Table of Contents
- What are Hawaii Vital Records?
- Hawaii Birth Records
- Frequently Asked Questions About Hawaii Birth Records
- Hawaii Death Records
- Frequently Asked Questions About Hawaii Death Records
- Hawaii Marriage Records
- Frequently Asked Questions About Hawaii Marriage Records
- Hawaii Divorce Records
- Frequently Asked Questions About Hawaii Divorce Records
What are Hawaii Vital Records?
The State of Hawaii, Department of Health is tasked with collecting, storing, and maintaining all vital records for the state. These records include birth and death certificates. They also supply marriage certificates and licenses. The agency handles reciprocal beneficiary relationship documents, Apostilles, genealogy requests, paternity paperwork, and also amendments to vital records. Vital records in Hawaii are private, and only someone with "tangible interest" may request a copy of someone else's. The state of Hawaii offers you a few ways to get copies, including online, in-person, and by mail.
Hawaii Birth Records
Hawaii's birth records are kept private for life. Therefore, only certain people with tangible interest may get a copy of yours. Birth certificates must be ordered through the mail or online. Even if you choose pick-up for the method of obtaining it, you will still wait 1-3 days to get a copy, so plan ahead. Birth records help you apply for a passport, driver's license, attend school, or verify your identity. Some government agencies require a copy of your birth certificate when you try to get licensed or request a permit. The State of Hawaii, Department of Health is the agency in charge of all birth records for the state. They are located in Honolulu.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hawaii Birth Records
How do I find birth records in Hawaii?
The State of Hawaii, Department of Health is the government agency in charge of all birth records. They can perform a search for you in-person, by mail, or online. However, only certain people can get access to a birth record.
How do I get a certified copy of my birth certificate in Hawaii?
First, you need to download the form on the State of Hawaii, Department of Health's website. Then you must mail it into the address below with the appropriate fees:
State Department of Health
Office of Health Status Monitoring
Issuance/Vital Statistics Section
P.O. Box 3378
Honolulu, HI 96801
Hawaii also partners with VitalChek, and you can order birth certificates that way, but additional charges may apply.
How much does it cost to get a copy of a birth certificate in Hawaii?
If you order your copy through state resources, the fee is $10 for the initial copy and $4 for each copy after that. For each birth certificate, you will also pay an administrative fee of $2.50 up to 5 copies. VitalChek may charge more if you order online.
Who can request birth records?
Birth records in Hawaii are kept private; therefore, only the list of people below may have access to yours:
- The registrant (the person whom the record is concerned with);
- The registrant's spouse;
- The registrant's parent(s);
- A descendant of the registrant (e.g., a child or grandchild);
- A person having a common ancestor with the registrant (e.g., a sibling, grandparent, aunt/uncle, or cousin);
- A legal guardian of the registrant;
- A person or agency acting on behalf of the registrant;
- A personal representative of the registrant's estate;
- A person whose right to obtain a copy of the record is established by an order of a court of competent jurisdiction;
- Adoptive parents who have filed a petition for adoption and need to determine the death of one or more of the prospective adopted child's natural or legal parents;
- A person who needs to determine the marital status of a former spouse in order to determine the payment of alimony;
- A person who needs to determine the death of a non-related co-owner of property purchased under a joint tenancy agreement; and
- A person who needs a death certificate for the determination of payments under a credit insurance policy.
What information do I need when getting a copy of my Hawaii birth certificate?
When ordering a copy of your birth record from Hawaii, you need the following information:
- Name on the certificate.
- Full names of both parents.
- Date of birth.
- Place of birth.
- Gender.
As the requestor, you also need to provide your personal information and sometimes a signed authorization form.
Where can I find historical vital records in Hawaii for genealogy research?
The State of Hawaii, Department of Health, has all vital records for the state, and you must contact them. If you are performing genealogy research, you must provide proof of this when requesting records.
How can I correct an error on my birth record?
The State of Hawaii, Department of Health, handles all amendments and corrections of vital records. They have a form on their website to apply to amend or correct a certificate.
Can I get a refund if my Hawaii birth record is not available?
No. Birth certificate search fees are not refundable.
Hawaii Death Records
The State of Hawaii, Department of Health handles all death records for the state. However, they do recommend that you contact the mortuary handling the funeral arrangements for copies of someone's death certificate. They are in the process of setting up an online system to make it easier for the public to order copies online. They do offer copies by mail, but the processing time may be longer than acceptable. Death certificates are helpful when you need to get a marriage license after becoming a widow or applying for insurance benefits. Death records in Hawaii are kept private, and only certain people can get a copy of one.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hawaii Death Records
How do I find death records in Hawaii?
The State of Hawaii, Department of Health, handles all death records for the state. They allow you to search and request copies in person, by mail, and through the mortuary handling the funeral arrangements.
Are death records public in Hawaii?
No. Only someone with a tangible interest may get a copy of someone else's death certificate.
How much does it cost to get a copy of a death certificate in Hawaii?
In Hawaii, a death certificate costs $10 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy.
How long does it take to get a copy of a Hawaii death record?
If you order them in person, you must wait 1-3 days for a copy. If you order by mail, you may have to wait up to 6-8 weeks.
Who can request death records?
