Estate Planning

ESTATE PLANNING INSIGHTS By Ethan R. Okura Happy New Year! The following is a 2019 update on important numbers used in estate planning and Medicaid planning in Hawai‘i. How much money and property can a person have at death without paying estate taxes? At the end of 2017, Congress passed a new tax bill which....

ESTATE PLANNING INSIGHTS By Ethan R. Okura Happy Holidays! This is the time of the year when we make an extra effort to be thankful for all that we have. We focus on the spirit of giving and we wrap up presents for our family and loved ones. This thought made me chuckle a little....

ESTATE PLANNING INSIGHTS By Ethan R. Okura There’s no question about it: Saving for retirement is not easy. There are quite a few types of retirement accounts. Each has its own rules and tax benefits, although, for the most part, they tend to be similar. The amounts you can contribute, however, vary from plan to....

ESTATE PLANNING INSIGHTS By Ethan R. Okura The following is an all too familiar scenario at our law firm: A parent, a sibling or a dear friend has finally gotten around to doing their initial estate planning. You are so happy for them. And then you find out that you have been named their “successor....

ESTATE PLANNING INSIGHTS By Ethan R. Okura Just over two years ago, I wrote a column about Prince, the musical legend, and how he passed away without a will. I detailed some of the problems that his estate would face — and continues to face to this day — because he did not adequately prepare....

ESTATE PLANNING INSIGHTS By Ethan R. Okura In previous columns, I have addressed the subject of financial abuse of the elderly. This usually involves outright stealing or fraud. However, there is another form of financial abuse that is subtler, harder to identify and often doesn’t show up until after the beloved family member has passed....

ESTATE PLANNING INSIGHTS By Ethan R. Okura Are you familiar with the proverb, “Shirtsleeves to Shirtsleeves in Three Generations?” Or maybe you’ve heard the saying as: “Rags to Riches to Rags in Three Generations.” The ancient Chinese version of this proverb is Fu bu guo san dai, which roughly translates to, “Wealth does not sustain....

ESTATE PLANNING INSIGHTS By Ethan R. Okura In last month’s column, I focused on the history of Medicaid and discussed some of the difficulties that arise when dealing with Medicaid’s many laws, rules and policies. I also told you about some of the problems that people have encountered when applying for Medicaid on their own....

ESTATE PLANNING INSIGHTS By Ethan R. Okura In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Social Security Act into law, which included two programs we often hear about in the news: Medicaid (Title XIX) and Medicare (Title XVIII). Medicaid is a joint federal-state program that pays the medical costs of those with limited resources. It....

ESTATE PLANNING INSIGHTS By Ethan R. Okura Last month, the Hawai‘i Legislature passed a bill that gives terminally ill patients the option of taking prescription medication that will cause them to pass away peacefully in their sleep. On April 5, Gov. David Ige signed House Bill 2739, the “Our Choice, Our Care Act,” signed into....