← Back to search

HRS §571-3

Family courts are part of the circuit courts

Family courts are part of the state's circuit courts, not separate courts. They meet at the courthouse in each circuit. A family court judge can be temporarily sent to another circuit if needed. The court has general fairness powers in cases it handles.

courts

The statute, as written — Family courts, divisions of circuit courts

The family courts shall be divisions of the circuit courts of the State and shall not be deemed to be other courts as that term is used in the State Constitution. A family court shall be held at the courthouse in each circuit, or other duly designated place, by the judge or judges of the respective family courts as herein defined. The chief justice of the supreme court may temporarily assign a family court judge to preside in another circuit when the urgency of one or more cases requires the chief justice to do so. In any case in which it has jurisdiction the court shall exercise general equity powers as authorized by law.
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.