Hawaii Civil Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Hawaii Civil Court Records

The Hawaii court system has nine courts: the Supreme Court, the Intermediate Court of Appeals, the Circuit Court, the District Court, the Family Court, the Environmental Court, the Land Court, the Tax Appeal Court, and the Office of the Administrative Director of the Courts.

The Supreme Court determines court rules and procedures for all state courts in this state. On the other hand, the Intermediate Court of Appeals is the second-highest court in the state that hears most appeals from state trial courts and agencies.

The Circuit Court handles all civil and criminal cases in Hawaii, whereas the District Court handles landlord-tenant disputes and traffic infractions. When it comes to issues involving children and families, the Hawaii Family Court is the one that makes fair and quick decisions.

The court system in Hawaii also includes the Environmental Court, which handles criminal and civil matters affecting the state's physical environment. While the Land Court has exclusive authority over title registration and property rights.

Furthermore, it contains the Tax Appeal Court and the Office of the Administrative Director of the Courts.

Can you get copies of the Hawaii Civil Court Records? Per the state's Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA), you can access these records in various ways, just as you can with any other public form in the state.

These documents may be in visual, written, auditory, electronic, or other formats, and you may request them without revealing their intended use.

What Are Hawaii Bankruptcy Records?

In Hawaii, bankruptcy records are typically available through credit reports. These data usually include names, assets, debt, court orders, and case decisions.

Individuals who cannot repay creditors may petition for bankruptcy with the District of Hawaii Bankruptcy Court.

In this state, persons can file for numerous sorts of bankruptcy to suit their financial position. But the most common types that people file are:

Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Businesses mainly use this bankruptcy in Hawaii. However, this option is also accessible to people with substantial debts.

If you file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in this state, you can reorganize your debts without halting your business.

For this type of bankruptcy, you'll have to devise a plan to pay back your debts and get the court's approval. It will also let you keep your assets and properties throughout restructuring and repayment.

But remember that this type of bankruptcy is usually complex because you must make a good plan and wait for approval. If parties don't cooperate, the procedure could take years.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

This type of bankruptcy in Hawaii does not require debtors to make repayment plans but rather liquidates their assets and properties to discharge debts.

Upon approval of the bankruptcy petition, the court appoints a trustee who sells the debtor's assets and uses the money to pay off creditors.

Those who want to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy must take a means test. This test compares the applicant's income to Hawaii's median income to determine eligibility.

Most of the time, applicants with incomes below this median are more likely to be approved. However, high-income applicants may also qualify if the court examines other considerations.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

With Hawaii's Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you can pay off your debts without selling any of your assets. Like Chapter 11, this bankruptcy requires the debtor to offer an installment repayment plan.

However, only debtors with sufficient income can file for this type of bankruptcy.

A Chapter 13 bankruptcy plan in Hawaii can last up to five years.

How To Find Hawaii Bankruptcy Records?

Hawaii has several ways to access and acquire bankruptcy records. You can get these records in this state by proceeding to or calling the District of Hawaii Bankruptcy Court.

The state also has eCourt Kokua, which you can use to find bankruptcy records. To utilize this platform, you must create an account, search for the case you want to view, choose the data you want, and choose if you want a certified or uncertified document.

Alternatively, you can get this information through the federal records database PACER.

On Hawaii Bankruptcy Records, you can expect to find the following information:

  • Debtor's personal information and their attorney (if any)
  • Case number
  • Creditor's name and contact details
  • Type of debt
  • Name of the assigned trustee
  • Bankruptcy type
  • Debtor's source of income and assets

What Are Hawaii Property Lien Records?

Hawaii Civil Court Records also contain property lien. In this state, a property lien is a legitimate claim on the collateralized property of a debtor. As a last resort, creditors utilize property liens to collect debts.

In Hawaii, the most common types of property lien records are the following:

Judgment Lien

After a court judgment, a creditor in Hawaii can use a judgment lien to get a certain amount of money from selling a debtor's property.

This state records judgment liens on homes, condos, and land. After being registered, these records will stay on the debtor's assets for ten years, even if the owner of the property changes.

