Kauai County Dissolution of Marriage Records Lookup
Kauai County dissolution of marriage records are maintained by the Fifth Circuit Family Court in Lihue, which serves the islands of Kauai and Niihau. If you need to search for a dissolution case, get a copy of a decree, or look up how to file, this page covers the court's location and contact details, online search tools, filing procedures, fees, records retention rules, and historical records held by the Hawaii State Archives.
Kauai County Overview
Fifth Circuit Family Court
The Fifth Circuit Family Court handles all dissolution of marriage cases in Kauai County. It is based at 3970 Ka'ana Street, Suite 210, Lihue, HI 96766. The general phone number is (808) 482-2330. The Fifth Circuit Court, Fifth Circuit District Court, and Family Court all share the same building at 3970 Kaana Street in Lihue. Under HRS Section 580-1, the Family Court in the circuit where you are domiciled has exclusive jurisdiction over your dissolution case. For Kauai and Niihau residents, that means the Fifth Circuit.
Court hours are Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM. The Fifth Circuit Court's general line is (808) 482-2347. The District Court is at (808) 482-2303. All three courts are at the same address. To file dissolution papers, visit the Legal Documents Branch at the same location during court hours. Documents submitted there are file-stamped, and the originals go into the court file. The clerk returns copies to you and assigns a case number.
Kauai County is the westernmost major county in Hawaii. It covers a smaller population than Oahu, the Big Island, or Maui, but it handles the full range of family court matters for the islands of Kauai and Niihau. The court system is compact, which can mean shorter wait times for hearings in some situations, though contested cases still take considerable time to resolve.
| Office | Fifth Circuit Family Court |
|---|---|
| Address |
3970 Ka'ana Street, Suite 210 Lihue, HI 96766 |
| Phone | (808) 482-2330 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Forms | Fifth Circuit Family Court Forms |
The Fifth Circuit forms page at the Hawaii State Judiciary website has dissolution of marriage form packets and individual forms for Kauai County cases.
The Hawaii State Judiciary Family Courts page lists the Fifth Circuit address, phone, and hours for Kauai County dissolution filings.
How to Search Kauai County Dissolution Records
Two online tools let you search dissolution of marriage cases in Kauai County for free. Both cover all Hawaii circuits, including the Fifth Circuit that serves Kauai and Niihau.
eCourt Kokua is available at jimspss1.courts.state.hi.us. You can search by party name or by case number. The system updates daily and typically has information within 48 hours of any court action. Fifth Circuit dissolution case numbers begin with "5" followed by the court type code and the year and sequence number. Document downloads cost $3 per document for the first 30 pages, and $0.10 per additional page. Subscription plans are $125 per quarter or $500 per year for unlimited downloads.
Ho'ohiki at courts.state.hi.us is the other statewide search portal. Like eCourt Kokua, it's free to search and shows docket entries, case status, and party names. Document text requires payment or an in-person visit.
To search in person, visit the Legal Documents Branch at 3970 Kaana Street in Lihue. Staff can help you find a case by name or case number, check filing status, and make copies. Bring the names of the parties and the approximate year of filing if you have it. Check the JIMS system availability page before a trip to confirm the online systems are functioning.
The eCourt Kokua portal is the main online tool for searching dissolution of marriage records in Kauai County without visiting the courthouse.
eCourt Kokua covers Fifth Circuit cases and lets you search Kauai County dissolution records by name or case number at no charge.
Filing a Dissolution of Marriage in Kauai County
To file for dissolution of marriage in Kauai County, you must be domiciled in Kauai at the time you file the complaint. HRS Section 580-1 requires you to file in the circuit where you live, and Section 580-41 sets out the grounds. Hawaii is a no-fault state. The standard ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. You don't have to prove fault. You simply state in the complaint that the marriage cannot be repaired.
The six-month Hawaii residency rule applies here as it does in every circuit. You need to have lived in Hawaii for at least six months before you can file. Military personnel posted to Hawaii satisfy this requirement based on their duty station location. This is spelled out in HRS Chapter 580. The islands of Hawaii are divided into separate judicial circuits, so it is important to file in the right circuit based on where you actually live.
The filing process at the Fifth Circuit starts when you bring your completed documents to the Legal Documents Branch at 3970 Kaana Street. The required initial documents are the Complaint for Divorce, Automatic Restraining Order, and Summons to Answer Complaint. You need to bring the original plus three copies, all signed. You also need the Matrimonial Action Information form, original plus one copy, also signed. The clerk file-stamps all copies, keeps the originals, and returns stamped copies to you along with your case number.
If your spouse will not sign an Appearance and Waiver, you must formally serve the complaint and file proof of service with the court. After service, your spouse has time to file an answer. If both parties agree on all terms, the case proceeds as uncontested. If there are disputes, the case may go through mediation, discovery, or a full hearing before a judge. Parents with minor children must complete Kids First before the court finalizes the case. When children are involved, the clerk assigns a Kids First date for both parents at the time of filing.
All Fifth Circuit dissolution forms are available at courts.state.hi.us. The self-help divorce page at courts.state.hi.us/self-help/divorce/divorce_facts explains the full process in plain language.
