Rule 122 Reception of Complaint.

When someone brings a complaint to family court, court staff will handle it following the process laid out in Hawaiʻi state law (HRS section 571-21). This means there's a set legal process for how these complaints get reviewed.

If court staff decide not to recommend filing a petition, and the person who filed the complaint asks why, staff must explain their reasons. Staff can't just deny the complaint without giving an explanation.

The person filing the complaint also has another option if they disagree with staff's decision. They can put their complaint in writing and take it directly to a judge. The judge will then look at the situation and decide what happens next. The judge can either order that a petition be filed, moving the case forward, or agree with the staff's original decision not to move forward.