GETTING STARTED

Aloha! Thank you for visiting. Our first bits of advice regarding estate planning start here: (a) Please “plan ahead to plan” — get started by calling us sooner rather than later if at all possible. Depending on workload fluctuations, it may take 30 or more days to get an appointment. (b) Check and practice using video conferencing prior to our meetings. Our office uses Zoom, if you have problems with or cannot use Zoom, please call our office for help or to make other arrangements. (c) Please inform us of any deadlines or time expectations you have, if any. We will try our utmost to meet your expectations if they are known to us.

***4TH QUARTER WRAP-UP*** Our office anticipates starting our 4th Quarter wrap-up of existing work in August of each year. Consequently, new client’s not scheduled prior to August may be wait-listed until January of the following year (after the holidays). This does not include any work already scheduled or in process prior to August or new work for existing clients. Because we are scheduling 4-6 weeks in advance, PLEASE CALL IN JULY to ensure we can schedule your new estate planning work this year.

***NOTE ON INITIAL CONSULTATION FEES*** For new client Estate Planning (including amendments and second opinions) our practice is to begin the legal analysis of your case at the very first meeting and share our initial insights with you at that time. We are confident we can determine and identify all major legal issues as well as answer all your legal questions in the initial meeting. Given the value of the initial consultation, our practice is to charge for the consultation. If you choose to implement your estate plans with our office within three months of your initial consultation, the cost of the initial consultation is waived.

***NOTE ON ESTIMATES*** Estimates are provided upon request and based on the information made available to us at the time of the estimate. Your actual cost is directly related to the services provided and time involved in providing such services. Your actual cost may differ from the estimate because of factors including an unanticipated increase in the time involved with your case, requested changes to your work (“change orders”), special drafting, start/stop/hold changes. Thank you for your understanding.

What to have with you at your initial consultation:

A.  ESTATE PLANNING.  For new estate planning cases it is not absolutely necessary to have all of the following at your initial consultation, but it would serve to make our first meeting as productive as possible. Initial consultations are primarily held via ZOOM video conference; please let us know if you are not able to video conference.

  1. List of your questions, concerns, thoughts, and goals.

  2. Estate Planning Questionnaire (Please call us to obtain a copy of the questionnaire, we may be reached at 735-8801).

  3. Copies of old trust documents (revocable trust, short form trust/declaration of trust, will, durable power of attorney, advance health-care directive, living will, and any amendments).

  4. Copies of recorded Deeds for your real property.

  5. Copies of current mortgage statements, if any.

  6. Copies of company documents (business owners only).

  7. Copies of certificates of death, if any (color preferred, front and back).

  8. **Please inform us of any time deadlines by which you would prefer your work to be completed and call early for appointments.

  9. Please come as you are!

B.  TRUST REVIEW/SECOND OPINIONS.

Transferring your work from another attorney does not require permission or a special procedure. Simply provide copies of your current estate planning documents to us. Please see the list of documents in Section A, above. If we have not worked with you before, please note that the review of your old documents is billable time because such work is necessary to advise you fully.

C.  TRUST/WILL ADMINISTRATION, PROBATE.  For administration of an individual's trust/estate upon his or her passing:

  1. Decedent's trust or will (if any, original, if available).

  2. Decedent's certified death certificate (when available).

  3. List of decedent's family members, heirs, and beneficiaries, including names, addresses, telephone numbers, and relationship.

D.  REFERRAL SOURCE:  Please provide the name of the person who recommended you to our office. 

E.  For other cases:  (please call)

Note: Information shared with Eric M. K. Wong, Attorney at Law, a Law Corporation, is kept confidential and disclosed only as authorized by you, required to complete the work for which the office is retained, or as required under the Hawaii Supreme Court Rules of Professional Responsibility.