Mortgage Lien

This kind of lien exists when Hawaii residents take a loan to buy a home. Section 506-1 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes asserts that this lien is voluntary since the lienholder approves a mortgage lien to get a loan.

In this state, this type of lien is homeowner-imposed, unlike other property liens imposed by state or federal authorities. As a result, these are usually easier to understand than other liens.

UCC Lien

When giving credit to customers, building contractors and suppliers in Hawaii use UCC liens to ensure they get paid.

These lenders file UCC financing statements (UCC-1 filings) against people who take out loans. It gives them the right to confiscate, impound, or sell the debtor's property if they don't repay the loan on time.

You can file the UCC-1 online using the platform made by the Bureau of Conveyances (BOC) if you are interested.

Aside from these liens, the Hawaii Property Lien Records also include tax and mechanic's liens.

How To Check Hawaii Property Lien Records?

Hawaii government offices are the simplest way to check for state liens.

If you want to check on tax liens, go to the Department of Taxation (DOT) or call the department to get the necessary information.

BOC, the national repository for lien records, also has a search service online for mortgage and mechanic's liens. For judgment liens, visit the Circuit Court Clerk in the lien's jurisdiction.

What Are Hawaii Civil Driving Violation Records?                

Like every other state, Hawaii has three types of civil driving violation records: moving violations, parking violations, and equipment violations.

Moving violations include speeding and running a red light in this state. Parking violations involve parking in a no-parking area or without a permit, while equipment violations include owning a burned-out headlight or an invalid license sticker.

The state's Traffic Courts handle these cases, with penalties based on the offense's severity and the driver's history. However, most civil driving violation records do not result in jail time but fines and points, which sometimes result in the suspension of a driver's license.

How To Look Up Hawaii Civil Driving Violation Records?

Hawaii Civil Driving Violation Records are available on the website of the Hawaii State Judiciary (HSJ).

You can also learn about civil driving violation records in this state by calling or going to HSJ in person. However, you must provide your ticket number and last name to find your traffic violation information over the phone.

Alternatively, you can find these records at no cost on public access terminals in most courthouses in Hawaii.

What Are Hawaii Legal Judgment Records?

Hawaii Legal Judgment Records are civil court records from civil lawsuits. This kind of record shows a court's final decision about a case.

In Hawaii, a judge determines the parties' civil rights and responsibilities. The most prevalent judgment given by courts in this state imposes a personal obligation on the disputing parties. This responsibility usually requires paying particular money or executing or avoiding a specific act.

Rule 54 of Part VII of the Hawaii Rules of Civil Procedure governs the state's legal procedures for civil judgments. These rules explain how courts make judgments and how respondents can execute, reverse, and revive them.

How To Lookup Hawaii Legal Judgment Records?

You can look up legal judgment records online or in person in Hawaii. The first step in finding these records is identifying the court that heard the case. If the records are public, you can view and print them at the courthouses that handled the lawsuits.

To view District and Circuit Court legal judgment records, you can use eCourt Kokua. However, this platform only provides some legal judgment documents. So, if the forms you need aren't available online, you should ask the clerks at the courthouses that kept your records.

In Hawaii Legal Judgement Records, you can typically find the following information:

  • The parties' data and the lawyers
  • The court's decision and the name of the judge and court that made the decision
  • The kind, date, and status of the judgment
  • The parties' specific claims

What Are Hawaii Small Claims Records?

The Hawaii Civil Court Records also have information about Small Claims Records. Criminal files are more thorough than these records; however, it shows the judges' decision.

In this state, Chapter 633, Title 34 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, formed the Small Claims Court to settle civil financial issues quickly and cheaply. This court has limited power that handles civil disputes that don't involve more than $5,000.

According to the state's law, Hawaii's Small Claims Courts have authority over a case like:

  • Rent or lease property recovery
  • Claims for auto repair
  • Dispute between a tenant and a homeowner over a security deposit
  • Claims for casualty injury
  • Loan or debt repayment
  • Claims for company property destruction or seizure

Filing a small claims case in Hawaii is informal, but you must be 18 or older to pay filing expenses.

