What Qualifies for Hawaii's Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property of the Decedent?
Hawaii's Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property of the Decedent applies when the estate's value falls at or under $100,000 (gross value of the estate in Hawaii, excluding the value of any motor vehicles registered in the decedent's name — a vehicle can be transferred via a separate affidavit regardless of its value), under HRS § 560:3-1201 (Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit). This is a statutory line, not a judgment call — compare your own total against it before assuming either way. This is informational only — we don't determine your eligibility for you.
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The statutory line, exactly
Hawaii's Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property of the Decedent applies when the estate, measured the way the statute measures it, is at or under $100,000, under HRS § 560:3-1201 (Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit). That figure specifically means: gross value of the estate in Hawaii, excluding the value of any motor vehicles registered in the decedent's name — a vehicle can be transferred via a separate affidavit regardless of its value. This is a statutory line, not a judgment call — the clerk or asset holder either sees your total under the cap or they don't.
The mistakes that actually sink an otherwise-eligible estate
3 reasons account for most of the rejections Hawaii families run into — cited to the specific HRS § 560:3-1201 (Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit) section behind each one, not general advice:
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Estate's gross value (excluding vehicles) exceeds $100,000. The affidavit only covers an estate whose gross value in Hawaii, not counting any motor vehicle registered in the decedent's name, is $100,000 or less. This is a whole-estate test — several modest accounts that together exceed $100,000 don't qualify even if no single account does on its own. — HRS § 560:3-1201(a)(1)
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A personal representative has already been appointed, or a petition is pending. If any application or petition for appointment of a personal representative is pending or has been granted in Hawaii, this affidavit is no longer available — the affidavit must affirmatively state that no such appointment is pending or granted. — HRS § 560:3-1201(a)(2)
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The asset is real estate. HRS § 560:3-1201 only describes tangible personal property, an instrument evidencing a debt or obligation, stock, or other intangible personal property — it has no provision transferring real property. A family whose main asset is the decedent's home needs a different process to transfer real estate, regardless of the estate's total value. — HRS § 560:3-1201
Once you've confirmed the estate qualifies, the next question is the actual filing sequence — see how to file Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property of the Decedent in Hawaii, step by step.
Once you know the estate qualifies, this is what trips families up next
Not the eligibility math — presenting the approved filing to an asset holder who's never seen one before. Free one-pager: what to bring and say before you go, emailed now. Then a few short follow-ups over the next few weeks — then we stop.