Hawaii Revised Statutes

Haw. Rev. Stat. § 551-2 (2026)

Guardian ad litem; next friend; appointment

✓ current as of July 2026

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§551-2 Guardian ad litem; next friend; appointment. Nothing in this chapter impairs or affects the power of any court to appoint a guardian to defend the interests of any minor or person not in being impleaded in such court, or interested in any matter there pending, or its power to appoint or allow any person as next friend for a minor, to commence, prosecute, or defend any action or proceeding in the minor's behalf; provided that in all proceedings for annulment, divorce, or separation, except in the case of annulment on the ground of nonage, either spouse, although a minor, may sue or be sued in the minor's name without a guardian or next friend. [CC 1859, §1349; am L 1903, c 16, §2; RL 1925, §3070; RL 1935, §4857; RL 1945, §12507; am L 1947, c 78, §1; RL 1955, §338-8; HRS §551-2; am L 1972, c 145, §1(f); gen ch 1985]

Rules of Court

Probate, see HPR rule 28.

Case Notes

Power to appoint next friend or guardian ad litem is inherent in every court, including district courts. 11 H. 279, 281 (1898); 21 H. 160, 162 (1912); 23 H. 623, 624 (1917). Purpose of this section was to make it clear that this power, already existing, was not taken away by provisions for appointment of guardians of person and estate. 11 H. 279, 280 (1898); 21 H. 160, 162 (1912); see 16 H. 13, 15 (1904).

Appointment of guardian ad litem for minor not mandatory in adoption proceeding. 42 H. 250, 262 (1957). But is mandatory in custody or support proceeding if parentage at issue. See §571-47.

Minors.

Under rule requiring sanction of court for issuance of process in suit instituted on behalf of minor, no formal order necessary. 8 H. 93 (1890); 11 H. 279, 281 (1898). Same as to guardian ad litem for minor defendants. 21 H. 160 (1912); 34 H. 232, 235 (1937); 35 H. 682, 683 (1940).

Adult incompetents.

Guardian ad litem, next friend, may be appointed for incompetent or weak-minded adult, but when alleged incapacity is denied issue raised must be determined before further steps can be taken in the suit. 23 H. 457, 475 (1916); 24 H. 82, 84 (1917); see 24 H. 558 (1918).

Duties and powers.

No power to surrender substantial rights. 198 F. Supp. 78, 83 (1961); 28 H. 310, 328 (1925); 35 H. 262 (1939); 42 H. 586, 610 (1958); 46 H. 475, 521-530, 382 P.2d 920 (1963). Duty to take appeal in proper case. 27 H. 132 (1923). As to election of remedies, see 32 H. 928 (1933).

Compensation, expenses, right to.

26 H. 623 (1922); 27 H. 132 (1923); 34 H. 854 (1939); 35 H. 262 (1939); 35 H. 682 (1940); 46 H. 475, 521-530, 382 P.2d 920 (1963); 47 H. 216, 385 P.2d 828 (1963).

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 2 cases, 2004–2016 · leading case: Po v. Js, 377 P.3d 50 (Haw. App. 2016).

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Po v. Js, 377 P.3d 50 (Haw. App. 2016). · cites it 5× “See HRS § 551-2 (2006 Repl.). 5 Under the circumstances of this case, neither JS nor PO may assert or waive the psychologist-patient privilege.”

Kaopuiki v. Kealoha, 87 P.3d 910 (Haw. App. 2004). “By a January 8, 1993 court order entered pursuant to Ha-wai'i Revised Statutes (HRS) § 551-2 (1993), Kaopuiki was appointed prochein ami or next friend of Enos “for the purpose of prosecuting a claim for damages” in this case.”

Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.