Honolulu County, Hawaii Divorce Records

Honolulu County divorce records are official documents of marriage dissolution by the O'ahu - First Circuit Family Court in Honolulu County. In Honolulu County, divorce records are public documents. Individuals access them for official and private purposes, including remarriage, name change, genealogical research, and as a reference.

Despite their availability, public access to Honolulu County court records is limited. Confidential divorce information is not public, and access to Honolulu County divorce certificates is restricted to the parties to the divorce, their immediate family members, legal representatives, and individuals with direct tangible interests.

The process of finding divorce records in Honolulu County depends on the documents. In Honolulu County, the type of divorce record determines its custodian agency. The First Circuit Court Family Court Clerk's Office maintains divorce decrees, while the Hawaii Department of Health - Office of Health Status Monitoring is the custodian of divorce certificates. Additionally, the Hawai'i State Archives maintains Honolulu County's archived divorce records

Are Divorce Records Public in Honolulu County?

Yes, Honolulu County divorce records are public (unless they are sealed or there are judicial orders against public access). Notwithstanding, there are limitations.

In Hawaii, though most Family Court records are not publicly accessible, divorce case files are not automatically confidential. The Hawaii Uniform Information Practice Act (UIPA) grants public rights to access government records (including divorce records). However, the Hawai'i Rules of Court - Rule 9 outlines the limits to public disclosure.

Interested individuals can access basic information about Honolulu County divorces, including:

• Names of the parties
• Case number
• Case type (divorce or annulment)
• Filing dates
• Status of the case.

Access to a complete Honolulu County divorce decree or sensitive information, such as financial details and child custody agreements, is restricted to the divorced parties, their attorneys, and entities with direct and legitimate interests.

How to Find Divorce Records in Honolulu County

How to look up divorce records in Honolulu County depends on whether the search is for public case details or an actual divorce decree/court record. Information seekers may find Honolulu County divorce records online or request copies through the O'ahu First Circuit Family Court.

Online Access

Individuals can access Honolulu County public divorce information for free through the Hawai'i State Judiciary eCourt Kokua Access Portal. Users can access basic divorce information, such as:

• Party names
• Case number
• Case type
• Filing and hearing dates
• Case status.

Mail-in & walk-in requests

For mail-in or in-person Honolulu County divorce search for divorce decrees or case files, visit or send a written mail request to the First Circuit Family Court in Honolulu at:

Archived divorce records

To access Honolulu County archived divorce records, call the Hawai'i State Archives at (808) 586-0329or visit their public reading room at:

Overview of the Honolulu County Court System

The Honolulu County court system comprises the Oahu First Circuit Court, the Oahu First Circuit District Courts, and the Oahu First Circuit Family Court. Per Hawai'i court structure, the Circuit Courts have general jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases. However, they handle cases beyond the authority of the other courts.

Under the Hawaii judicial system, the Oahu First Circuit Family Court has jurisdiction over Honolulu County family court divorce filings. It oversees family matter-related trials, such as divorce, child custody, support, domestic violence, and paternity cases.

Interested individuals can request Honolulu County Family Court records (including divorce records) through the Clerk's Office of the Family Court of the First Circuitat

Note: Under the Hawai'i unified court system, Honolulu County does not have separate courts from the rest of the state. The same courts serve all counties within Hawai'i.

Online Access to Honolulu County Divorce Records

There are a few options for online access to Honolulu County divorce records. Information seekers can find Honolulu County divorce records online through the Hawai'i State Judiciary eCourt Kokua Access Portal. This search tool offers a free lookup for Honolulu County divorce records. Users can access Family Court records (including Honolulu County divorce records) using case numbers and party names. The eCourt Kokua Access Portal also allows records seekers to streamline search results by case type and date range.

For a first-time use of the eCourt Kokua Access Portal to find Honolulu County divorce records:

• Visit the eCourt Kokua Portal
• Accept the disclaimer to access the search platform
• Set Court Location to O'ahu - First Circuit Family Court
• Choose a search criterion (party name or case number), and narrow the results by case type or date range
• Run the query and review the search results
• Check for downloadable documents and make a purchase (optional)

Information seekers may also find Honolulu County divorce records online through third-party repositories. Some private platforms may gather information from Hawai'i courts and make it accessible through advanced search tools. However, the websites are independent and do not give guarantees. Users may not find accurate and up-to-date content.

