Estate Planning
Revocable Living Trusts
A revocable living trust keeps your family out of Hawaii probate court, keeps your affairs private, and gives you a clear plan for who steps in if you cannot.
For most Hawaii families who own a home, a revocable living trust is the foundation of the plan. It is a legal structure you create during your lifetime, transfer your assets into, and continue to control exactly as you do today. You can change it, add to it, or revoke it entirely for as long as you have capacity.
The reason it matters here is simple: Hawaii real estate values mean that even a modest single-family home can push an estate well past the threshold that requires formal probate. Probate is public, it takes months, and it costs your family money and attention at the worst possible time. A properly drafted and properly funded trust avoids that process entirely.
We say "properly funded" deliberately. A trust document that has been signed but never connected to your assets does very little. Funding is where most plans quietly fail, and it is a part of the work we handle rather than hand back to you.
What’s Included
What this covers
The trust agreement
The core document naming your trustees, your beneficiaries, and the terms under which assets are held and distributed.
A pour-over will
A safety net that directs anything not already titled in the trust into it, so nothing is left without instruction.
Certification of trust
A short summary document your bank or title company can accept without seeing your entire plan.
Deed preparation and recording
We prepare and record the deed transferring your Hawaii real property into the trust with the Bureau of Conveyances or Land Court.
Asset funding coordination
We work through your accounts, beneficiary designations, and business interests so the trust actually holds what it is meant to hold.
Successor trustee guidance
A plain-language explanation for the people who will one day step into your role, so they are not starting from zero.
Worth Thinking About
Decisions we’ll work through together
Who should be your successor trustee?
The right person is organized, level-headed, and willing. That is not always the oldest child. We talk through the practical realities before you name anyone.
Should distributions be outright or held in trust?
Leaving assets in continued trust can protect a beneficiary from creditors, divorce, or their own inexperience. It also adds administration. We help you weigh both.
What about property on the mainland or another island?
Out-of-state property is one of the most common reasons families end up in two probate proceedings. A trust consolidates it into one plan.
Common Questions
Frequently asked
Do I lose control of my property if I put it in a trust?+
No. With a revocable living trust you remain the trustee and the beneficiary during your lifetime. You buy, sell, refinance, and manage exactly as before.
Will a trust reduce my property taxes or income taxes?+
A standard revocable trust is tax-neutral. It does not change your income tax filing, and it does not by itself affect your county real property tax classification or exemptions. We do review your exemption status when we prepare the deed.
Can I still get a mortgage on a home held in trust?+
Yes. Hawaii lenders work with trust-held property routinely. We provide the certification of trust your lender will ask for.
Plan for Your Future Today
Planning for the future can feel overwhelming. Our team will guide you through it step by step — and leave you with the peace of mind that comes from knowing your family and your assets are protected.
Complimentary initial consultation · Flat-fee quotes · In person on Maui or by video