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Hawaii Quitclaim Deed Form (2026): Requirements, Notary, Recording Fee

Updated October 11, 2026. Quick answer: To entitle a conveyance to be recorded in Hawaii, an acknowledgment in the statutory or substantially similar form must be endorsed or attached to it. The Bureau of Conveyances charges $41.00 per document of up to 50 pages and $106.00 for a document of 51 pages or more in the Regular System, and $36.00 (up to 50 pages) or $101.00 (51 pages or more) in the Land Court system, fees set by administrative rule.

Hawaii quitclaim deed at a glance

ItemWhat the documents say
SigningHawaii statutes on who must sign a deed or what it must contain were not archived. The recording statute does require that an instrument to be recorded include the original signature, with the typed or printed name of each natural person signing in an individual capacity beneath all signatures (HRS 502-31).
WitnessesNot found in the documents read
Notary or acknowledgmentTo entitle a conveyance to be recorded in Hawaii, an acknowledgment in the statutory or substantially similar form must be endorsed or attached to it.
Statutory quitclaim formNot found in the documents read
Where to record, and the feeBureau of Conveyances (State of Hawaii, Department of Land and Natural Resources). The Bureau of Conveyances charges $41.00 per document of up to 50 pages and $106.00 for a document of 51 pages or more in the Regular System, and $36.00 (up to 50 pages) or $101.00 (51 pages or more) in the Land Court system, fees set by administrative rule.
State transfer taxHawaii levies a conveyance tax on transfers of realty, based on the actual and full consideration including any liens or encumbrances. The rate is ten cents per $100 for properties valued under $600,000, twenty cents from $600,000 to under $1,000,000, thirty cents from $1,000,000 to under $2,000,000, fifty cents from $2,000,000 to under $4,000,000, seventy cents from $4,000,000 to under $6,000,000, ninety cents from $6,000,000 to under $10,000,000, and one dollar at $10,000,000 or more. Higher rates apply to the sale of a condominium or single family residence when the purchaser is ineligible for a county homeowner’s exemption, starting at fifteen cents per $100 under $600,000. The tax on a transaction is at least $1. A separate exemption covers nominal-consideration transfers between family members.
Gift from a parent to a childThe conveyance tax does not apply to a document between husband and wife, reciprocal beneficiaries, or parent and child in which only nominal consideration is paid.
Spouse or homesteadNot found in the documents read
SourceHawaii State Legislature; Hawaii DLNR Bureau of Conveyances

Signing, witnesses and the notary in Hawaii

Hawaii statutes on who must sign a deed or what it must contain were not archived. The recording statute does require that an instrument to be recorded include the original signature, with the typed or printed name of each natural person signing in an individual capacity beneath all signatures (HRS 502-31).

To entitle a conveyance to be recorded in Hawaii, an acknowledgment in the statutory or substantially similar form must be endorsed or attached to it.

The text itself:

  • HRS 502-41 Certificate of acknowledgment; natural persons, corporations: “to entitle any conveyance or other instrument to be recorded”

If you want a ready-made form

Review LawDepot’s quitclaim deed form

LawDepot builds a quit claim deed from guided questions for your state. Compare the form with the signing, notary and recording rules on this page before you sign anything.

A deed moves title and can change a family’s tax and benefit position. If you need advice about your situation, ask a real estate attorney before choosing a document service.

The link goes to LawDepot, a paid legal-document service, not Clear Money Guide and not a law firm. LawDepot pays Clear Money Guide a commission if you buy a document there, at no extra cost to you. You are under no obligation to buy anything. We are not a law firm and this is not legal advice.

Review LawDepot’s quitclaim deed

Opens on LawDepot. Follow the signing, notary and recording rules for your state.

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Recording: where to file and what it costs

Recording office: Bureau of Conveyances (State of Hawaii, Department of Land and Natural Resources). The Bureau of Conveyances charges $41.00 per document of up to 50 pages and $106.00 for a document of 51 pages or more in the Regular System, and $36.00 (up to 50 pages) or $101.00 (51 pages or more) in the Land Court system, fees set by administrative rule.

The text itself:

  • Recording Fees: Bureau of Conveyances: “$41.00 per document”
  • HRS 502-25 Fees: “fees for services rendered under this chapter shall be established by rules”
  • HRS 502-83 Effect of not recording deeds: “shall be recorded in the bureau of conveyances”

Transfer tax and a gift to a family member

Hawaii levies a conveyance tax on transfers of realty, based on the actual and full consideration including any liens or encumbrances. The rate is ten cents per $100 for properties valued under $600,000, twenty cents from $600,000 to under $1,000,000, thirty cents from $1,000,000 to under $2,000,000, fifty cents from $2,000,000 to under $4,000,000, seventy cents from $4,000,000 to under $6,000,000, ninety cents from $6,000,000 to under $10,000,000, and one dollar at $10,000,000 or more. Higher rates apply to the sale of a condominium or single family residence when the purchaser is ineligible for a county homeowner’s exemption, starting at fifteen cents per $100 under $600,000. The tax on a transaction is at least $1. A separate exemption covers nominal-consideration transfers between family members.

Between family members: The conveyance tax does not apply to a document between husband and wife, reciprocal beneficiaries, or parent and child in which only nominal consideration is paid.

The text itself:

  • HRS 247-2 Basis and rate of tax: “Ten cents per $100 for properties with a value”
  • HRS 247-3 Exemptions: “between husband and wife, reciprocal beneficiaries, or parent and child”

A worked example: a parent deeds the home to an adult child

An illustration, not a return: a parent bought a home for $100,000, and it is worth $300,000 when the parent deeds it to an adult child by quitclaim deed, with no payment. The child later sells it for $350,000. For a gift, federal law says the child’s basis is “the same as it would be in the hands of the donor”, so the basis stays $100,000 and the gain is $250,000 ($350,000 minus $100,000). Had the child received the same home at the parent’s death, when it was worth $300,000, the statute sets the basis at “fair market value of the property at the date of the decedent’s”, so the gain would be $50,000 ($350,000 minus $300,000).

See CMG’s quitclaim vs warranty deed for a family transfer page for the choice of deed.

What the documents do not say

  • Whether Hawaii requires witnesses on a deed: not found in the documents read, and that is not a statement that none are needed.
  • Whether Hawaii has a statutory quitclaim form: not found in the documents read.
  • Whether a spouse must join in the deed: not found in the documents read.
  • County or city transfer taxes and local recording surcharges in Hawaii were not read unless named above.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming the Hawaii transfer-tax exemption for family gifts also removes the federal basis consequence shown in the example.
  • Assuming the Hawaii rules above govern land in another state, or that signing the deed ends the paperwork before it is recorded with the recording office.

Related: quitclaim vs warranty deed for a family transfer, Hawaii transfer on death deed, and Hawaii probate cost.

Sources

Sources: the primary documents linked above, read on October 11, 2026. General information, not tax advice. Your own facts decide the outcome, and a tax professional or the state agency itself is the right place to confirm anything consequential.