Estate Inventory and Appraisement Requirements in Hawaii

At a glance

Requirements one by one

The three-month duty does not make court filing mandatory

Haw. Rev. Stat. § 560:3-706 requires preparation within three months after appointment. A special administrator is excluded from that statutory duty, as is a successor when the prior representative already discharged it. Hawaii Probate Rule 60 nevertheless allows a special administrator to file an inventory.

The statute says to prepare and "file or mail" the inventory, then specifically requires copies for interested persons who request them and says the original may be filed. Accordingly, requested delivery is mandatory and original court filing is optional. The cited provisions state no extension standard.

A filed inventory carries additional statewide-rule details

The inventory covers property the decedent owned at death. Section 560:3-706 requires reasonable detail, each item's fair market value as of death, and the type and amount of any encumbrance tied to it.

Under Hawaii Probate Rule 60, a filed inventory's first page shows the date of death and the personal representative's signature. It also shows the aggregate gross value of probate assets then valued, each asset's nature and value, any loans secured by the assets, and an appraiser's name and appraisal date if an appraisal exists. The cited statute and rules prescribe no oath, notarization, or penalty-of-perjury verification for the inventory.

Appraisers are optional, but valuation material is inspectable

Haw. Rev. Stat. § 560:3-707 allows a qualified and disinterested appraiser when an asset's value may be subject to reasonable doubt. Different people may appraise different kinds of assets, and the inventory gives each appraiser's name and address with the item or items appraised.

Rule 60 adds that the filed inventory identifies the appraisal date. It also requires the representative to make appraisals and other documents showing the valuation of listed assets available for inspection by any interested person. Neither the core statutes nor Rules 60-61 state a sealing or confidentiality rule.

The correction form and recipients depend on the original route

Haw. Rev. Stat. § 560:3-708 requires a supplementary inventory or appraisement when omitted property becomes known or an original value or description proves erroneous or misleading. The correction supplies the new or revised death-date market value or description and identifies appraisers or other supporting data, if any. The section states no separate correction deadline.

Hawaii Probate Rule 61 distinguishes a full amendment from a minor supplement. An amendment completely restates the inventory and marks deletions with brackets and additions with underscoring; a supplement states only the minor changes. If the original was filed, the correction is filed and served on all interested persons. If not, it need not be filed and is served on interested persons who request it or requested the original.

Failure to perform a duty of office may support removal for cause under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 560:3-611(b), but removal is not automatic; an interested person petitions and the court determines cause.

What trips people up

Optional filing is not an excuse to skip preparation or a requested copy. The inventory still must be prepared within three months and sent to an interested person who requests it.

Rule 61 broadens service after a filed original. A filed amendment or supplement is served on all interested persons; a privately handled correction goes to interested persons who request it or requested the original.

Signature and inspection rules do not create an oath or appraiser certificate. Rule 60 requires the representative's signature on the first page of a filed inventory and inspection of valuation materials, but the cited authorities do not prescribe a perjury declaration or separate signed appraiser certificate.

Common questions

May different appraisers value different assets?

Yes. Section 560:3-707 expressly allows different appraisers for different kinds of assets.

Must a special administrator prepare the inventory?

Not under § 560:3-706's ordinary duty. Rule 60 does, however, allow a special administrator to file an inventory.

Does every correction have to restate the whole inventory?

No. Rule 61 reserves a complete restatement for an amended inventory and allows a supplement containing only minor changes.

Statutes and sources

• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 560:3-706 — three-month duty, exceptions, contents, requested copies, and optional filing: https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol12_Ch0501-0588/HRS0560/HRS_0560-0003-0706.htm (accessed 2026-08-10).
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 560:3-707 — optional qualified and disinterested appraisers: https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol12_Ch0501-0588/HRS0560/HRS_0560-0003-0707.htm (accessed 2026-08-10).
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 560:3-708 — correction triggers, contents, and routing: https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol12_Ch0501-0588/HRS0560/HRS_0560-0003-0708.htm (accessed 2026-08-10).
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 560:3-611(b) — removal cause, including failure to perform a duty of office: https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol12_Ch0501-0588/HRS0560/HRS_0560-0003-0611.htm (accessed 2026-08-10).
• Hawaii Probate Rules 60-61 — filed-inventory format, valuation-document inspection, amendment and supplement form, filing, and service: https://www.courts.state.hi.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/hpr_ada.htm (accessed 2026-08-10).