Petition for Letters of Administration

IMPORTANT: THIS IS A PREPARATION GUIDE — NOT THE OFFICIAL COURT FORM

Hawaii does not use a single standardized petition form statewide; each circuit court
may have its own required forms for petitions for letters of administration. This
template provides the substantive legal content to help you prepare — but you must
obtain and transfer your content to the official form required by your specific circuit
court before filing. Contact the probate division of the applicable Circuit Court or
visit https://www.courts.state.hi.us for official forms.
Do not file this document directly with the court.

PETITION FOR LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE [ORDINAL] CIRCUIT
STATE OF HAWAII

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Caption and Case Information
2. Petitioner Information
3. Decedent Information
4. Basis for Jurisdiction
5. Heirs at Law
6. Grounds for Administration
7. Prayer for Relief
8. Verification
9. Certificate of Service

1. CAPTION AND CASE INFORMATION

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF:

[DECEDENT FULL LEGAL NAME], Deceased.

Probate No.: [____________________________________]

2. PETITIONER INFORMATION

Name: [PETITIONER FULL LEGAL NAME]
Address: [STREET ADDRESS], [CITY], Hawaii [ZIP CODE]
Relationship to Decedent: [RELATIONSHIP]

3. DECEDENT INFORMATION

4. BASIS FOR JURISDICTION

a. The Decedent was domiciled in the [ORDINAL] Circuit, State of Hawaii at the time of death, per HRS § 560:3-201.

b. The Decedent died on [__/__/____].

c. The Decedent died intestate (without a valid Last Will and Testament).

d. ☐ After reasonable diligence, Applicant is unaware of any unrevoked testamentary instrument relating to property in Hawaii (HRS § 560:3-301).

e. ☐ The time limit for informal appointment has not expired (five years or less since death per HRS § 560:3-108).

f. ☐ No prior petition or application for appointment has been granted in Hawaii or elsewhere.

5. HEIRS AT LAW

The heirs at law under Hawaii intestate succession (HRS § 560:2-101 et seq.):

6. GROUNDS FOR ADMINISTRATION

a. The Decedent died possessed of property in Hawaii requiring administration.

b. Estimated value of the estate:

c. Applicant has priority under HRS § 560:3-203 as [STATE PRIORITY BASIS].

d. Applicant is not disqualified from serving.

e. Type of proceeding:
☐ Informal appointment (HRS § 560:3-301)
☐ Formal appointment (HRS § 560:3-402)

f. Bond:
☐ Applicant will furnish bond per HRS § 560:3-603
☐ Applicant requests waiver of bond

7. PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Applicant respectfully requests:

a. The Court/Registrar determine that the Decedent died intestate;

b. Applicant be appointed Personal Representative (Administrator);

c. Letters of Administration be issued upon qualification;

d. Bond be fixed or waived;

e. Such other relief as deemed just.

8. VERIFICATION

STATE OF HAWAII

I, [PETITIONER FULL LEGAL NAME], being duly sworn, state that the foregoing Petition is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief, and that this application is not being made to defraud any person, pursuant to HRS § 560:3-301.

Applicant Signature: ______________________________________

Printed Name: [PETITIONER FULL LEGAL NAME]

Date: [__/__/____]

Subscribed and sworn to before me this [____] day of [____________], [________].

Notary Public: ______________________________________
My Commission Expires: [__/__/____]

9. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I certify that on [__/__/____], a true copy of this Petition was served on all interested persons:

☐ Personal Service
☐ Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested
☐ First Class U.S. Mail

Signature: ______________________________________
Printed Name: [PETITIONER / ATTORNEY NAME]
Hawaii Bar No.: [________________] (if applicable)
Address: [________________________________]
Telephone: [________________________________]
Email: [________________________________]

ATTACHMENTS CHECKLIST:

☐ Certified copy of Death Certificate
☐ Bond or request for waiver (HRS § 560:3-603)
☐ Acceptance of Appointment
☐ Written consents / waivers (if applicable)
☐ Proposed Order of Appointment
☐ Filing fee payment