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HRS §560:2-710

Abolishing the Worthier Title Rule

This section gets rid of an old legal rule called the 'worthier title' doctrine. Now, when a legal document names someone's heirs or relatives as beneficiaries, it does not automatically mean the property goes back to the original owner.

everyone

The statute, as written — Worthier-title doctrine abolished

The doctrine of worthier title is abolished as a rule of law and as a rule of construction. Language in a governing instrument describing the beneficiaries of a disposition as the transferor's "heirs", "heirs at law", "next of kin", "distributees", "relatives", or "family", or language of similar import, does not create or presumptively create a reversionary interest in the transferor.
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.