Our Process
From Conversation to Completion — and Through Generations
Five steps, a flat fee quoted before we begin, and a plan that is actually finished when you walk out — not a binder and a to-do list.
Discover
Tell us about your life, your family, your assets and your goals.
We start with a conversation, not a form. What you own, who depends on you, what you are worried about, and what you want to be true for your family in twenty years. Most of the first meeting is us listening.
- Complimentary initial consultation, in person on Maui or by video
- Review of your family situation, property, accounts and business interests
- Discussion of any existing plan and whether it still fits
- A clear, flat-fee quote before any work begins
Design
We create a plan that reflects your wishes and family circumstances.
We come back to you with a recommended structure and explain the reasoning in plain language — what each piece does, what it costs, and what the alternative would be. You will understand your plan before you approve it.
- A written plan summary you can read without a legal dictionary
- Trustee, agent and guardian selections talked through candidly
- Options presented with trade-offs, not just recommendations
- Time to think, and to involve family if you want to
Create
Your estate planning documents are prepared around your decisions.
Your documents are drafted to your decisions and to Hawaii law — not assembled from a template. We send them to you for review before the signing meeting so nothing is a surprise.
- Trust, will, powers of attorney and health care directives drafted together as one plan
- Deeds and transfer documents prepared alongside them
- Draft review with you, and revisions until it is right
Sign
We guide you through execution and explain what each document does.
Hawaii has specific witnessing and notarization requirements, and getting them wrong can invalidate a document. We host the signing, provide the witnesses and notary, and walk through each document as you sign it.
- Witnesses and notary provided at our Wailuku office
- Each document explained again as it is executed
- Originals organized, and copies delivered digitally and in a binder
- Mobile and remote signing available where circumstances require it
Complete
We help fund your trust and coordinate assets so your plan works.
This is the step most firms leave to the client, and it is the step that determines whether the plan actually functions. We record the deeds, coordinate with your institutions, review beneficiary designations, and confirm in writing what is in the plan and what is not.
- Deeds recorded with the Bureau of Conveyances or Land Court
- Account retitling coordinated with your bank and brokerage
- Beneficiary designations reviewed line by line
- A written funding confirmation for you and your successor trustee
Life Continues
Your plan can change with it.
A plan is not a filing cabinet. Marriages, births, deaths, moves, a business sold, a property bought, a change in the law — any of these can make a good plan stale. We stay available, review on request, and offer periodic check-ins so your plan keeps up with your life.
- Complimentary plan review at any significant life change
- Amendments and restatements handled without starting over
- Successor trustee support when the plan is eventually needed
- Ongoing guidance for the generation that inherits it
What to Expect
Practical questions, answered up front
How long does the whole thing take?
Three to six weeks from first meeting to signed documents, depending mostly on how quickly decisions get made. Funding usually completes within sixty days after signing.
What does it cost?
We quote a flat fee before any work begins, and it includes funding. No hourly billing and no surprises partway through.
Do I have to come to Wailuku?
Not necessarily. Consultations and design meetings work well by video, and we serve families on every island. The signing meeting is the one we prefer to hold in person where possible.
What if I already have a plan?
Bring it. Sometimes the right answer is a small amendment rather than a new plan, and we will say so. A funding review of an existing trust is one of the most common things we do.
Or call us at (808) 727-1222
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