Rule 2 One Form of Action

Any case handled under these rules is called a "proceeding." This is the only label used, no matter what kind of probate matter you're dealing with, whether it's settling an estate, setting up a guardianship, or handling a trust issue.

This matters because older court systems sometimes used different names for different types of legal actions, and those names came with their own specific procedures and paperwork. Hawaiʻi's probate courts simplify this by using one single term and one consistent set of procedures for all these matters. This makes it easier for people to understand what to call their case and what process to expect, since they don't have to figure out which of several different legal categories their situation falls into.