Hiring a Business Lawyer in Hawaii
How to form an LLC in Hawaii, the state fees and yearly filings, how to check a lawyer's license, and the state bar's fee rules. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.
What a lawyer costs in Hawaii: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | Hawai'i requires the scope, fee basis or rate and expenses to be communicated in writing (except for regularly represented clients or matters costing $250 or less), and fee agreements may not call any fee non-refundable or earned on receipt. A contingent fee agreement must be in a writing signed by the client stating how the fee is figured, including percentages on settlement, trial or appeal, which expenses are deducted and whether before or after the fee is calculated, and clearly telling the client which expenses they owe regardless of outcome; at the end the lawyer must give a written statement of the outcome and the client's share. Under Rule 1.5(e), contingent fees are banned for criminal defendants and for domestic relations fees contingent on a divorce or the amount of alimony, support or property settlement. |
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| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | Fee disputes are usually not handled by the lawyer discipline system unless a fee appears clearly unreasonable; they are referred to the Hawai'i State Bar Association's voluntary Fee Dispute Program, which is limited in scope and jurisdiction. Contact the program liaison at 808-792-7350 to see whether a dispute qualifies; forms come from the liaison. Mailing address: HSBA Fee Dispute Program, 1100 Alakea Street, Ste. 1000, Honolulu, HI 96813. |
| If a lawyer takes your money | The Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection, created by the Hawai'i Supreme Court in 1981 and funded by an annual attorney fee, is a last resort for clients who lost money, property or other value through a Hawai'i lawyer's dishonest conduct (such as embezzlement, refusing to refund unearned fees, or borrowing with no intent or ability to repay). The lawyer generally must be deceased, bankrupt, incompetent, disbarred, suspended or resigned, convicted, gone from Hawai'i, or subject to a judgment for dishonest conduct. Negligence, malpractice and fee or service-quality disputes are not covered. Limits: up to $100,000 per claimant or $300,000 per attorney. The Judiciary page says claims must be filed within two years of the loss. Five Supreme Court-appointed trustees decide claims with help from ODC. |
Hawaii rules to know first
| How to form an LLC | File Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division, online through the Hawaii Business Express portal or by email, mail (P.O. Box 40, Honolulu, HI 96810) or fax, with the fee. Checks are payable to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. The pages reviewed do not state a standard processing time. |
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| LLC filing fee | Articles of Organization for a domestic LLC cost $50.00, with an optional $25.00 expedited review fee. BREG says a $1 State Archives preservation fee may also be assessed on certain permanent documents (HRS § 94-8(c)). |
| Registered agent | LLCs maintain a registered agent with BREG. A Statement of Change/Resignation of Registered Agent costs $25.00 (plus an optional $25.00 expedited review). Commercial registered agents file a separate listing statement ($100.00). |
| Annual report | Hawaii LLCs file an annual report with BREG. The fee is $15.00. The due date depends on the registration date: registered January 1–March 31, due by March 31; April 1–June 30, due by June 30; July 1–September 30, due by September 30; October 1–December 31, due by December 31. An entity does not file a report in the same year it registers. Reports can be filed online at https://hbe.ehawaii.gov/annuals/ |
| Closing an LLC | A domestic LLC files Articles of Termination with BREG. The fee is $25.00, with an optional $25.00 expedited review. |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The Hawaii State Bar Association's Lawyer Referral & Information Service (LRIS) gives you the names and contact information of panel attorneys who handle your type of matter. "The referrals are free"; you contact the referred attorney to learn whether they can help and to arrange their terms and costs. Phone (808) 537-9140, email LRIS@hsba.org, Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The Hawai'i State Bar Association (HSBA) Member Directory lists every lawyer licensed to practice law in Hawai'i. Search by first and last name; each profile shows basic contact information and whether the attorney can actively practice law in Hawai'i. The HSBA notes that using "Esq." does not mean a person is licensed. |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | Complaints about Hawai'i lawyers go to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) of the Disciplinary Board of the Hawai'i Supreme Court. Use ODC's optional sample form or a letter (one per lawyer), sign it, and mail or deliver the original to ODC, 201 Merchant Street, Suite 1600, Honolulu, HI 96813; fax and email are not accepted. Include the lawyer's name, the facts and dates, and any case number; send copies, not originals, of documents. Investigations are free to the complaining party and there is no filing deadline, though filing early is advised. Outcomes include dismissal, a private informal admonition or formal charges; serious sanctions are decided by the Hawai'i Supreme Court. The Disciplinary Board posts lists of disciplined and inactive attorneys. ODC: (808) 521-4591 or toll-free (888) 206-5622. Disciplined and inactive attorneys: https://dbhawaii.org/disciplined-hawaii-attorneys/ |
All legal help in Hawaii · Background guide
Last verified against official sources: October 27, 2026.
How we source this page: each state-specific rule links to the statute, court rule or official government page it comes from. A rule taken from a public copy of a state code (used only where the official code is not freely readable online) is marked as a secondary source. Spot an error? Use the contact page to report it. About our sources
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.