In Hawaii, where a single-family home routinely carries one of the highest median prices in the country, a solid estate plan is the difference between your family inheriting your house in a matter of weeks and spending the better part of a year in probate court to get it. If you own property here, a living trust is often the single most valuable document you can have. The right Honolulu estate planning attorney builds a will, usually a revocable trust, powers of attorney, and health-care directives that fit your assets and your family. Every firm below has a verifiable Oahu trusts-and-estates practice confirmed across at least two independent sources.
Updated September 19, 202512 min readEditorially independent
Estate planning in Honolulu is not just for the wealthy, and the reason is real estate. Hawaii home values are among the highest in the nation, which means even a modest household often holds an asset large enough to trigger probate, a public court process that can tie up a home for months. A well-drafted revocable living trust keeps your affairs private and lets your family avoid probate entirely, while a will alone still goes through the court. For many Oahu families, funding a trust with the family home is the core reason to plan at all.
What you pay is more predictable than most people expect. A simple will package in Honolulu commonly runs a flat $500 to $1,500, while a full revocable-trust plan with a pour-over will, financial and medical powers of attorney, and health-care directives typically lands between $2,000 and $5,000, depending on how complex your assets are. Owners of multiple properties, business owners, and blended families should expect the higher end, because the planning has more moving parts. Most firms below quote a flat fee after a first meeting, so you know the cost before any work begins.
The attorneys below all maintain a verifiable Oahu trusts-and-estates practice and were confirmed across at least two independent sources, including Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Justia, Expertise.com, and the firms' own published profiles. Several focus heavily on probate and trust administration, which matters when a plan needs to be carried out, and a few are recognized by Best Lawyers in trusts and estates or elder law. Most offer a free or low-cost initial consultation to scope the plan and quote the fee.
How we picked these 7: We cross-referenced peer rankings and directories (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, Justia, Expertise.com, FindLaw) and each firm's own published practice pages. Every firm below appeared in at least two independent sources and has a verifiable Honolulu-area estate planning practice. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
1
Law Offices of Eric S. T. Young, ALC
Honolulu, HI30+ years experienceFree consultation
Practice focus: Estate planning, revocable and irrevocable trusts, probate, trust litigation
Eric S. T. Young is a Honolulu sole practitioner with about 30 years of experience concentrating in estate planning, probate, and trust law. A graduate of Harvard University and the University of Hawaii's William S. Richardson School of Law, he handles both the planning side and probate and trust disputes when a plan must be administered or defended.
Why they made the list: Three decades of focused estate, probate, and trust-litigation experience under one attorney.
Fee structure
Flat fee for plans; hourly for probate and litigation
Honolulu, HIEstate-only practiceConsultation available
Practice focus: Wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, health directives
Hawaii Trust & Estate Counsel concentrates solely on estate planning, building wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health directives, with attorneys focused on custom plans rather than templates. The firm's single focus is putting the right documents in place for each family.
Why they made the list: An estate-only firm that does nothing but planning, a fit when you want a custom plan rather than a form.
Honolulu, HISuper Lawyers listedConsultation available
Practice focus: Estate planning, trusts, wealth transfer, probate
Gary G. Grimmer & Associates is a Honolulu estate-planning practice listed in the Super Lawyers directory. Its attorneys design wills and trust-based plans for Oahu individuals and families and handle the probate side when needed.
Why they made the list: A peer-recognized Honolulu planning firm with the depth for larger wealth-transfer plans.
Honolulu, HISuper Lawyers listedConsultation available
Practice focus: Estate planning, probate, trusts, wills
The Law Office of Jennifer R. Okubo Polido is a Honolulu estate-planning and probate practice recognized in the Super Lawyers directory. The firm prepares wills and trusts and guides families through probate when a plan is administered.
Why they made the list: A peer-rated solo practice that handles both the planning and the probate that follows.
Honolulu, HIEstate planning firmConsultation available
Practice focus: Estate planning, trusts, wills, probate and trust administration
Yim & Yempuku is a Honolulu firm whose practice centers on estate planning, building wills and trusts for Oahu families and handling trust administration and probate. The firm emphasizes plans tailored to each client's assets and goals.
Why they made the list: A planning-focused Oahu firm that builds the full document set and administers it later.
Honolulu, HIPlanning-focusedConsultation available
Practice focus: Wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives
Estate Planning of Honolulu is an Oahu practice dedicated to building living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and advance health-care directives for individuals and couples, with an emphasis on helping families avoid probate.
Why they made the list: A dedicated planning practice that leads with avoiding probate, which matters most where homes are this valuable.
Honolulu, HILarge full-service firmConsultation available
Practice focus: Estate planning, trusts and estates, estate and gift tax, probate
Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel is one of Honolulu's largest firms, with more than 50 attorneys and a trusts-and-estates group that handles living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and advance health directives, with the depth to address estate and gift tax for larger estates.
Why they made the list: Big-firm trusts-and-estates depth and tax capability, a fit for owners and higher-net-worth families.
Tell us what you own and who you want to protect, and we will connect you with a Honolulu estate planning attorney for a consultation. No cost, no obligation.
How to choose between them in Honolulu
Match the firm to the size of your estate. A simple will package and a full trust-based plan are different jobs. If you own a Hawaii home, multiple properties, or a business, lean toward a firm with trust and tax depth rather than a will-only shop.
Ask for a flat fee in writing. Most Honolulu estate plans are quoted as a flat fee after a first meeting. Get the number, and a clear list of which documents it covers, before you sign.
