DCCA Business Registration page. DCCA Business Registration is at cca.hawaii.gov/breg, where Hawaii County estate representatives pull Hawaii County probate court records involving business filings.

Search by name or officer to find companies the decedent owned or served in.

Historical Hawaii County Probate Records

Old Hawaii County probate files end up at the Hawaii State Archives in Honolulu. The Archives holds court records, wills, and estate inventories from the Kingdom, Republic, and Territorial periods. Land conveyances for Big Island properties going back to the 1800s are part of the collection. Researchers doing genealogy or property title work on older Big Island estates often start at the Digital Archives.

Here is the Digital Archives page. The Hawaii Digital Archives at digitalarchives.hawaii.gov hosts scanned Hawaii County probate court records, wills, and estate inventories from the Kingdom period forward.

Filter by decedent name, document type, or date range to find the right historical file.

Legal Help for Hawaii County Probate

The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii helps low-income Big Island residents with probate matters. The toll-free line for neighbor island callers is 1-800-499-4302. The older Hilo Legal Aid line at (808) 961-2851 and the Kona line at (808) 329-8331 are still listed in some directories. Phone intake runs Monday through Friday in set morning and afternoon windows. Walk-in intake is not offered.

For help finding the right resource, Legal Navigator Hawaii is a free online tool. You type in your issue in plain words and the tool points you to the right place. The state Judiciary's own self-help portal has probate forms, guides, and tips for self-represented filers. Big Island residents can use these resources without traveling to O'ahu.

For statute research, the Hawaii Revised Statutes on Justia cover the probate chapters in full. Chapter 531 is the Uniform Probate Code. Chapter 532 is the Uniform Trust Code. Chapter 534 covers adult guardianship. The Intermediate Court of Appeals handles most appeals from Third Circuit probate rulings. The Hawaii Supreme Court has the final word.

Neighboring counties include Honolulu County for the First Circuit and Maui County for the Second Circuit. When a decedent owned property on more than one island, the estate may need ancillary probate in more than one circuit. Call the Hilo or Kona clerk with questions.