Hilo Dissolution of Marriage Records

Hilo is the county seat of Hawaii County and home to the Third Circuit Family Court at Hale Kaulike. All dissolution of marriage cases for Hilo and East Hawaii are filed and heard at this courthouse. You can search basic case information online through the Hawaii State Judiciary's free public portals or request certified copies in person at the Third Circuit. Whether you need to look up a case, verify a prior decree, or get copies of court documents, this guide covers how to access dissolution of marriage records in Hilo.

Where Hilo Residents File for Dissolution of Marriage

Hilo is the primary court location for Hawaii County. The Third Circuit Family Court sits at Hale Kaulike, 777 Kilauea Avenue, Hilo. This courthouse handles all dissolution of marriage cases for residents of Hilo and the East Hawaii area. The Family Court hears dissolution filings, property division matters, child custody cases, child support proceedings, and spousal support claims for Hawaii County.

The Kona Division of the Third Circuit serves residents on the west side of Hawaii Island. That court is at 74-5451 Kamakaeha Avenue, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, phone (808) 322-8700. Both Hilo and Kona are part of the Third Circuit and operate under the same rules. If you live in Hilo or East Hawaii, your case goes to the Hilo Division. Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 580-1 gives exclusive original jurisdiction to the Family Court of the circuit where you are domiciled at the time of filing.

The District Court - South Hilo is at the same Kilauea Avenue address, phone (808) 961-7470. The District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic cases, civil claims under $40,000, and landlord-tenant disputes. Dissolution of marriage does not go through the District Court. All dissolution filings go to Family Court.

The screenshot below is from the Third Circuit contact page on the Hawaii State Judiciary website, showing Hilo Family Court location details.

The Third Circuit contact page lists the Hilo and Kona courthouse addresses, phone numbers, and hours for dissolution of marriage filings.

How to Search Hilo Dissolution Records Online

Two free online systems let you search dissolution of marriage records without going to the courthouse. Both are maintained by the Hawaii State Judiciary and need no registration for basic lookups.

eCourt Kokua is available at jimspss1.courts.state.hi.us. You can search by party name or by case number. The system updates every evening, so information is generally within 48 hours of any court action. Third Circuit dissolution case numbers begin with "3" followed by the court type indicator and the case type code. For example, a Third Circuit Family Court dissolution matter would follow the format 3FDV-22-0000001. The JIMS system availability guide at courts.state.hi.us explains all case number formats.

Ho'ohiki is the second portal. It covers Family Court civil cases from 1983 to the present and is found at courts.state.hi.us/legal_references/records/search_court_records. Both tools show docket entries, case status, and party names. Neither shows full document text without a fee. To read actual court documents, visit a public access terminal at the courthouse or pay for downloads through eCourt Kokua.

Document downloads through eCourt Kokua cost $3 per document for up to 30 pages, with $0.10 per additional page. Subscriptions for frequent users are $125 per quarter or $500 per year for unlimited downloads. Confidential and sealed cases do not appear in the public search results.

Dissolution of Marriage in Hilo Under Hawaii Law

Hawaii handles all dissolution of marriage cases under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 580. The state is no-fault. Under Section 580-41, the primary ground for dissolution is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. You do not need to prove that either spouse did anything wrong. You also do not need your spouse's agreement. One party's statement that the marriage cannot be repaired is enough for the court to proceed.

Before you file in Hilo, you must meet the residency requirement. You need to have lived in Hawaii for at least six months. Section 580-1 of the HRS requires the filing to be in the circuit where the applicant is domiciled. For Hilo and East Hawaii residents, that is the Third Circuit. Military personnel stationed in Hawaii can meet this requirement even if their legal home of record is another state. The same rule applies to anyone present in Hawaii under military orders.

Hawaii also allows you to file for dissolution even if you were married in another state or another country. What matters is that you now live in Hawaii. A dissolution granted by the Third Circuit Family Court is valid across all states. The Hawaii State Judiciary divorce facts page explains the full process in plain language, including what happens at hearings and how the decree gets entered.

Once you file, the other spouse must be served or must sign an Appearance and Waiver. If both parties agree on all terms, the case proceeds as uncontested and typically resolves faster. Contested cases may go through mediation or a full trial before the judge enters a final decree. Parents with minor children are required to attend the Kids First program before the case can be finalized. For the Third Circuit Hilo division, Kids First can be reached at (808) 896-6465.

Dissolution of Marriage Forms for Hilo Residents

All Third Circuit dissolution of marriage forms are free to download from the courts.state.hi.us forms page. These include uncontested divorce packets for cases with and without minor children. The Proposed Divorce Decree with Minor and Dependent Children is Form 3F-P-260. The Proposed Divorce Decree Without Minor and Dependent Children is Form 3F-P-268.

