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The End of Life Plannerby Valoren

General information · not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.

Free · general informationHawaii

What to do when someone dies in Hawaii

The first things Hawaii’s own law asks for after a death, quoted word for word, then the pages for everything that follows, in the order it usually comes. Nothing here decides what a particular family must do. That belongs to the office named, the court, or an attorney in Hawaii.

  • Every fact dated, in the official words
  • Each state’s own law

Every quotation checked October 24, 2026

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The free first-week checklist

Pages taken from the planner, by email: who to phone first, and a blank records sheet.

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Every quotation on this page is the official body’s own words, as they stood on the day we read them. The date is beside each one.

A will deposited with the court after a death: who may see it, and how long it is kept

The will has its own rules. These are Hawaii’s own words on who brings it to the court after a death, and what the court does with it.

Any individual may deposit with the court the original will and any codicils for safekeeping without probate after the death of the individual who executed the will.

A will, once deposited, shall be considered a public document and open for inspection by the general public. No certified copies of deposited wills may be issued.

an original will deposited with the court shall be maintained for 20 years after the death of the person who executed the will

Hawaii · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Haw. Prob. R. 74(a), (c), (d)

What the person holding a will must do when asked for it, as the court’s rules describe the statute

although HRS § 560:2-516 provides that a custodian of a will, on request of an interested person, must deliver the will to a person able to secure its probate or to an appropriate court.

Hawaii · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Haw. Prob. R. 74 commentary (describing HRS §560:2-516)

The same page for other states

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FAQ

Common questions

although HRS § 560:2-516 provides that a custodian of a will, on request of an interested person, must deliver the will to a person able to secure its probate or to an appropriate court.

Any individual may deposit with the court the original will and any codicils for safekeeping without probate after the death of the individual who executed the will.

A will, once deposited, shall be considered a public document and open for inspection by the general public. No certified copies of deposited wills may be issued.

an original will deposited with the court shall be maintained for 20 years after the death of the person who executed the will

Hawaii · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Haw. Prob. R. 74(a), (c), (d)

Any individual may deposit with the court the original will and any codicils for safekeeping without probate after the death of the individual who executed the will.

A will, once deposited, shall be considered a public document and open for inspection by the general public. No certified copies of deposited wills may be issued.

an original will deposited with the court shall be maintained for 20 years after the death of the person who executed the will

Hawaii · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Haw. Prob. R. 74(a), (c), (d)

For anyone who would rather their family found it all in one place than went looking.

A couple. A parent. An adult child and a parent, doing it together. One sitting starts it; keep it current, and tell someone where it is.

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