Kauai County, Hawaii Court Filing
Fee Lookup

Court filing fees in Kauai County, Hawaii are collected by the Kauai County Probate Court in Lihue according to Hawaii's statutory fee schedule, plus any local surcharges authorized by county ordinance. Hawaii's court structure — Circuit Court (civil/probate) / Family Court / District Court (small claims) — determines which courthouse accepts which case types and what fees apply.

The Kauai County Probate Court operates as a moderate-volume court. Confirming the current fee schedule with the clerk's office is recommended, as fees can change when new state legislation takes effect or when the county updates its local surcharge schedule.

For the full Hawaii court filing fee schedule, see our Hawaii Court Filing Fees.

The Fifth Circuit Court (Kauai County) is located at 3970 Ka Haku Rd, Lihue, HI 96766. The court clerk can be reached at (808) 482-2300.

Visit the court's website for current forms, fee schedules, and filing instructions.

Office hours: Mon–Fri 7:45 AM–4:30 PM.

• Filing fees in Kauai County are based on Hawaii's statutory schedule, which applies statewide, plus any local surcharges assessed by the county. For reference, the statewide base fees by case type are: probate and estate filings — $100–$225 (Circuit Court — Probate Division)
• civil complaints and appearances — $145–$315 (Circuit Court) / $35–$55 (District Court)
• family law matters (divorce, custody, support) — $45–$100 (Family Court)
• small claims filings — $30–$50 (District Court small claims). These figures represent the state-level base
• the total amount due at the Kauai County Probate Court in Lihue may include additional local charges.

The clerk's office at the Kauai County Probate Court in Lihue can confirm whether any local assessments apply beyond the state statutory base fee.

• Beyond the initial filing fee, Kauai County litigants and estate administrators should budget for recurring court costs throughout the proceeding: fees for filing subsequent motions and responses, charges for certified copies of letters testamentary or court orders (typically $5 to $25 per document in Hawaii), jury demand deposits in civil cases, and in probate matters, fees associated with filing the inventory, accountings, and petition for discharge.
• For a complete picture of expected court costs in Kauai County, request the full fee schedule from the Kauai County Probate Court clerk in Lihue before initiating the proceeding.

Hawaii is expanding e-filing across its court system. The Kauai County Probate Court in Lihue may still accept or require paper filings for some case types.

Contact the clerk directly to confirm requirements for your case type and whether a convenience fee (typically $2–$8 per transaction) applies. For full statewide e-filing details, see our Hawaii Court Filing Fees.

• Kauai County residents who cannot afford court filing fees may apply for a fee waiver under HRS § 607-3.
• To apply, file a declaration of financial condition with the Kauai County Probate Court clerk's office in Lihue at the time of your initial filing.
• The declaration lists all household income sources, monthly expenses, assets, and liabilities.
• A judge or court commissioner reviews the application and issues an order granting or denying the waiver, typically within a few days of submission.

• Eligibility for a fee waiver in Kauai County generally requires that household income fall at or below 125% to 200% of the federal poverty level, or that the applicant is receiving qualifying public benefits — commonly Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, or public housing assistance.
• The specific income thresholds and qualifying programs are defined in HRS § 607-3 and may have been updated by recent legislation.
• Ask the Kauai County Probate Court clerk in Lihue for the current income guidelines before completing your declaration.

• A granted fee waiver covers filing fees charged by the Kauai County Probate Court — including initial filing fees and subsequent filings in the same case — but does not cover costs owed to third parties.
• In Kauai County probate proceedings, a fee waiver does not eliminate the cost of publishing a notice to creditors in a newspaper of general circulation (a statutory requirement in most states), service of process fees paid to process servers or the sheriff's office, or costs for court-ordered appraisals.
• Budget for these additional costs separately even when a fee waiver is in effect.