Hawaii Revised Statutes

Haw. Rev. Stat. § 446-2 (2026)

  Debt adjusting prohibited; penalty; contracts void

✓ current as of July 2026
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     §446-2  Debt adjusting prohibited; penalty; contracts void.  Any person who acts or offers to act as a debt adjuster in this State shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.  Any contract for debt adjusting entered into with a person engaged in the business for a profit shall be void and unenforceable and the debtor may recover from the debt adjuster all sums or things deposited with the debt adjuster and not disbursed to the debtor's creditors. [L 1967, c 3, §3; HRS §446-2; gen ch 1985]

 

Cross References

 

  Classification of offense and authorized punishment, see §§701-107, 706-640, and 706-663.

 

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 2021–2021 · leading case: Inoue v. Harbor Legal Grp. & Law Offices of G. Anthony Yuthas, 485 P.3d 91 (Haw. App. 2021).
Inoue v. Harbor Legal Grp. & Law Offices of G. Anthony Yuthas, 485 P.3d 91 (Haw. App. 2021). · cites it 12× “Background Inoue initiated this lawsuit by filing a "Class Action Complaint" (Complaint) alleging that, pursuant to HRS § 446-2, for-profit debt adjusting is illegal in Hawai#i and that HLG is a for-profit debt adjuster conducting business in Hawai#i.”
Sues v. Nat'l Debt Relief LLC, 486 P.3d 1212 (Haw. App. 2021). · cites it 12× “The arbitrator or arbitration panel shall have the exclusive and 2/ HRS § 446-2 provides: Debt adjusting prohibited; penalty; contracts void.”
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