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HRS §535-1

Enforcing a Dead Person's Contract to Sell Land

If someone signed a written contract to sell real estate but dies before finishing the sale, the buyer can go to court to force the sale. The buyer must start the court case within one year after the estate's administrator is appointed.

buyerscourtspersonal representatives

The statute, as written — Specific performance of decedent's contracts to convey real estate

When any person, who is bound by a contract in writing to convey any real estate, dies before making the conveyance, the other party may commence an action in a circuit court to enforce a specific performance of the contract, the action to be commenced within one year after the grant of administration. [CC 1859, §1057; RL 1925, §2862; RL 1935, §4760; RL 1945, §12151; RL 1955, §321-1; HRS §535-1; am L 1972, c 108, §4(a); am L 1976, c 200, pt of §1; am L 1977, c 144, §61]
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.