Record seekers should note that the Hawai'i Judiciary has retired the Ho'o hiki access portal. Hence, the public can no longer find Honolulu County divorce records online through this option.

What's Typically Included in a Honolulu County Divorce Record

Hawai'i laws grant public access to basic information about divorce cases. This includes case Information/Docket (Index Data) and final divorce decree (if the record is not sealed).

A typical Honolulu County public divorce record may contain the following:

• Case number
• Names of parties
• Filing date
• Docket entries
• Status of the case (open/closed)
• Final divorce decree.

Requesters should note that only the divorced parties, their attorneys, or individuals with court orders can have full access to Honolulu County divorce records. Additionally, the public cannot scrutinize sealed divorce records or sensitive information about Honolulu County divorces, such as:

• Financial affidavits
• Custody evaluations or child support worksheets
• Settlement agreements
• Domestic abuse claims.

How to Get Certified Copies of Honolulu County Divorce Records

There are several options for accessing a certified divorce decree in Honolulu County. Depending on the types, certified copies of Honolulu County divorce records are accessible through the Hawai'i Department of Health (DOH) Vital Records Office, the Family Court of the First Circuit, and the Hawai'i State Archives.

Certified copies of Honolulu divorce certificates

Individuals seeking certified copies of Honolulu County divorce certificates from July 1951 to December 2002 should mail Hawai'i Department of Health - Vital Records Section or visit the Hawai'i Department of Health - Office of Health Status Monitoring at the following addresses.

Mail Request

In-Person Request

Certified Honolulu Divorce Decrees/Judgments

Toaccess certifiedcopies of recent Honolulu County divorce decrees or judgments (2016 to the present), log in to the eCourt Kokua access portal and download these for a fee. For certified copies of Honolulu County divorce decrees and judgments that are not available online, mail or visit the O'ahu Family Court of the First Circuit at:

Certified copies of archived Honolulu County divorce records

To get certified copies of Honolulu County divorce records that are not in the possession of the DOH and the Family Court, call the Hawai'i State Archives at (808) 586-0329,or mail or visit the office at:

Certified copies of Honolulu County divorce records are legally acceptable documents. Unlike information copies, individuals can use them for remarriage, name changes, or visa applications.

Record seekers should note that to get an official divorce record copy in Honolulu County requires a valid government-issued photo ID. Additionally, access to certified copies of Honolulu County divorce records involves the following fees:

• Hawai'i Department of Health - $10.00 for the first copy, and an additional $4.00 for each subsequent copy of the same document ordered at the same time.
• Hawai'i State Judiciary's eCourt Kokua Access Portal - $3.00 (per document, up to 30 pages), plus $0.10 per additional page. Alternatively, $125/quarter or $500/year for unlimited downloads
• O'ahu Family Court (First Circuit, Kapolei Judiciary Complex) - $3.00 to $5.00 per document (depending on the size) and an additional $2.00 to $3.00 certification fee
• Hawai'i State Archives (Older/Archived Divorce Records) - $0.25 per page, plus $5.00 certification fee per document.

Furthermore, the following delivery timeline applies to the various options:

• Hawai'i Department of Health - 10 to 15 business days for mail delivery, and same-day for walk-in requests
• Hawai'i Judiciary's eCourt Kokua Access Portal - documents are downloadable immediately after payments (if they are available online)
• O'ahu Family Court of the First Circuit (Kapolei Clerk's Office) - 1 to 5 business days for in-person requests, and 1 to 2 weeks for mail delivery.

Why People Request Honolulu County Divorce Records

People have various reasons for requesting divorce records in Honolulu County. Individuals may request copies of Honolulu County divorce records:

• To change their name
• To remarry
• For legal or financial matters
• For genealogy or family research
• For immigration applications.

Additionally, one can access Honolulu County divorce records to confirm marriage or divorce history.

Honolulu County Divorce Records Summary