Who is responsible for paying for a grandparent’s court costs?

In Hawaii, responsibility for paying court costs for a grandparent’s case is determined on a case-by-case basis. Generally, the court may require the grandparent to pay for their own costs, unless the court finds that the grandparent is unable to pay. In that situation, the court may order the case to remain open at the state’s expense, as well as order that the state pays the grandparent’s court-related costs. In some cases, the court may order the custodial parent to pay the grandparent’s court costs. This is typically only done in cases where the custodial parent is found to have wronged the grandparent, such as denying them visitation rights or using mental, physical, or emotional abuse against the grandparent. Even if the court does not order the custodial parent to pay the grandparent’s court costs, the custodial parent may still be liable for paying the court fees, depending on the specific family court laws in Hawaii. The custodial parent can usually only be held liable for these court costs if the grandparent specifically requests the court to hold the custodial parent accountable for them. In cases where the grandparent is financially stable, they are expected to pay for their own court costs. This holds true even if the grandparent is seeking damages from the custodial parent, such as legal fees, medical bills, or a share of the custodial parent’s assets.

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Who is responsible for paying for a grandparent’s court costs?

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