HRS § 607-5, item (14) · checked 2026-10-21
Probate court fees in Hawaii
Hawaii charges a flat $100 to open an estate, whatever its size (probate, administration or ancillary administration, paid once per estate $100).
- 1$100,000 estate $100
- 2Fee basis Flat fee
- 3Small-estate fee Not listed
- 4Schedule HRS § 607-5, item
Fee to open an estate, by value
| Estate value | Fee | How it is worked out |
|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | $100 | Probate, administration or ancillary administration, paid once per estate $100 |
| $50,000 | $100 | Probate, administration or ancillary administration, paid once per estate $100 |
| $100,000 | $100 | Probate, administration or ancillary administration, paid once per estate $100 |
| $250,000 | $100 | Probate, administration or ancillary administration, paid once per estate $100 |
| $500,000 | $100 | Probate, administration or ancillary administration, paid once per estate $100 |
| $1,000,000 | $100 | Probate, administration or ancillary administration, paid once per estate $100 |
The fee is the same at every value, so a small estate pays as much as a large one to open full administration. At $100,000, 5 of the 18 fee schedules on this site charge less and 12 charge more.
Other charges in the schedule
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Probate, administration, domiciliary foreign personal representative or ancillary administration (once per estate) | $100 |
| Demand for jury trial, including probate cases | $200 |
The probate fee also covers the schedule's items (4) to (9) without an added charge. The schedule says it does not apply to small estates where another statute fixes the amount payable.
Source: Hawaii Revised Statutes § 607-5 (circuit court fees), last checked 2026-10-21. Courts can add copy, certification and publication costs that are not in this schedule.
The small-estate route and its cost
Hawaii's simplified procedure is the small estate administration by the clerk of court (Haw. Rev. Stat. § 560:3-1205), for estates within $100,000. The fetched schedule does not name a separate fee for it. Check the Hawaii limit or see how long probate takes there.
What the court fee does not cover
The schedule above is only the court's own charge. Publishing notice to creditors in a newspaper, certified copies of letters, a fiduciary bond where the court requires one, appraisals and recording fees for real estate are billed separately by whoever provides them. Those notices also start Hawaii's creditor claim period of 4 months (HRS § 560:3-801(a)), which usually decides how soon the estate can close. Most courts can waive or defer fees for a petitioner who cannot pay; the clerk's office has the request form.
Related: probate court fees compared · what probate is · all fee schedules.
Court fees only, read from the official schedule on 2026-10-21. Not legal advice; Probate Clock does not refer anyone to lawyers. Fee waivers are usually available to people who cannot pay — ask the court clerk.