Divorce records in Kauai County, Hawaii, are available through several channels. KauaiCourt.us allows for quick access to public information on divorce cases. Additionally, records can be obtained directly from the court that issued the decision (Family Court of the Fifth Circuit), as well as from the Office of Health Status Monitoring, Hawaii Department of Health. The online system eCourt Kokua also provides access to public court information.
Kauai Divorce Records Search
Divorce cases in Kauai County are handled by the Family Court of the Fifth Circuit. The clerk's office of this court maintains court materials — divorce decrees, property division agreements, child custody orders, and related procedural documents.
In parallel, the state Department of Health maintains a registry of divorce certificates. A certificate is a brief document confirming the fact of divorce, whereas a full court decree contains terms of property division, alimony, and custody. For most legal needs, a certified copy of the certificate is sufficient, but banks or attorneys sometimes require the decree.
Family Court Forms for Kauaʻi are available on the Hawaii court system website. The court clerk's office accepts requests in person:
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Kauai
The document filing structure in Hawaii differs from most states: divorces fall under the jurisdiction of the Family Court, not the general Circuit Court. On the island of Kauai, the Family Court operates within the Fifth Circuit.
Once a decision is issued by a judge, the decree is stored in the court clerk's office. Simultaneously, the court notifies the Department of Health, which registers the divorce certificate in its vital records registry.
Where to apply depends on the document needed:
- Full court decree, property division agreement, custody order — Family Court clerk's office of the Fifth Circuit.
- Certified copy of the divorce certificate — Office of Health Status Monitoring of the Hawaii Department of Health. Applications can be submitted by mail using the official request form.
Family Court Clerk's Office — Fifth Circuit
Office of Health Status Monitoring (Vital Records)
Online search for basic case information — filing date, case number, status — is available through eCourt Kokua. The system displays data from official records but does not contain all case documents. To obtain full copies, one must contact the court clerk's office.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Kauai
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Certified copy of the divorce certificate (Vital Records, Dept. of Health) | $10.00 | 6–8 weeks (by mail) |
| Vital Records registry search (if record not found) | $10.00 | 6–8 weeks |
| Copy of court document (Family Court clerk, uncertified) | $1.00 per page | Usually same day |
| Certification of court document copy (certification fee) | $5.00 per document | Usually same day |
| Online search via eCourt Kokua | Free | Immediate |