Why Honolulu Families Deserve More Than an Initial Consultation
- Keoni
- Oct 2
- 4 min read
If you’ve been told that estate planning starts with a quick initial consultation and ends with a stack of documents, you may be heading down a path that leaves your loved ones unprotected. In Honolulu and across Hawaiʻi, families deserve more than cookie-cutter documents. That’s why I offer a Life & Legacy Planning® Session — a working meeting designed to give you clarity, control, and confidence in every decision.
Why an “Initial Consultation” Isn’t Enough
A traditional consultation often looks like this: you meet with an attorney, share basic details about your family and assets, and walk away with a recommendation for a will, trust, and powers of attorney — along with a flat fee or hourly rate.
The problem? That approach doesn’t take into account your family’s unique circumstances, your goals, or the values you want to pass on. In Hawaiʻi, where blended families, multi-generational households, and property laws add complexity, a cookie-cutter plan can easily fail the people you love.
What Makes a Life & Legacy Planning® Session Different
Our Life & Legacy Planning® Session is a working meeting — not just a meet-and-greet. Instead of telling you what you need, I guide you through key questions such as:
Who would step forward to care for your children if something happened to you today?
Could choosing one child to make decisions cause conflict with others?
How would your spouse manage financially if you were gone?
How would your family access your accounts, passwords, or even your phone?
Do you want your affairs to remain private, or are you okay with court involvement?
These aren’t hypothetical — they’re the real issues your loved ones could face. By walking through them, you’ll make informed decisions that protect your ʻohana and reflect your values.
What We Cover in the Session
During your Life & Legacy Planning® Session, we focus on four key areas:
1. Understanding How Hawaiʻi Law Affects You
Without an estate plan (or with an outdated one), state law decides what happens to your assets, children, and health care. I’ll show you exactly how the law would apply to your situation today — often a surprising and eye-opening exercise.
2. Reviewing Your Family and Financial Picture
We’ll look at more than just your accounts. We’ll talk about your loved ones, their needs, and possible challenges. You’ll also complete a detailed asset inventory, so nothing gets lost or overlooked.
3. Clarifying Your Goals and Priorities
Some families care most about avoiding probate, others about protecting children’s inheritances from creditors or divorce. In Hawaiʻi, many also want to ensure family real estate stays in the ʻohana for future generations. This is your time to prioritize what matters most.
4. Choosing the Right Plan
At the end of the Session, you won’t hear, “You need a trust and here’s my fee.” Instead, you’ll review your options, understand how each plan would work in your real life, and choose the one that fits your family and budget.
Beyond Documents: Protecting What Really Matters
Estate planning isn’t just about dividing assets. It’s also about passing down values, stories, and guidance. During your Session, we’ll also discuss how to preserve your life lessons and memories so your family inherits more than just financial wealth.
Why This Matters for Hawaiʻi Families
Families in Honolulu and across Hawaiʻi often face unique estate planning challenges — from high property values to multi-generational caregiving. A Life & Legacy Planning® Session ensures that your plan isn’t just legally sound but also culturally and personally aligned with your family’s needs.
Your Next Step
Don’t settle for a “binder of documents” that may fail your family when they need it most. Take the first step toward true peace of mind. Schedule your Life & Legacy Planning® Session today and leave with clarity, confidence, and a plan that will truly work for your ʻohana.
FAQs
Q: How long does the Life & Legacy Planning® Session take?
If you’re ready to move forward, the session can take up to 2 hours and includes actual plan design. If you’re not quite ready, it will be up to 1 hour, focusing on education, reviewing your current plan, and identifying gaps — with plan design reserved for when you’re ready to proceed.
Q: How much does a Life & Legacy Planning Session cost?
Our Life & Legacy Planning Session is $750 if you don’t already have an estate plan, and $950 if you do. The fee is applied to the cost of your chosen plan, so it’s not an extra expense.
Unlike a typical “free consultation,” this is a working session where we take the time to understand your goals, review your current situation, and if you're ready to proceed, start designing the best plan for your family. To make this important first step more accessible, we also offer a limited number of reduced-rate sessions for just $250.
Q: Is this just for people with a lot of assets?
No. Whether you’re just starting out or have built significant wealth, the Session is about protecting your loved ones and your wishes.
Q: Do you work with clients outside Honolulu?
Yes. I serve families across Hawaiʻi virtually, making it easy no matter where you live on the islands.
📍 Based in Honolulu | Serving all of Hawaiʻi
📅 Schedule your Life & Legacy Planning Session here
📞 You can reach us at 808-725-3454
This article is brought to you by the Law Office of Keoni Souza, a boutique estate planning firm located in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, proudly serving families on Oʻahu and across the Hawaiian Islands. At our firm, estate planning is about more than documents — it’s about creating lasting peace of mind for you and the people you love. Through our unique Life & Legacy Planning Process, we guide you to make informed, empowered decisions that protect your wealth, your wishes, and your family’s future. To get started, contact our Honolulu office today to schedule your Life & Legacy Planning Session.
Disclaimer: The information on this website is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. For guidance tailored to your specific situation, please consult an estate planning attorney licensed in the State of Hawaiʻi. Use of this website or communication through this site does not create an attorney-client relationship with the Law Office of Keoni Souza, LLC.
