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HRS §560:3-302

How a will gets approved without a court hearing

This section explains how a court official approves a will without a formal hearing. It sets waiting periods before approval and says the approval is final unless a formal court case changes it. Small mistakes in the paperwork won't cancel the approval.

beneficiarieschildrencourtsparentspersonal representativesspouses

The statute, as written — Informal probate; duty of registrar; effect of informal probate

(a) Upon receipt of an application requesting informal probate of a will filed by a corporate fiduciary, by a parent, spouse, or reciprocal beneficiary of the decedent, or by a descendant of a parent of the decedent, the registrar, upon making the findings required by section 560:3-303, shall issue a written statement of informal probate appointing a personal representative subject to qualification and acceptance, if at least one hundred twenty hours have elapsed since the decedent's death. (b) Upon receipt of an application requesting informal probate of a will filed by someone other than as enumerated in subsection (a), the registrar shall set a date which shall be the earliest by which the registrar will decide the application. On or after such date, upon making the findings required by section 560:3-303, the registrar shall issue a written statement of informal probate appointing a personal representative subject to qualification and acceptance if at least fourteen days have passed after the last mailing or other delivery of the advance notice required by section 560:3-306, if proof that such notice has been given is filed with the registrar and if no petition for formal testacy proceedings has been filed. (c) Informal probate is conclusive as to all persons until superseded by an order in a formal testacy proceeding. No defect in the application or procedure relating thereto which leads to informal probate of a will renders the probate void.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

Sections this one refers to

§560:3-303 How a will is approved without a court hearing

§560:3-306 Who must get notice in informal probate

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