Make sure the home goes into the trust. On Oahu the family home is usually the whole reason to plan. Confirm the firm will retitle the property into your trust, because an unfunded trust still sends your estate to probate.
Ask who handles probate if needed. If a plan ever has to be administered, you want a firm that also does probate and trust administration, not just drafting.
What estate planning help typically costs in Honolulu
Estate planning in Honolulu is usually priced as a flat fee, which means you know the cost up front. Here is what the money typically looks like:
Simple will package: A will, financial power of attorney, and health-care directive commonly run a flat $500 to $1,500 for an individual or couple.
Revocable living trust plan: A full plan with a living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney, and directives typically lands between $2,000 and $5,000, depending on complexity.
Multi-property or business plans: Add multiple properties, a business-succession piece, or a special-needs trust and expect the higher end, often $4,500 to $8,000 or more.
Probate (if there is no plan): Formal probate in Hawaii is usually billed hourly, commonly $250 to $450 an hour, and can run several thousand dollars on top of court costs, which good planning avoids.
Trust funding: Retitling a Hawaii home and accounts into your trust may carry recording or service fees; ask whether funding is included in the flat fee.
Ask for the flat fee, the list of documents it covers, and whether trust funding is included, in writing, before work begins.
How long it takes
A straightforward Honolulu estate plan does not take long once you have gathered your information:
First meeting: You meet the attorney, review your assets and goals, and get a flat-fee quote. Plan on 60 to 90 minutes.
Drafting: The firm prepares your documents, usually within one to three weeks for a standard plan.
Review and signing: You review the drafts, make changes, and sign with the witnesses and notary Hawaii requires. The firm handles the signing formalities.
Funding and follow-up: If you have a trust, your home and accounts are retitled into it. Plan to revisit the documents after a major life change such as a marriage, divorce, birth, or property purchase.
Red flags to watch for when hiring a estate planning lawyer in Honolulu
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees a win, a number, or a court ruling, walk away.
The disappearing senior partner. You meet a named partner at intake, then never hear from them again while an unsupervised junior runs the file. Ask in writing who handles your matter day to day.
Pressure to sign on the spot. Reputable firms give you the engagement letter in writing and time to read it. High-pressure intake is a volume-mill signal.
No verifiable track record. Look for named results, peer rankings, board certifications, or bar recognition — not "we have helped thousands of clients."
Vague fees. Every legitimate firm will put the fee structure, what is covered, and what triggers extra charges in a written engagement letter.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
Most of the firms on this list offer a free or low-cost initial call. Use it. Bring a written list and write down the answers, then compare across two or three firms before you sign anything.
Who, specifically, will handle my matter day to day? Get a name and a direct email, not just the firm.
How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? You want a number, not a brochure line.
What is your fee, and what does it cover? Get the structure in writing before you sign.
What out-of-pocket costs am I responsible for, and when? Filing fees, records, and experts add up - ask now.
What is the realistic range of outcomes? A good lawyer gives a range; a weak one promises the high end.
How long will this take? An honest estimate, with the assumptions stated.
What is my deadline, and is it at risk? Many estate planning matters carry hard filing deadlines.
How often will I hear from you? Set the communication cadence now.
What can I do to help my own case? The best lawyers will give you homework.
What is the worst-case outcome? A lawyer who refuses to discuss downside risk is selling you something.
What to bring to your Honolulu consultation
You will get more out of the first call if you arrive organized. For most estate planning matters, gather:
A short written timeline. Dates, names, and what happened, in order.
The key documents. Any contracts, letters, agreements, court orders, or filings you have received.
Your correspondence. Relevant emails, texts, or messages - and do not delete anything.
Any deadlines you know about. A court date, a signing deadline, or an agency notice.
Your questions. The 10 above are a good place to start.
If you are not sure whether something is relevant, bring it anyway. It is easier for a lawyer to set aside what does not matter than to chase down what you left at home.
Talk to a vetted Estate Planning attorney in Honolulu
Tell us about your situation. We'll match you with one of these firms or a similar one. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Frequently asked questions about estate planning lawyers in Honolulu
Do I need a trust, or is a will enough in Hawaii?
For most Oahu homeowners a revocable living trust is worth it, because it lets your family avoid Hawaii probate and keeps your affairs private. A will alone still goes through court. An attorney can tell you which fits your situation.
How much does an estate plan cost in Honolulu?
A simple will package commonly runs a flat $500 to $1,500. A full trust-based plan typically runs $2,000 to $5,000, and more for owners of multiple properties or businesses. Most firms quote a flat fee after a first meeting.
Does Hawaii have an estate tax?
Yes. Hawaii has its own estate tax with an exemption separate from the federal one, so larger estates can owe Hawaii estate tax even when no federal tax is due. A planner with tax depth can help you plan around it.
Why is a living trust so important for Hawaii homeowners?
Because Hawaii home values are high, even an average home can trigger probate. Holding the home in a living trust lets it pass to your family without the cost and delay of probate court.
What happens if I die without a plan in Hawaii?
Your estate passes under Hawaii's intestacy law, which decides who inherits, and it goes through probate. That process is public, can take months, and may not match what you would have chosen.
How often should I update my estate plan?
Review it after any major life change such as a marriage, divorce, birth, death, business sale, or buying or selling property, and otherwise every three to five years.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? The answer tells you a lot. — The LawFirmSquare team
LawFirmSquare is a directory. We do not represent clients or refer cases for a fee.
Helpful next steps
If this guide was useful, here is where most readers go next.