Records Retention in the Fifth Circuit
Kauai County court records are kept for different lengths of time depending on the type of case. Knowing how long records are kept helps you understand when to request copies and whether older records might still be available.
Dissolution decrees are kept permanently. So are felony criminal cases involving serious crimes, civil judgments, probate cases, and adoption records. These never get purged. If you need a dissolution decree from any year, it should still be in the system as long as it was filed in the Fifth Circuit.
Other felony criminal cases and civil cases that resulted in a judgment are kept for at least 20 years. Misdemeanors and small claims are retained for 10 years. Temporary restraining orders are kept for 5 years. For dissolution records specifically, the permanent retention rule means you can request a decree from any decade without worrying that it has been destroyed.
Only adult family court records are public. Juvenile proceedings are sealed by law and cannot be accessed through standard records requests. Social Security numbers and financial account numbers are redacted from all public-facing documents. The public version of a decree shows the terms but with sensitive identifiers removed.
Fees and Costs for Kauai County Dissolution Records
Document downloads through eCourt Kokua cost $3 per document for up to 30 pages. Each additional page after that is $0.10. Subscriptions for frequent users run $125 per quarter or $500 per year for unlimited access. Certified copies obtained in person at the courthouse carry per-page and certification fees set by the court; ask the clerk for the current schedule.
For DOH divorce certificates covering the period 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. The Department of Health is at 1250 Punchbowl Street, Room 103, Honolulu. More information is at health.hawaii.gov/vitalrecords. As of February 1, 2026, the DOH will no longer maintain divorce records, so for recent cases you need to go to the Fifth Circuit directly.
For historical records at the Hawaii State Archives, the copy fee is $0.25 per page plus $5 for certification. Archives are at 364 S. King Street in Honolulu. Call (808) 586-0329 to ask about accessing Fifth Circuit historical dissolution records.
Online Research Tools for Kauai Dissolution Records
Beyond the two main case search portals, several other online resources can help you research dissolution of marriage records connected to Kauai County.
The Hawaii State Judiciary's family courts page has current contact information for all circuits including the Fifth Circuit. It shows addresses, phone numbers, and hours for each court location. Use this page to confirm contact details before calling or visiting.
For historical records, the Hawaii State Archives dissolution case files collection page describes what is held for each circuit. Fifth Circuit records from 1852 to 1899 (cases 1 through 206) are at the Archives as MFL 60. Note that case files 190 and 191 were not transferred. Pre-1892 records may be cataloged under the Fourth Circuit label, since Kauai and Niihau were part of the Fourth Circuit before 1892. Some documents in these older files are in Hawaiian as well as English. The Hawaii Digital Archives has some of these early records available online.
The State Archives genealogy guide is a good starting point for anyone tracing family history through dissolution records. It explains how records are organized across circuits and how to submit research requests to the Archives.
The Hawaii State Judiciary's court records search portal explains how the Fifth Circuit fits into the statewide system and links to all search tools for Kauai County.
The court records search page covers all circuits statewide, including the Fifth Circuit that handles all Kauai County dissolution of marriage cases.
Legal Help for Kauai County Dissolution Cases
The Hawaii State Judiciary offers monthly "Divorce Law in Hawaii" public education seminars at no charge. These cover the dissolution process, what forms are needed, how hearings work, and what a judge can order. Check the Judiciary website for current dates near Lihue or elsewhere on Kauai.
The self-help divorce page at courts.state.hi.us/self-help/divorce/divorce_facts is free and covers the basics in plain language. All Fifth Circuit forms are available at courts.state.hi.us. These include dissolution packets for cases with and without children, financial disclosure forms, and forms for responding to a complaint.
For the text of Hawaii dissolution law, see HRS Chapter 580 on Justia. This chapter covers jurisdiction, residency requirements, grounds, and related procedural rules. Legal aid organizations serve Kauai County for residents who cannot afford a private attorney. Contact them early if you think you might qualify, since intake capacity is limited on smaller islands.
The supplemental state image below shows the Hawaii State Judiciary's main family courts page with information about all circuits.
The Hawaii State Judiciary family courts page has information about each circuit's Family Court including the Fifth Circuit that serves Kauai County.
The page covers all Hawaii circuits and links to self-help resources, forms, and contact information for the Fifth Circuit Family Court in Kauai County.
For DOH vital records related to dissolution, the Hawaii Department of Health vital records page explains the certificate request process, fees, and what identification is needed. This applies to all counties including Kauai.
Communities in Kauai County
Kauai County includes all communities on the islands of Kauai and Niihau. All dissolution of marriage cases from these islands are filed at the Fifth Circuit Family Court in Lihue. Communities include Lihue, Kapaa, Waimea, Princeville, Kilauea, Koloa, Poipu, and Hanapepe. None of these communities currently qualify for their own individual records pages based on population threshold, but all residents file dissolution cases at the same Fifth Circuit courthouse.
Nearby Counties
Hawaii's other counties each have their own Family Court circuit. If you live outside Kauai County, find the county and circuit that matches your home island.