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INTERNATIONAL ESTATE PLANNING

INTERNATIONAL ESTATE PLANNING

FRAUDULENT STUDENT LOANS AND IDENTITY THEFT

FRAUDULENT STUDENT LOANS AND IDENTITY THEFT

FRAUDULENT STUDENT LOANS AND IDENTITY THEFT By: Ethan R. Okura Sometimes you can do everything right, but have everything go horribly wrong. Sometimes you do nothing at all, and still have everything go very wrong. In the United States, you’re supposed to be innocent...
AUTOMOBILES IN ESTATE PLANNING

AUTOMOBILES IN ESTATE PLANNING

Many of my past columns have focused on how to structure your estate plan to protect your home. I’ve discussed protecting your primary residence and other real property from probate through the use of revocable and irrevocable trusts, through joint ownership or...
TENANTS BY THE ENTIRETY FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY

TENANTS BY THE ENTIRETY FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY

By: Ethan R. Okura Back in December of 2009, my father, Sanford K. Okura, wrote an excellent article titled “Tenants by the Entirety.” It explained the pros and cons of holding property as “tenants by the entirety” as opposed to holding them in revocable trust(s). At...

INCOME TAXES and IRAs

By: Ethan R. Okura It’s that time of year again. No, not Valentine’s Day…and I’m not even talking about President’s Day. I’m talking about Taxes! Your personal income tax return isn’t due until April 15th, and if you’re like many people, you might file for an...

Estate Planning Update 2019

By: Ethan R. Okura Hawai‘i Herald Columnist 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...

WRAPPING UP YOUR ESTATE PLAN

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 at a recent...

RETIREMENT SAVINGS AND NEW CONTRIBUTION LIMITS – An Overview to Help You Prepare for 2019

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,...

The Role of the Successor Trustee: What Am I Supposed to Do Now?

The Role of the Successor Trustee: What Am I Supposed to Do Now? By Ethan R. Okura   We have often seen this scenario:  A parent, sibling, or dear friend has finally gotten around to doing their initial estate planning. You are so happy for them. And then you...

Aretha Franklin: Following in Prince’s Footsteps to Pay Millions in Death Taxes

Aretha Franklin: Following in Prince’s Footsteps to Pay Millions in Death Taxes By Ethan R. Okura   A little over two years ago I wrote about Prince, the music recording legend, and how he passed away without a will. I detailed some of the problems that his...