Haw. Prob. R. (front matter)

HAWAIʻI PROBATE

(SCRU-13-0000071)

Adopted and Promulgated by

the Supreme Court

of the State of Hawaiʻi

With Amendments as Noted

Comments and commentary are provided by the rules committee

for interpretive assistance. The comments and commentary express

the view of the committee and are not binding on the courts.

The Judiciary

State of Hawaiʻi

HAWAIʻI PROBATE RULES

PART A. GENERAL RULES

I. SCOPE OF RULES

FILING; AUTOMATION

(a) Scope of Rules

(b) Interpretation and Enforcement of Rules

(c) Effect of Hawaiʻi Electronic Filing and Services Rules

(d) Effect of Automation on Process and Procedures

II. PLEADINGS AND PETITIONS

(a) Form

(b) Filings in Response to Petition or Master’s, Guardian ad Litem’s, or Kokua Kanawai’s Report.

(c) Content of Petitions

(d) Documents Sealed Upon Filing

(e) Required Notice; Effect of Failure to Respond

(f) Amendment and Supplementation of Pleadings

(a) Compliance with Rules of the Circuit Courts

(b) Stapling and Punching of Conventionally Filed Documents

(c) Size of Paper, Folding Oversized Documents to Fit

(d) Notation of Hearing Time

(a) Verification of Documents

(b) Signing by Attorneys

(a) Presentation

(b) Format for Court Approval

III. NOTICE; TIME

(a) Permissible Publications

(b) Proof of Publication

(c) Content and Brevity of Notice

(a) Computation

(b) Enlargement

(c) Time to File Pleadings or Reports

(d) Additional Time After Service by Mail

IV. HEARINGS

(a) Permissibility

(b) Arranging Conference Call

(c) Procedure

(a) By the Court

(b) By Request of the Parties

(c) Effect of Continuance on Response Time

(a) Authentication

(1) Domestic

(2) Foreign

(b) Lack of Record

(c) Other Proof

(d) Non-English Documents

(e) Interpreters

(a) Procedure

(b) Effect of Withdrawal on Hearing

V. CONTESTED MATTERS

(a) Assignment

(b) Guideline for Assignment

(c) Effect of Assignment to Civil Trials Calendar

(d) Procedures in Retained Contested Matters

(e) Effect on Underlying Matter

(f) Appeals

(g) Termination of Assignment

(a) For Attendance of Witnesses; Form; Issuance

(b) For Production of Documentary Evidence

(c) Service

(d) Contempt

VI. EX PARTE PROCEEDINGS

VII. ACCOUNTINGS

VIII. MASTERS AND GUARDIANS AD LITEM

(a) Master

(b) Guardian Ad Litem

(c) Order of Appointment

(d) Notice to Official

(e) Termination of Appointment

IX. ORDERS

(a) Entry of Judgment

(b) Interlocutory Orders

(c) Final Judgment Closing Proceeding

(d) Appeals

(a) Clerical Mistakes

(b) Mistakes; Inadvertence; Excusable Neglect; Newly Discovered Evidence; Fraud, Etc.

X. MODEL FORMS

XI. ATTORNEYS' AND FIDUCIARY'S FEES

(a) Amount

(b) Timing of Payment

XII. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

(a) Fiduciary as Attorney's Client

(b) Relationship to Beneficiaries

(c) Officer of Court

(d) Sanctions

(a) Required Notice

(b) Effect of Failure to Appear

(a) Procedures for Posting

(b) Payment of Costs

(c) Proceeding Against Surety

(a) Permissible Delegation

(b) Entry of Orders

(c) Vacation and Effect of Orders

(d) Updating of Letters

PART B. PROBATE PROCEEDINGS

I. COMMENCEMENT

(a) Case Numbers

(b) Identification of Beneficiaries and Heirs

(c) Informal Probate Information Sheet

(d) Flag Sheet

II. NOTICE

III. SPECIAL ADMINISTRATION

IV. INVENTORIES

V. CREDITORS' CLAIMS

VI. SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

(a) Method of Notice

(b) Newspaper Publication

(c) Failure of Notice

(d) Flag Sheet

(a) When Due; Deposits

(b) Overbids

(a) Personal Representatives and Attorney's Fees

(b) Broker's Commissions

VII. DETERMINATION OF HEIRS

VIII. DEPOSIT OF WILLS

(a) Method of Deposit

(b) Assignment of Case Number

(c) Access to Deposited Will

(d) Maintenance of Original Will; Time Limits

IX. ANCILLARY PROCEEDINGS

X. FLAG SHEETS

XI. CONCLUSION OF PROCEEDINGS

XII. MISCELLANEOUS

(a) Manner and Effect of Submission

(b) Procedure for Substituted Service

(a) Preparation and Filing

(b) Duty to Investigate: Demandant

(c) Duty to Investigate: Petitioner

(d) Validity of Demand

(a) Homestead Allowance and Exempt Property

(b) Family Allowance

(c) Elective Share

(a) Application

(b) Acknowledgment

PART C. CONSERVATORSHIP AND GUARDIANSHIP PROCEEDINGS

I. COMMENCEMENT OF PROCEEDING

(a) Conservatorship

(b) Guardianship

II. HEARINGS

III. NOTICE

(a) Conservatorship

(b) Guardianship

(a) Preparation and Filing

(b) Duty to Investigate: Demandant

(c) Duty to Investigate: Petitioner

(d) Validity of Demand

(a) Generally

(b) Personal Service

(a) Proceedings Commenced Prior to January 1, 2005

(b) Proceedings Commenced After January 1, 2005

IV. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS

(a) Bond

(b) Reduction or Elimination of Bond Requirement

(c) Deposit of Funds

(d) Investment of Assets

(e) Setting Forth Plan in Petition

(a) Funding a Pre-Existing Trust

(b) Converting Conservatorship into a Newly-Created Trust

V. KOKUA KANAWAI

VI. SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

VII. ACCOUNTINGS

(a) Definition

(b) Approval of Accountings

(c) Certificate of Audit

(d) No Master, Guardian Ad Litem, or Kokua Kanawai

VIII. FEES

IX. TERMINATION OF PROCEEDINGS

(a) Application

(b) Acknowledgment

PART D. TRUST PROCEEDINGS

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

II. COMMENCEMENT OF PROCEEDINGS

(a) Petition

(b) Vesting Orders

(c) Instructions

(d) Approval of Accountings

(e) Distribution of Assets to Missing Beneficiaries

III. TRUST REGISTRATION

IV. TRUSTEE FEES

PART E. NO-FAULT LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDINGS

I. COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION

II. TERMINATION OF ACTION

III. WHEN PROBATE PROCEEDINGS ARE PENDING

PART F. DETERMINATION OF DEATH PROCEEDINGS

I. COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION

II. NOTICE

III. EVIDENCE

IV. ORDER

APPENDIX A

Exhibit A. MEDIATION RULES FOR PROBATE, TRUST, CONSERVATORSHIP, AND GUARDIANSHIP (MEDIATION RULES)

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HAWAIʻI PROBATE RULES