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HRS §554D-1005

Time Limits for Suing a Trustee for Breach of Trust

This section sets deadlines for when a beneficiary can sue a trustee for breaking trust rules. If the trustee sent a report that revealed a possible claim, the beneficiary has one year to sue. Otherwise, the deadline is three years after certain events, or a different time if the trustee has died.

beneficiariestrustees

The statute, as written — Limitation of action against trustee

(a) A beneficiary shall not commence a proceeding against a trustee for breach of trust more than one year after the date the beneficiary or a representative of the beneficiary, as described in part III, was sent a report that adequately disclosed the existence of a potential claim for breach of trust and informed the beneficiary of the time allowed for commencing a proceeding. (b) A report adequately discloses the existence of a potential claim for breach of trust if it provides sufficient information so that the beneficiary or representative knows or has reason to know of the potential claim or should have inquired into its existence. (c) If subsection (a) does not apply, a judicial proceeding by a beneficiary against a trustee for breach of trust shall be commenced within three years after the first to occur of: (1) The removal or resignation of the trustee; (2) The termination of the beneficiary's interest in the trust; or (3) The termination of the trust. (d) If subsection (a) does not apply, a judicial proceeding by a beneficiary against a deceased trustee for breach of trust shall be commenced within the time frames set forth in section 560:3-803(a).
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

Sections this one refers to

§560:3-803 Deadlines for Filing Claims Against an Estate

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