Hawaii Gay Lesbian Civil Union Guide > Facts About Civil Unions in Hawaii > How do couples terminate their Hawaii reciprocal beneficiary relationship?
Please note: This provides general information, not legal advice. Entering a civil union will be a major step because the law provides all spousal rights and obligations under Hawaii law to civil union partners. Yet, you may still need wills, powers of attorney, second parent adoptions, and other legal documents to protect you, especially when traveling. You should consult an attorney about your needs. Long-term couples and those with significant property especially should get advice about possible tax consequences and ways to protect pre-civil union property.
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Guidelines on how to terminate your RB are available here. Currently, terminating a reciprocal beneficiary relationship must be done by mail. It is important to note that mailing in your Declaration of Termination form does not complete the termination. The state health director must sign a Certificate of Termination before the relationship status is terminated.
To help minimize any gap in protections between terminating a reciprocal beneficiary relationship and entering a civil union, the Honolulu office of the Department of Health now offers the option of telephone or email notification for in-person pick-up of the Certificate of Termination. These options are indicated at the bottom of the Declaration of Termination form.
