Estate Planning Insights – ADVANCE HEALTHCARE DIRECTIVES
Ethan R. Okura
Hawai‘i Herald Columnist
Everyone should have Advance Healthcare Directives. “Advance Healthcare Directives” are instructions which you are giving now (while you can still make decisions) about how you want doctors and hospitals to...
Estate Planning Insights – HOW TO AVOID PROBATE
Ethan R. Okura
Hawai‘i Herald Columnist
In 2020, the United States’ death rate rose by 15.9% compared to its 2019 number. COVID-19-related deaths amounted to over 375,000, which accounts for most of that increase (11.3%). With...
Estate Planning Insights – THE GENERATION-SKIPPING (OR LEGACY) TRUST
Ethan R. Okura
Hawai‘i Herald Columnist
More Nitty-Gritty Details
This month, I will explain in more detail the potential advantages and disadvantages of generation-skipping trusts, expanding on this topic from my column on p. 14 of the...
Estate Planning Insights – A GENERATION-SKIPPING TRUST
Ethan R. Okura
Hawai‘i Herald Columnist
Also Known as a Legacy or Dynasty Trust
The term “generation-skipping trust” is often misunderstood in estate planning. A GST does not mean that the inheritance skips your children and only...
Estate Planning Insights – WHAT IS AN A-B TRUST?
Ethan R. Okura
Hawai‘i Herald Columnist
For most couples who do not have trusts, if one dies, everything goes to the spouse. If a married couple has more than $5.49 million in assets (including life-insurance death...
Estate Planning Insights – THE REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST TRAP
Ethan R. Okura
Hawai‘i Herald Columnist
Although a Revocable Living Trust is beneficial for avoiding probate (and for married couples, an A-B Trust can reduce or eliminate estate taxes), it cannot protect your home from nursing-home...
Estate Planning Insights – UNDERSTANDING REVOCABLE LIVING TRUSTS
Ethan R. Okura
Hawai‘i Herald Columnist
Last month, we shared information on funding your Revocable Living Trust. This month, we decided to go back to the very beginning and explain what a Revocable Trust is and...
Estate Planning Insights: FUNDING YOUR REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST
Ethan R. Okura
Hawai‘i Herald Columnist
If you have an existing estate plan, you are probably already familiar with the benefits of creating a Revocable Living Trust. One of the biggest advantages of a Revocable Living...
Estate Planning Insights: CARE IN THE TIME OF COVID-19
Ethan R. Okura
Hawai‘i Herald Columnist
Nearly six months have passed since Hawai‘i’s leadership imposed the original work-at-home/stay-at-home order back in March to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. The effort to make ends meet...
A WILL OR A TRUST? THAT IS THE QUESTION
Ethan R. Okura
Hawai‘i Herald Columnist
In Shakespeare’s play, “Hamlet,” when the forlorn, young prince is debating whether to end his own life, he asks the question: “To be or not to be?” The question should...
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