No-Fault Divorce in Hawaii
State-specific overview · Family Law
Hawaii allows no-fault divorce based on irreconcilable differences with a 6-month waiting period before finalization.
How Hawaii treats No-Fault Divorce
Either spouse can file for divorce citing irreconcilable differences without proving fault. Hawaii imposes a mandatory 6-month waiting period from filing to final decree, during which reconciliation is encouraged. The court may order mediation to help spouses resolve disputes over property, custody, and support. This waiting period applies to all divorces, making Hawaii one of the slower states for finalizing no-fault divorces.
The general definition of No-Fault Divorce
A divorce granted without requiring either spouse to prove wrongdoing by the other.
A no-fault divorce is a divorce where neither spouse has to prove that the other did something wrong, like infidelity or abuse. Instead, one or both spouses simply state that the marriage is irretrievably broken or that they have irreconcilable differences. This is the most common type of divorce in the United States today. No-fault divorces are generally faster and less contentious than fault-based divorces because they don't require gathering evidence of misconduct.
Read the full No-Fault Divorce entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Hawaii.