Only the following list of people have the legal right to request a copy of someone's death certificate:
- The registrant (the person whom the record is concerned with);
- The registrant's spouse;
- The registrant's parent(s);
- A descendant of the registrant (e.g., a child or grandchild);
- A person having a common ancestor with the registrant (e.g., a sibling, grandparent, aunt/uncle, or cousin);
- A legal guardian of the registrant;
- A person or agency acting on behalf of the registrant;
- A personal representative of the registrant's estate;
- A person whose right to obtain a copy of the record is established by an order of a court of competent jurisdiction;
- Adoptive parents who have filed a petition for adoption and need to determine the death of one or more of the prospective adopted child's natural or legal parents;
- A person who needs to determine the marital status of a former spouse in order to determine the payment of alimony;
- A person who needs to determine the death of a non-related co-owner of property purchased under a joint tenancy agreement; and
- A person who needs a death certificate for the determination of payments under a credit insurance policy.
What information do I need when getting a copy of someone's Hawaii death certificate?
When you request a copy of someone's death certificate, you need to supply the following:
- Full name of the deceased person.
- Date of death.
- Place of death.
- Gender.
- Social security number.
- Relationship to the person who died.
You must also provide the reason for the request and documentation proving your eligibility.
Where can I find historical death records in Hawaii?
The State of Hawaii, Department of Health, has all records going back to when they first started documenting them.
How can I correct an error on someone's death record?
Contact the State of Hawaii, Department of Health, fill out the amendment form, pay the fee, and drop it off at their office.
Can I get a refund if my Hawaii death record is not available?
No, all death certificate searches are non-refundable.
Hawaii Marriage Records
The State of Hawaii, Department of Health, maintains marriage records and provides certificates upon request. They allow copies to be issued online using VitalChek, in person, or by mail at their offices in Honolulu. Marriage records are not open to the general public, and only someone with a tangible interest can get a copy of yours. Marriage records are helpful when you want to change your name, register for school, apply for government jobs or licensing, or just to validate your identity.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hawaii Marriage Records
Are Hawaii marriage records public?
No, they are not public records. Only someone with a tangible interest is allowed to get a copy of your marriage certificate.
How long does it take to get a marriage certificate in Hawaii?
If you visit in person and fill out the form, you can get a copy within 1-3 days. If you order online, it may be a week or more, but if you order by mail, you may have to wait as long as 6-8 weeks.
How much does a Hawaii marriage certificate cost?
The search fee for a marriage certificate is $10, and it includes one certified copy. If you need additional copies, they cost $4 each. You also have to pay a $2.50 administration fee for each certificate of up to 5 copies.
When requesting records, what information do I need?
To request a copy of a marriage certificate, you need to supply some information. You will need:
- Both full names on the certificate.
- The date of the marriage.
- The place of the marriage.
As the requestor, you must also fill in your information and provide a valid reason for requesting the certificate.
How do I get a copy of a Hawaii marriage record?
You can contact the State of Hawaii, Department of Health, to get a copy in person or by mail. Otherwise, you can use the VitalChek service to order copies.
What if I didn't get married in Hawaii?
If you did not get married in Hawaii, you must contact the state where you were married for details on how to obtain a copy.
Who can get a copy of my marriage certificate?
Only the following list of people may get a copy of your Hawaii marriage certificate:
- The registrant (the person whom the record is concerned with);
- The registrant's spouse;
- The registrant's parent(s);
- A descendant of the registrant (e.g., a child or grandchild);
- A person having a common ancestor with the registrant (e.g., a sibling, grandparent, aunt/uncle, or cousin);
- A legal guardian of the registrant;
- A person or agency acting on behalf of the registrant;
- A personal representative of the registrant's estate;
- A person whose right to obtain a copy of the record is established by an order of a court of competent jurisdiction;
- Adoptive parents who have filed a petition for adoption and need to determine the death of one or more of the prospective adopted child's natural or legal parents;
- A person who needs to determine the marital status of a former spouse in order to determine the payment of alimony;
- A person who needs to determine the death of a non-related co-owner of property purchased under a joint tenancy agreement; and
- A person who needs a death certificate for the determination of payments under a credit insurance policy.
Hawaii Divorce Records
Hawaii's divorce records are not handled by the State of Hawaii, Department of Health, but instead by the court where the divorce was granted. The Hawaii State Judiciary has a website with a listing of all the courts available. Typically, divorce records are held at the family court, and you can contact them for copies of divorce records. Divorce records in Hawaii are public records, and you can search for someone else's and see copies of court documents online.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hawaii Divorce Records
Can I find divorce records online in Hawaii?
Yes, the Hawaii State Judiciary has a search portal where you can search family courts and view open divorce records.
How do I find old divorce records?
The court system holds all divorce records in Hawaii. You must contact the court where the divorce was granted regardless of how long ago it was.
How do I get a copy of my divorce certificate?
You can visit the courthouse where your divorce was granted and request a copy. You may have to pay a small fee for a copy.
What information is needed to search for a Hawaii divorce record?
When searching online for Hawaii divorce records, you will need some basic information such as the parties' names listed on the divorce certificate, the approximate date of the dissolution, and the location that the divorce took place.
If they can't find my divorce record, can I get a refund?
No, all search fees are non-refundable.
What if my divorce took place outside of Hawaii?
You must contact the state vital records office where you were divorced to find out how to get a copy.