In this state, you must first get a Statement of Claim from the Service Centre, the court clerk's office, or the court's website.

Then you must fill out the form and explain why you want to file the petition. After filling out the form, you must send it to the Court Clerk or the Service Centre with a $35 filing fee.

However, the judge of the Small Claims Court may eliminate the filing fee if you can demonstrate financial difficulties.

The Court Clerk issues a notice of the trial's date, time, and location after filing the claim. The judge will then presume all the information and make a decision. If you win and retrieve the claim, you must file a Satisfaction of Judgement form to the court.

How To Look Up Hawaii Small Claims Records?

In Hawaii, you can find records of small claims cases both offline and online.

For offline access, you must go to your local Small Claims Court or send a request by mail.

You can also get these records online through the Hawaii eCourt Kokua platform. On this website, you may perform lookups using the personal information, city, or county of any of the parties in the suit.

What Are Hawaii Divorce Court Records?

Hawaii Divorce Court Records consist of papers generated during and after divorce cases filed and resolved in the state. These data are court records in this state and may contain personal information, finances, and criminal details.

However, divorce records in Hawaii are far more difficult to access and research than other sorts of public information.

You can find basic divorce information here if you plan to get a divorce in this state. Before filing for divorce in Hawaii, you must have lived there for at least three months.

After filing a divorce in Hawaii, your divorce court records will include the following:

Divorce Certificate

A divorce certificate shows that a marriage has ended. Hawaii has two kinds of divorce certificates which are the regular divorce certificates and the certified divorce certificates.

Printed on security paper and sealed, certified divorce certificates are accessible by only the divorced parties, immediate family members, and their attorneys.

On the other hand, a regular divorce certificate has a stamp but no seal printed on copy paper. It has similar information to a certified copy and is accessible to anyone who requests it.

In Hawaii, a divorce certificate contains the following:

  • Names of divorced parties
  • Date of divorce
  • Location of divorce

Hawaii District Health Office issued divorce certificates from July 1951 through December 2002. Certificates before and after these dates are accessible at the courts.

Divorce Decree

A divorce decree in Hawaii is the final decision a family court makes when a marriage ends. This document is available in the divorce court and provides the same information as the divorce certificate.

In addition to recognizing the legal end of a marriage, it specifies the divorce terms, including:

  • Alimony payment
  • Child custody and support
  • Schedule of visits
  • Asset division

Divorce decrees are available to divorced parties, spouses, descendants, parents, and attorneys.

Divorce Record

Hawaii divorce records comprise authentic papers introduced and created throughout the trial. It has the entire divorce case file, which includes the following:

  • Orders
  • Motions
  • Complaints
  • Assessments
  • Reports
  • Transcripts

Only divorced parties, spouses, parents, descendants, and attorneys can access divorce documents in Hawaii. But after 75 years, these records will be open to the public.

How To Look Up Hawaii Divorce Court Records?

You can find Hawaii Divorce Court Records by mail, online, or by visiting the Hawaii Family Courts in your county.

If you want divorce records by mail, write to the family court clerk and fill out a purchase of court records form or request access to court records. On the other hand, you can search for these court records online at the eCourt Kokua website.

What Are Hawaii Probate Court Records?

Hawaii requires probate when a person dies owning real estate in their name alone, regardless of value. However, sometimes, a decedent's property may not need to go over probate in this state.

Probate files contain numerous types of records, but Hawaii Probate Court Records often include the following:

  • Wills
  • Estate
  • Trusts

In this state, each county's circuit court handles probate matters. Even if the probate proceedings in Hawaii are similar to those in other states, it has unique rules. It is also one of the few states to have enacted the Uniform Probate Code, which aims to standardize probate rules between states.

How To Look Up Civil Court Cases in Hawaii?

Knowing the court and case type of Hawaii Civil Court Records is the first step in obtaining them.

If the civil court records are publicly available, you can see and copy them by visiting the courthouses that heard the cases of interest in this state.

Also, HSJ developed online databases like eCourt Kokua for a modest fee to access public civil court records.

These platforms offer many court records. However, some may be missing or have inadequate case information. You can contact courthouse clerks in such cases.