Ancillary Probate Attorney in Hawaiʻi
What is Ancillary Probate?
Ancillary probate is a secondary probate proceeding filed in Hawaii when a person who was not domiciled in Hawaii dies owning property or real estate here. If your loved one passed away while living outside of Hawaii but left behind property or real estate here, you may need an ancillary probate to properly transfer or sell those local assets.
With over 20 years of probate experience, Attorney Victoria Lin Sakamaki guides families and personal representatives through the unique requirements of ancillary probate in Hawaii.
Whether the property is located on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, or the Big Island, our office ensures the process is handled efficiently and in full compliance with Hawaii probate law.
Ancillary probate is one part of Hawaii probate. To speak with a Honolulu probate attorney about your case, contact KPRESS Law for a free consultation.
Learn more about Ancillary Probate?
An ancillary administration is necessary under Hawaii law when
1) a person who was not domiciled in Hawaii owned an interest in Hawaii real property, or has title in other assets or personal property with a Hawaii situs in his or her sole name; and
2) a probate for such person's estate has commenced in a court jurisdiction outside Hawaii and a personal representative or executor has been appointed in the outside court jurisdiction.
To gain legal authority and act over the decedent's estate in Hawaii,
the person named as personal representative or executor must initiate ancillary proceedings in Hawaii. The person or persons appointed as personal representative will have a Hawai'i attorney file an Application for Issuance of Acknowledgement of Authority in the circuit court where the real or personal property or assets are located.
When the application is filed and approved by the registrar, the personal representative will be issued an Acknowledgment of Authority, giving the personal representative legal authority and title over all Hawaii assets held in decedent's sole name, for purposes of estate administration and distribution applicable to the decedent's estate.
An Acknowledgement of Authority is necessary for a personal representative to act as to the Hawaii assets in the estate whether decedent had a valid will or if decedent died without a will and decedent's estate is undergoing an intestate administration (where decedent's estate will be distributed to those heirs entitled to the estate per the intestate statutes under Hawaii law).
The most common situation where an Acknowledgement of Authority is required is when the personal representative must sell or transfer a Hawai'i real property interest owned by decedent's probate estate. If the real property is registered in the Land Court system of the State of Hawai'i, it will be required to file the Acknowledgement of Authority in the Land Court in proper form and according to the Land Court's rules prior to the sale or transfer, or the transaction is subject to fail.
The ancillary administration proceeding in Hawaii is usually not very complicated,
but there are rare cases where issues arise and the proceedings become complicated. For example, if the home state of the personal representative is a jurisdiction whose court does not issue "Letters of Administration" or "Letters Testamentary," or when a personal representative has been appointed in another country, further authentication and proof of appointment may be required.
In a worst case scenario, an ancillary probate proceeding must be commenced and a Petition for Appointment as Ancillary Personal Representative must be filed with the circuit court, which will require a hearing before a judge. An ancillary probate proceeding will significantly increase attorneys fees and costs. Such a situation is unlikely, however. It is much more likely that the ancillary administration can be accomplished quickly and efficiently via the registrar as described above.