Estate Planning Insights – WHAT TO DO WHEN A LOVED ONE DIES
A Helpful List of To-do’s for an Especially Difficult Time
Ethan R. Okura
Hawai‘i Herald Columnist
When a family member dies, it can be quite stressful. Not only is there grief, but there are so many things...
Estate Planning Insights – WILLS, TRUSTS AND FAMILY FIGHTS (PART 3)
Ethan R. Okura
Hawai‘i Herald Columnist
For the last two months, this column has focused on children fighting over property when their parents die. We discussed the importance of communication. Especially if the inheritance going to...
Estate Planning Insights – WILLS, TRUSTS, AND FAMILY FIGHTS – PART 2
Ethan R. Okura
Hawai‘i Herald Columnist
Last month, we discussed why children sometimes fight over money or property after their parents die. We discussed the advantages of letting your children know who will get what, so...
Estate Planning Insights – WILLS, TRUSTS AND FAMILY FIGHTS (PART 1)
Ethan R. Okura
Hawai‘i Herald Columnist
I left the New York City, big law-firm life back in 2005 to come home to Hawai‘i and start specializing in estate planning law. This was just one year after...
Estate Planning Insights – STEPPED-UP BASIS
Ethan R. Okura
Hawai‘i Herald Columnist
To plan your estate properly, it is important to understand “stepped-up basis.” When you buy property (for example, real estate or stocks) your tax basis in the property is the...
Estate Planning Insights – ENTRUSTING YOUR TRUST
Fiduciaries in Your Estate-Planning Documents
Ethan R. Okura
Hawai‘i Herald Columnist
When you sign an estate-planning document such as a revocable living trust or a will, you appoint someone to handle your assets for you. The person...
Estate Planning Insights – DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY
Ethan R. Okura
Hawai‘i Herald Columnist
In my last column, I wrote about the Advance Health-Care Directives that contain a “Power of Attorney for Health Care.” I explained that it is a different document than a...
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...
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