Hawaii Family Court Rules
Cited as Haw. Fam. Ct. R. · 135 active rules
Hawaiʻi's family courts follow these rules in every civil matter they hear, from divorce, custody and support through adoption, guardianship, protective orders and juvenile proceedings. Each rule below carries its full official text, a plain-English summary and answers to common questions.
Companion ruleset Hawaiʻi Rules of Civil Procedure →Part A · I. Scope of Rules - One Form of Action; Electronic Filing
- Rule 1 Scope of Rules; Construction, Application, and Interpretation of Rules; Effect of Electronic Filing; Automation.
- Rule 1.1 Registration in Judiciary Electronic Filing and Service System Required for Attorneys in Cases Maintained in Judiciary Information Management System.
- Rule 1.2 Family Court Cases Maintained in JIMS.
- Rule 1.3 Classification of Actions.
- Rule 2 Civil Action.
- Rule 2.1 Compliance with Rules.
Part A · II. Commencement of Action: Service of Process, Pleadings, Motions and Orders
Part A · III. Pleadings and Motions
- Rule 7 Pleadings Allowed.
- Rule 7.1 Form and Formatting of Pleadings, Motions, and Other Documents.
- Rule 7.2 Documents Sealed Upon Filing.
- Rule 8 General Rules of Pleading.
- Rule 9 Pleading Special Matters.
- Rule 10 Motions.
- Rule 11 Signing of Pleadings, Motions and Other Documents; Sanctions.
- Rule 11.1 Limited Appearance and Withdrawal.
- Rule 12 Defenses and Objections – When and How Presented – By Pleading or Motion – Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings.
- Rule 13 Counterclaim and Cross-Claim.
- Rule 14 Third-Party Practice.
- Rule 15 Amended and Supplemental Pleadings.
- Rule 16 Conferences with the Court; Formulating Issues.
Part A · IV. Parties
- Rule 17 Parties; Capacity.
- Rule 18 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 19 Joinder of Persons Needed for Just Adjudication.
- Rule 19A Repealed. Repealed
- Rule 20 Permissive Joinder of Parties.
- Rule 21 Misjoinder and Non-Joinder of Parties.
- Rule 22 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 23 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 24 Intervention.
- Rule 25 Substitution of Parties.
Part A · V. Depositions and Discovery
- Rule 26 General Provisions Governing Discovery.
- Rule 27 Depositions Before Action or Pending Appeal.
- Rule 28 Persons Before Whom Depositions May Be Taken.
- Rule 29 Stipulations Regarding Discovery Procedure.
- Rule 30 Depositions Upon Oral Examination.
- Rule 31 Depositions Upon Written Questions.
- Rule 32 Use of Depositions in Court Proceedings.
- Rule 33 Interrogatories to Parties.
- Rule 34 Production of Documents and Things and Entry Upon Land for Inspection and Other Purposes.
- Rule 35 Physical and Mental Examination of Persons.
- Rule 36 Requests for Admission.
- Rule 37 Failure to Make or Cooperate in Discovery; Sanctions.
Part A · VI. Trials
- Rule 38 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 39 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 40 Assignment of Cases for Trial; Continuance of Trial.
- Rule 41 Dismissal of Actions.
- Rule 42 Consolidation; Separate Trials.
- Rule 43 Taking of Testimony.
- Rule 43.1 Recording of Testimony and Proceedings.
- Rule 44 Proof of Official Record.
- Rule 44.1 Determination of Foreign Law.
- Rule 45 Subpoena.
- Rule 45.1 Testimony of Minor Child.
- Rule 46 Exceptions Unnecessary.
- Rule 47 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 48 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 49 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 50 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 51 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 52 Findings and Conclusions by the Court.
- Rule 53 Masters.
- Rule 53.1 Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Part A · VII. Judgment
- Rule 54 Judgment; Costs.
- Rule 54.1 Periodic Payments.
- Rule 54.2 Modification of Judgments.
- Rule 55 Default.
- Rule 56 Summary Judgment.
- Rule 57 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 58 Preparation and Signing of Judgments and Other Orders.
- Rule 58.1 Stipulations and Orders.
- Rule 59 New Trials; Reconsideration or Amendment of Judgments and Orders.
