Affidavit of Surviving Joint Tenant
IMPORTANT LEGAL NOTICE
This Affidavit of Surviving Joint Tenant is a sworn instrument used to clear title after the death of one joint tenant or tenant by the entirety, establishing that title passed by right of survivorship. Hawaii maintains two separate recording systems (Regular System and Land Court). Verify which system applies to the property before recording, and confirm whether title was held as joint tenants or as tenants by the entirety. Obtain title insurance for complete protection.
AFFIDAVIT OF SURVIVING JOINT TENANT
State of Hawaii
RECORDING INFORMATION
[3.5" TOP MARGIN REQUIRED — LEAVE SPACE ABOVE THIS LINE]
Tax Map Key (TMK): () -_-___:___
Recording System:
☐ Regular System
☐ Land Court System (TCT No. _______________)
☐ Dual System
After Recording Return To:
Name: ________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________
City, State, ZIP: _____________________________
Prepared By:
Name: ________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________
Hawaii Bar No. (if attorney): _________________
PROPERTY / DOCUMENT INFORMATION
| Field | Information |
|---|---|
| County | ☐ Hawaii ☐ Honolulu ☐ Kauai ☐ Maui |
| Tax Map Key (TMK) | () -_-___:___ |
| Property Address | [STREET ADDRESS, CITY, HI ZIP] |
| Legal Description | See Exhibit A |
| Vesting Deed / Prior Doc No. | [DOC NO. or TCT NO.] |
| Deceased Joint Tenant | [DECEDENT NAME] |
| Date of Death | [__/__/____] |
AFFIANT IDENTIFICATION
STATE OF HAWAII )
) SS.
COUNTY OF ______________ )
[AFFIANT FULL LEGAL NAME] ("Affiant"), whose mailing address is [AFFIANT ADDRESS], being first duly sworn on oath, deposes and states upon personal knowledge as follows:
1. Competency and Personal Knowledge. Affiant is over the age of eighteen (18) years, is competent to testify, is under no legal disability, and has personal knowledge of the facts stated in this Affidavit. This Affidavit is made for the purpose of establishing that title to the real property described in Exhibit A has vested in the surviving owner(s) by right of survivorship.
SWORN RECITALS
2. Decedent. [DECEDENT FULL LEGAL NAME] ("Decedent") died on the _____ day of _________________, 20_____, at [PLACE OF DEATH — City, Island/County, State]. At the time of death, Decedent was a record owner of the real property described in Exhibit A attached hereto (the "Property"). A certified copy of Decedent's certificate of death is attached hereto and recorded herewith.
3. Vesting Deed. Title to the Property was conveyed to Decedent and Affiant (and ____________________, if applicable) by that certain [GRANTING INSTRUMENT — e.g., Warranty Deed / Quitclaim Deed] dated the _____ day of _________________, 20_____, and recorded:
☐ In the Bureau of Conveyances of the State of Hawaii (Regular System) as Document No. _____________; or
☐ In the Office of the Assistant Registrar of the Land Court of the State of Hawaii (Land Court System) as Document No. _____________, noted on Transfer Certificate of Title No. _____________
(the "Vesting Deed"). The Vesting Deed expressly conveyed title to the grantees, and the tenor of the instrument manifestly indicated their intention to hold:
☐ as joint tenants (with right of survivorship), per HRS § 509-2; or
☐ as tenants by the entirety (Decedent and Affiant being spouses or reciprocal beneficiaries), per HRS § 509-2.
4. Legal Description and TMK. The Property is more particularly described in Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
- Property Address: _____________________________________________
- Tax Map Key (TMK): () -_-___:___
5. Affiant Is the Surviving Owner. Affiant is the same person named as a surviving joint tenant (or surviving spouse/reciprocal beneficiary tenant by the entirety) in the Vesting Deed. The survivorship estate created by the Vesting Deed was never severed, partitioned, or terminated by any recorded instrument, divorce, annulment, or termination of a reciprocal beneficiary relationship prior to Decedent's death, and remained in full force and effect as of the date of Decedent's death.
6. Vesting by Right of Survivorship. Upon the death of Decedent, by operation of the right of survivorship attaching to the estate created under HRS § 509-2, Decedent's interest in the Property terminated and full title to the Property vested in the surviving owner(s):
☐ [AFFIANT NAME], as sole surviving joint tenant / surviving tenant by the entirety, who now owns the Property in fee simple; or
☐ [AFFIANT NAME] and ____________________, as surviving joint tenants with right of survivorship.
Decedent's interest in the Property did not pass through Decedent's estate, is not subject to probate or administration, and forms no part of any intestate or testate distribution.
7. Estate Tax, Inheritance, and Liens. As of the date hereof, to the best of Affiant's knowledge and belief:
☐ The Property is not subject to any unpaid Hawaii estate tax (HRS Chapter 236E) or any inheritance tax.
