Empowering Hawaiʻi Families & Securing Legacies Since 2017
Mahalo for naming us as one of the "Best of Hawaiʻi" in Estate Planning for the second year in a row and "Top 100 Attorneys" nationally!
Special Needs Planning
Thoughtful estate planning designed to protect your loved one’s future while preserving essential government benefits.
Estate Planning for Families with Loved Ones Who Have Special Needs
Planning for a family member with special needs comes with unique financial, medical, and benefits-related complexities that many attorneys aren’t fully equipped to navigate. We’re different — we help Hawaiʻi families build thoughtful plans that protect your child now and in the future.
Our goal is to make sure your loved one is cared for long after you’re no longer able to serve as their primary caregiver — including preserving access to vital government benefits like Medicaid and SSI while providing additional financial support.
Special Needs Trusts
One of the most important tools in this planning is a Special Needs Trust (SNT). Families often face a difficult dilemma: leaving assets directly to a child with special needs can unintentionally disqualify them from essential public benefits. A properly structured SNT avoids this risk by holding assets for your loved one’s benefit without compromising their eligibility for government support.
Special Needs Trusts must be set up and administered in a way that follows complex rules — for example, funds aren’t distributed directly to the beneficiary but are paid to caregivers or service providers on their behalf. Because needs and benefit laws change over time, it’s essential to work with an attorney experienced in this area of planning.
Personalized Planning for Your ʻOhana
Whether your child has Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, or another developmental or intellectual disability, we can help you create a tailored plan that combines a Special Needs Trust with other estate planning strategies. This ensures your loved one has the financial resources for a meaningful, fulfilling life without sacrificing access to critical government benefits.
Reach out today to begin building a secure, compassionate plan for your family.