The decree covers several key areas once signed and filed: alimony provisions stating whether either party pays support and the amount; child custody in both legal and physical form along with visitation schedules; child support including monthly amounts, payment schedules, and health insurance requirements; property division covering the marital home, other real property, vehicles, financial accounts, retirement accounts, and personal property; and debt allocation for any shared liabilities. Once the judge signs the decree and it is filed with the court, it becomes effective.

Hard copies of Third Circuit forms are available for pickup at the Family Court Legal Documents Counter in Hilo, Waimea, and Kona. Court staff can answer general questions about the forms and the process, but they cannot give legal advice or tell you what to write in your documents. The Judiciary holds monthly "Divorce Law in Hawaii" public education seminars that cover custody, property division, child support, and the difference between contested and uncontested cases. Check the Judiciary website for current dates near Hilo.

The image below is from the Hawaii State Judiciary divorce self-help page, which provides Hilo and East Hawaii residents with facts and guidance on dissolution proceedings.

The self-help page explains residency rules, grounds for dissolution, the Kids First requirement, and how uncontested versus contested cases proceed at the Third Circuit in Hilo.

What Hilo Dissolution of Marriage Records Contain

A dissolution of marriage case file at the Third Circuit in Hilo typically holds the complaint for divorce filed at the start of the case, the automatic restraining order that comes with it, the summons served on the other spouse or their signed Appearance and Waiver, financial statements from both parties, and the final divorce decree. The complaint sets out the names of both parties, the date of marriage, any children, and what the filing party is requesting from the court.

The final decree is the document most people need when they look up an old case. It sets out all the terms: property division, custody arrangements, visitation schedules, child support, and any alimony. Certified copies of the decree are needed for name changes, updating financial accounts, proving marital status to another agency, or handling an estate. Only adult family court records are open to the public. Juvenile proceedings are sealed by statute. Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and other sensitive financial data are redacted from public versions of court documents.

Fees and Copies for Hilo Dissolution Records

Getting copies of dissolution records in Hilo has a few costs depending on the method. Certified copies obtained at the courthouse carry per-page and certification fees set by the court. Ask the clerk at the Legal Documents Counter for the current schedule when you visit.

Downloads through eCourt Kokua cost $3 per document for up to 30 pages, with $0.10 per additional page. For basic case information, the search is free. The Hawaii Department of Health at 1250 Punchbowl Street in Honolulu holds certified divorce certificates for events from July 1951 through December 2002. The fee is $10 for the first certified copy and $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. See health.hawaii.gov/vitalrecords for current procedures. Note that effective February 1, 2026, the DOH will no longer maintain divorce records. For cases outside the DOH date range or after that date, contact the Third Circuit Family Court directly.

For historical dissolution records going back to the 1800s, the Hawaii State Archives at 364 S. King Street in Honolulu holds Third Circuit case files from 1854 to 1899, covering cases 1 through 424, cataloged as microfilm MFL 56. Archives copy fees are $0.25 per page plus $5 for certification. The Archives dissolution case files page explains the collection and how to request records.

Historical Dissolution Records for Hilo and Hawaii County

The Hawaii State Archives is the place to look for dissolution records from the 1800s. The genealogy research guide published by the Archives explains what is available for each circuit. Third Circuit case files cover 1854 to 1899 with 3 cubic feet of records arranged numerically. The collection contains cases 1 through 424. These files are cataloged as microfilm MFL 56.

Case files from this period typically contain an application for divorce, a summons, an affidavit of publication of the divorce notice, the divorce decree, statements from the husband or wife, and the full proceedings record. Information in the files includes the date of marriage, residence of the parties, the circumstances and reasons for filing, children involved, and fees paid to the court. Some documents are in Hawaiian and English, with court and Archives translators having provided English versions for Hawaiian-language materials. Minutes to the cases are in the Civil and Criminal Minute Books of the Third Circuit Court.

The Hawaii State Archives Digital Archives has digitized portions of the historical court record collections. Researchers can browse some materials online before arranging a visit to the Archives or requesting paid copies by mail.

Hawaii County Dissolution of Marriage Records

Hilo is in Hawaii County, served by the Third Circuit of the Hawaii State Judiciary. The county page has full court information, filing procedures, and resources for all of Hawaii County including both the Hilo and Kona divisions.

View Hawaii County Dissolution Records

Nearby Cities

Hilo is the only major qualifying city in Hawaii County. For dissolution records in other parts of the state, browse by county or city.