How Much Does It Cost to Record a Deed in Hawaiʻi?
Whether you're adding someone to your title, putting your home into a trust, or transferring property after a loved one passes, the deed has to be recorded to make it official. In Hawaiʻi, that happens at the Bureau of Conveyances (BOC) in Honolulu.
So how much does it cost? The short answer: somewhere between $41 and $127 for most homeowners. The exact amount depends on one thing most people don't know about their own home.
It depends on your home's "system"
Hawaiʻi has two separate systems for keeping track of who owns property:
The Regular System, which keeps a public record of documents like deeds and mortgages.
Land Court, which registers ownership and issues an official Certificate of Title.
Some homes are in one system. Some, often condos, are in both. Which one yours is in affects what you'll pay.
Not sure which system your home is in? Check out our post: Is Your Home in Regular System or Land Court? Here's How to Check.
The quick answer: typical costs
Here's what it usually costs to record a standard deed (50 pages or fewer, which covers almost all home deeds):
Regular System: $41
Land Court: $86 ($36 to record, plus $50 for a new Certificate of Title)
Both systems: $127 ($41 + $36 + $50)
That's it for the government's recording fees. Now let's look at where those numbers come from.
Regular System fees
The Regular System is the simpler of the two.
$41 for a document up to 50 pages
$106 for a document of 51 pages or more
For most homeowners, that's a single $41 fee.
Land Court fees
Land Court has a lower recording fee, but more add-ons. When ownership changes, Land Court issues a brand-new Certificate of Title, and that costs extra.
$36 to record a document up to 50 pages
$101 to record a document of 51 pages or more
$50 to issue a new Certificate of Title
$5 for each additional memorandum on certificates required by the same document
$10 for a certified copy of a Certificate of Title (optional)
So even though the recording fee is $5 cheaper than the Regular System, a typical Land Court transfer ends up costing more than twice as much.
If your home is in both systems
Some properties have documents in both Land Court and the Regular System. In that case, your deed may need to be recorded in both, and you'll pay both sets of fees. For a typical deed, that's about $127.
The biggest cost isn't the fee
Recording fees are small compared to the cost of a deed that gets rejected, or worse, one that gets recorded but doesn't do what you intended.
Land Court in particular has strict rules about what a deed must say and how it must be prepared. A mistake can mean delays, re-filing, or a home that you think is in your trust but legally isn't. That's the kind of problem your family usually discovers at the worst possible time. You might need to file a land court petition if certain information on your deed has changed.
Need help with your deed?
If you're putting your home into a trust, adding or removing someone from title, or handling a transfer after a death, we can help make sure it's done right the first time, whatever system your home is in.
Call Happy Life Legal at (808) 400-3888.
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This post is for general information only and is not legal advice. Fees listed are based on the Bureau of Conveyances' posted fee schedule and may change. Contact us or the Bureau of Conveyances to confirm current fees for your situation.