☐ Any federal estate tax that may be due has been or will be paid, and no federal estate tax lien (26 U.S.C. § 6324) encumbers the Property except as noted below.
☐ There are no unpaid liens, judgments, or unsatisfied encumbrances against Decedent or the Property arising by, through, or under Decedent, except:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
8. Statutory Basis and Request to Record. This Affidavit is made pursuant to HRS § 509-2 and the recording provisions of HRS Chapter 502 (Regular System) and/or HRS Chapter 501 (Land Court), for the purpose of establishing of record that title to the Property has vested in the surviving owner(s) by right of survivorship. Affiant requests that this Affidavit, together with the attached certified death certificate, be recorded and/or registered to clear title to the Property.
9. Reliance. Affiant makes this Affidavit knowing that the Bureau of Conveyances, the Land Court, title examiners, title insurers, purchasers, and lenders will rely upon the statements herein in determining the state of title to the Property.
VERIFICATION AND JURAT
FURTHER AFFIANT SAYETH NAUGHT.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Hawaii that the foregoing is true and correct.
________________________________________
[AFFIANT NAME], Affiant
Date: _________________________
Jurat (Hawaii — HRS § 502-42)
STATE OF HAWAII )
) SS.
COUNTY OF ______________ )
Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me on this _____ day of
_________________, 20_____, by ___________________________________,
proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person who
appeared before me.
________________________________________
Notary Public, State of Hawaii
My Commission Expires: _________________
Print Name: ____________________________
Document Date: _________________________
Number of Pages: _______________________
Doc. Description: Affidavit of Surviving Joint Tenant
Jurisdiction: Circuit: _____ / State: Hawaii
Signature of Notary: ___________________
Date of Notarization: __________________
(NOTARY STAMP/SEAL REQUIRED)
[NOTARY SEAL]
EXHIBIT A — LEGAL DESCRIPTION
Property Address:
[STREET ADDRESS]
[CITY], Hawaii [ZIP]
Tax Map Key (TMK): () -_-___:___
Recording System: ☐ Regular System ☐ Land Court (TCT No. _______)
Legal Description:
[INSERT COMPLETE LEGAL DESCRIPTION]
For Regular System Property:
All of that certain parcel of land situate at [AHUPUAA], District of [DISTRICT], Island and County of [COUNTY], State of Hawaii, described as follows:
[METES AND BOUNDS or LOT DESCRIPTION]
Being the same land conveyed to Decedent and Affiant by the Vesting Deed recorded in the Bureau of Conveyances as Document No. _____________.
For Land Court Property:
All of that certain parcel of land situate at [AHUPUAA], District of [DISTRICT], Island and County of [COUNTY], State of Hawaii, being Lot _____ as shown on Map _____, filed in the Office of the Assistant Registrar of the Land Court of the State of Hawaii with Transfer Certificate of Title No. _____________.
ATTACHMENT — CERTIFIED DEATH CERTIFICATE
☐ A certified copy of the certificate of death of [DECEDENT NAME] is attached hereto and recorded/registered herewith.
NOTE: A certified copy of the decedent's death certificate is customarily required and is recorded together with this Affidavit so that the survivorship vesting appears of record (Regular System) or is noted by the Assistant Registrar on the Transfer Certificate of Title (Land Court).
HAWAII RECORDING REQUIREMENTS
- Bureau of Conveyances: All documents are recorded at the State of Hawaii Bureau of Conveyances in Honolulu.
- Two systems: Regular System (grantor/grantee index) vs. Land Court (Torrens / certificate of title). Check the prior deed label: upper LEFT corner = Land Court; upper RIGHT corner = Regular System; both = Dual System.
- 3.5" top margin required on the first page (HRS § 502-41).
- Acknowledgment / jurat in the form prescribed by HRS § 502-42.
- TMK number and return address required.
- For Land Court property, the Assistant Registrar will note the survivorship and may issue a new Transfer Certificate of Title in the surviving owner(s)' name.
Statutory References
- HRS § 509-1 — creation of estates; tenancy in common presumption
- HRS § 509-2 — joint tenancy, tenancy by the entirety, tenancy in common
- HRS § 502-41 — recordable instruments; requirements
- HRS § 502-42 — acknowledgments
- HRS § 502-83 — effect of recording (Regular System)
- HRS Chapter 501 — registered land (Land Court)
About This Template
Real estate documents transfer ownership, define who can use a property, and record agreements between buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants. Deeds, purchase agreements, leases, and easements have to be drafted to meet state recording requirements, and mistakes show up at closing or years later in title disputes. Good real estate paperwork moves transactions forward quickly and avoids the kind of problems that only surface when it is time to sell or refinance.
Important Notice
This template is provided for informational purposes. It is not legal advice. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Last updated: June 2026
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