- Rule 60 Relief from Judgment or Order.
- Rule 61 Harmless Error.
- Rule 62 Stay of Proceedings to Enforce a Judgment.
- Rule 63 Disability of Judge.
Part A · VIII. Provisional and Final Remedies and Special Proceedings
- Rule 64 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 65 Injunctions.
- Rule 65.1 Security: Proceedings Against Sureties.
- Rule 66 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 67 Deposit in Court.
- Rule 68 Offer of Settlement.
- Rule 69 Enforcement of Judgment or Order for Payment of Support.
- Rule 70 Judgment for Specific Acts; Vesting Title.
- Rule 71 Process in Behalf of and Against Persons Not Parties.
Part A · IX. Appeals
Part A · X. Family Courts and Clerks
Part A · XI. Miscellaneous Provisions
- Rule 81 Applicability.
- Rule 81.1 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 82 Jurisdiction and Venue Unaffected.
- Rule 83 Rules.
- Rule 84 Forms.
- Rule 85 Title.
- Rule 86 Withdrawal of Documents and Exhibits.
- Rule 87 Attorneys.
- Rule 88 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 89 Expedition of Court Business: Sanctions.
Part B · I. Commencement of Action: Pleadings
- Rule 90 Matrimonial or Civil Union Actions; Documents.
- Rule 91 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 92 Reserved. Reserved
Part B · II. Trials
- Rule 93 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 94 Setting Contested Matters for Trial.
- Rule 94.1 Settlement Conference; Settlement Conference Statement; Confidential Settlement Conference Letter.
- Rule 94.2 Trial Calendar.
- Rule 94.3 Pre-Trial Conference, Pre-Trial Disclosure and Marking Exhibits.
- Rule 95 Reserved. Reserved
Part B · III. Judgments and Orders
- Rule 96 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 97 Reserved. Reserved
Part B · IV. Miscellaneous
- Rule 98 Judgments Approved as to Form and Content by the Parties in Uncontested Matrimonial Actions.
- Rule 99 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 100 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 101 Reserved. Reserved
Part C · I. Commencement of Action: Pleadings; Parties; Process
- Rule 102 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 103 Pleadings.
- Rule 104 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 105 Reserved. Reserved
Part C · II. Hearing
- Rule 106 Hearing.
- Rule 107 Default.
- Rule 108 Contested Hearing; Motion to Set.
- Rule 109 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 110 Findings of the Court.
- Rule 111 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 112 Responsibility of Attorney After Entry of Decree.
- Rule 113 Reserved. Reserved
Part C · III. Miscellaneous
- Rule 114 Dismissal of Actions.
- Rule 115 Disposition of Minor Child on Dismissal, Withdrawal or Denial of Petition.
- Rule 116 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 117 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 118 Affidavits or Declarations Required in Doctor and Other Third Person Placement Cases, and When Mother’s Affidavit or Declaration Is Required.
- Rule 119 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 120 Reserved. Reserved
Part D · I. General Provisions
Part D · II. Intake
Part D · III. Petition
Part D · IV. Transfer to Criminal Court
- Rule 128 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 129 Transfer or Waiver Hearing.
Part D · V. Shelter and Detention
Part D · VI. The Adjudication Hearing
- Rule 137 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 138 Summons.
- Rule 139 Contents of Summons.
- Rule 140 Order of Proceedings.
- Rule 141 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 142 Extra-Judicial Statements.
- Rule 143 Standard of Proof.
- Rule 144 Findings.
- Rule 145 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 146 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 147 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 148 Dismissal of Petition.
Part D · VII. The Disposition Hearing
Part D · VIII. Miscellaneous
Part D · IX. Other Procedures and Requirements
- Rule 156 Reserved. Reserved
- Rule 157 Court Dispositions Reported on Juvenile Information Report.
- Rule 158 Reserved. Reserved
Appendix of Forms
Forty-three rules carry no operative text and are shown below for completeness: forty-two are marked "RESERVED" in the source and Rule 19A is marked "REPEALED". The numbering is left undisturbed so that a citation to any rule lands where the court put it.
Source: The Judiciary, State of Hawaii ·
Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Hawaii ·
Current through July 1, 2026 ·
Official source