Hawaii Divorce & Separation

Every state has different laws and rules governing the separation and divorce processes. It’s important to know the details of these laws and procedures in your state so that you are prepared for each step along the way. What are the requirements for getting a divorce in Hawaii? Is mediation a requirement before you can get a Hawaii divorce? What is the law on Hawaii annulments? Find the answers to your Hawaii divorce questions here.

Hawaii Legal Separation:

Legal separations are allowed in Hawaii when the court finds the marriage is temporarily disrupted. A petition for separation is required, and two years is the maximum time period granted. Once the separation is granted, the court may modify or add to the decree in order to provide support and maintenance (either from a spouse or the property of either spouse) for minor children and possible spousal support.

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Grounds for Divorce/Fault – No Fault:

Hawaii does not offer fault-based divorces. No-fault divorces can be obtained on two grounds:

1) There has been an “irretrievable breakdown of the marriage,” or
2) The parties have lived separate and apart from each other.

The separate living requirement has certain criteria, one of which must be met:

1. The parties must have lived separate and apart under a decree of separation entered by any court, with the term of separation having expired without reconciliation.
2. The parties must have lived separate and apart for more than two years under a separate maintenance decree entered by any court, again with no reconciliation.
3. The parties must have continuously lived separate and apart for the two years preceding the divorce filing date, and there is no reasonable likelihood that cohabitation will resume, and the court concludes that it would not be harsh and oppressive to the defendant (or against the public interest) to grant the divorce.

Residency/Where to File for Divorce:

To file for divorce, either party must be domiciled and physically present in the state for a continuous period of at least six months before filing. The petition for divorce should be filed with the family court in the petitioner/applicant’s local circuit.

Hawaii Divorce/Child Support/Child Custody Lawyers:

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Divorce Mediation in Hawaii

For marriages with children, the court has the right to order a reconciliation conference for the parents and/or counseling for the children, which would likely involve the services of a well-trained, court-appointed mediator. Parenting classes or any other type of educational activity may be substituted for the divorce mediation, depending on the court’s assessment of what is appropriate and in the best interests of the children. The mediation route (also called “alternative dispute resolution”) is particularly appropriate where there are issues that could be resolved and agreed upon amicably through a conference rather than having the parties, children, and court system get bogged down in unnecessary litigation.

Hawaii Annulment:

An annulment is a court declaration that your marriage is legally invalid. In other words, rather than ending a marriage via divorce, an annulment is a declaration that the marriage was never valid to begin with, for reasons including: consent obtained by fraud, duress, a party’s minor status at time of consent, consanguinity, a party’s lacking mental capacity, and in some cases a party’s affliction with “loathsome disease” unknown to the petitioner for the annulment. The underage grounds are valid until the parties obtain legal age and freely cohabit, while the grounds of a party lacking mental capacity are valid as long as the state persists.

Hawaii Online Divorce Services:

LegalZoom.com – An online documentation service that helps users file for divorce.
CompleteCase.com – Offers an affordable way to file for uncontested divorces online.

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Hawaii Divorce Laws

Click below to find the Hawaii Divorce laws you’re looking for:

Hawaii Divorce Law, Lawyers & Attorneys
Hawaii Divorce & Finances
Hawaii Child Custody & Hawaii Child Support
Hawaii Divorce Laws & Resources

Case Studies: Hawaii Divorce and Separation

Case Study 1: Legal Separation

A couple in Hawaii faces temporary disruption in their marriage and decides to pursue a legal separation. They file a petition for separation, and the court grants it for a maximum period of two years. During this time, the court may modify or add to the decree to provide support and maintenance for minor children and possible spousal support.

Case Study 2: No-Fault Divorce Grounds

Hawaii does not offer fault-based divorces. Couples seeking divorce can obtain a no-fault divorce on two grounds. First, if there has been an “irretrievable breakdown of the marriage,” and second, if the parties have lived separate and apart from each other.

The separate living requirement has specific criteria that must be met, such as living under a decree of separation or separate maintenance for a certain period. Couples must comply with these requirements to proceed with a no-fault divorce in Hawaii.

Case Study 3: Divorce Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution

Divorcing couples with children may be subject to court-ordered reconciliation conferences and counseling sessions to address parenting issues. In Hawaii, the court can order mediation or alternative dispute resolution to resolve disputes amicably.

Trained mediators facilitate discussions between the parents to reach agreements on various matters related to child custody and support. This approach aims to minimize litigation and protect the best interests of the children involved.

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