Business Details
32 Years
experience
Trusted Estate Planning & Asset Protection Services in Honolulu
Okura & Associates has been dedicated to providing comprehensive legal solutions for over three decades. Specializing in estate planning, elder law, asset protection, and probate, the firm serves clients across all Hawaiian islands with a commitment to personalized service and expertise. Our team of attorneys focuses on creating tailored strategies to safeguard assets from nursing home costs, estate taxes, and legal threats while ensuring seamless transitions for families.With offices in Honolulu, Hilo, and Kauai, we combine big-city expertise with small-town care, earning recognition as the Best Law Office on the Island of Hawaii in six separate Reader's Choice polls. Our mission emphasizes innovative estate planning solutions that secure clients' financial futures and legacies.
Services
Asset Protection
Estate Planning
Probate Services
Medicaid Planning
Elder Law
Trust Administration
Wills & Trusts
Nursing Home Cost Protection
Details
- Year established: 1994
Highlights and features
- We have over 30 years of experience in estate planning and elder law
- Our attorneys specialize exclusively in estate planning, elder law, or probate
- We guarantee creative asset protection strategies saving clients $100k-$3.5M
- Our team provides 24/7 personalized customer support for urgent matters
- We operate with full transparency and no hidden fees
What people say
Outstanding service
Expertise impressed
Thorough work
Friendly staff
Reasonable fee
Services
Asset Protection
Our asset protection strategies shield wealth from nursing home costs, lawsuits, and creditors while maintaining Medicaid eligibility. We employ legal tools like trusts, LLCs, and strategic gifting to preserve client assets across generations. Clients benefit from customized plans that balance protection with accessibility for legitimate needs.
Estate Planning
Comprehensive estate plans ensure proper asset distribution while minimizing taxes and avoiding probate. Our attorneys create tailored solutions using wills, trusts, and advanced directives that address family dynamics, charitable giving, and multi-generational wealth transfer considerations.
Medicaid Planning
Specialized Medicaid strategies protect assets while qualifying for long-term care benefits. We implement legal techniques that minimize transfer penalties, preserve home equity, and maintain eligibility without complete asset spend-down through proactive planning and regulatory expertise.
Probate Services
Our probate attorneys guide executors through estate settlement processes including asset collection, debt resolution, and distribution. We handle formal and informal probates across Hawaiian islands, ensuring compliance with state requirements while minimizing delays and administrative costs.
Elder Law
Elder law services address aging-related legal needs including long-term care planning, guardianship, and veterans benefits. Our specialists develop holistic strategies that coordinate medical, financial, and legal aspects of senior care while maintaining client dignity and autonomy.
People
Ethan R. Okura
Managing Attorney
Specializing in estate planning and elder law, Ethan received his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law. With 20+ years of Hawaii practice experience, he focuses on asset protection and Medicaid planning while maintaining active bar memberships in New York and Hawaii.
Victoria Lin Sakamaki
Associate Attorney
Estate planning specialist with Magna Cum Laude honors from William S. Richardson School of Law. Focuses on probate avoidance and asset protection strategies while serving on Hawaii State Bar Association committees since 2002.
Bonnie L. Moore
Associate Attorney
UCLA Law graduate with 35+ years of estate planning experience across three states. Former Ninth Circuit law clerk combines mathematical precision with legal expertise to develop complex trust structures for high-net-worth clients.
Melissa Summers-Day
Associate Attorney
Estate planning attorney with 10+ years of experience guiding families through trust creation and probate matters. Former Hawaii Department of Education compliance officer brings empathetic approach to client interactions while maintaining rigorous legal standards.
Questions
Is estate planning only for wealthy people?
Everyone needs estate planning regardless of wealth. It ensures proper asset distribution and protects children's future through appropriate legal documents.
Why should I avoid probate?
Avoiding probate prevents public records exposure, maintains family financial access during transition, and avoids state default inheritance plans that may not match your wishes.
What should I look for when hiring an attorney?
Choose specialists in estate planning or elder law who stay current with complex tax and Medicaid regulations through focused practice areas.
How do I qualify for Medicaid nursing home coverage?
With proper planning, married couples can protect nearly all assets while qualifying. Singles can preserve at least half assets through legal structuring without full spend-down.
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