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2024

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Best Probate Lawyers in Honolulu

Our Recommended Top 18

We did the research for you!

  • Licensing
  • User Reviews
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Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Honolulu Probate Lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

97

Reviewed

65

Curated

18

Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

Website
2155 Kalakaua Ave #410, Honolulu, HI 96815
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

Hongo Law Office LLLC handles the probate cases of clients in Honolulu and the nearby communities. It focuses on guiding individuals with their probate process to help them protect the assets of their deceased loved ones. It also provides legal assistance to clients who wish to create trusts and powers of attorneys. The law office's attorney, Yuka Hongo, practices law in Hawaii, New York, California, and the District of Columbia. She also caters to Japanese clients in Hawaii who need legal services.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Yuka Hongo - Founder9 yrs

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
500 Ala Moana Boulevard, Suite 7400, Honolulu, HI 96813
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust

Why choose this provider?

Kimberly Koide Iwao, LLLC, is a private law firm providing services to individuals and families in Honolulu. Its attorneys assist clients with creating their estate planning documents, including trusts, wills, advanced healthcare directives, powers of attorney documents, conveyance documents, and assignments of tangible personal property. The firm’s principal attorney, Kimberly Koide Iwao, is a faculty member at the University of Hawaii Richardson School of Law and Kapi’olani Community College Legal Education Program.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Kimberly Iwao - Principal19 yrs

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
999 Bishop St, Honolulu, HI 96813
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust
  • Trust Administration

Why choose this provider?

Ashford and Wriston is a limited liability law partnership in Honolulu. It offers legal counsel to individuals in estate planning and probate-related matters. Attorneys represent both trustees and beneficiaries in a variety of trusts, including charitable and personal trusts. The team of probate lawyers in Honolulu handles durable powers of attorney, advance health care directives, revocable living trusts, wills, and trust administration. James Wriston has practiced with the firm since 1954 and is a member of the probate section of the American Bar.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Wesley Fujimoto - Counsel42 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.0
Yelp
4.0 / 5 (7)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.3
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
1575 S Beretania St Ste 205, Honolulu, HI 96826
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust
  • Estate Taxes
  • Trust Administration
  • Legacy Care

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Samuel K.L. Suen LLLC is a boutique law firm located in Honolulu that handles cases relating to estate planning and probate administration. Mr. Suen assists clients by notifying the decedent's natural heirs under intestate succession laws and appointing a personal executor to oversee the estate's administration. The attorney's services include filing final federal and state income taxes and appraising assets for their value. He ensures estates fulfill all debt obligations.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Samuel Suen - Principal16 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (4)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
705 S. King Street, Suite 105, Honolulu, HI 96813
  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration

Why choose this provider?

Tamashiro Sogi & Bonner is a team of attorneys serving Honolulu. They represent clients in both uncontested and contested probate proceedings. The professionals also help clients prevent probate through estate plans, which allow them to choose who will oversee their finances in the event of death or serious illness. Additionally, they assist clients in the areas of trust administration and conservatorship. Tyson T. Tamashiro, one of the firm's practitioners, placed at the 2008 American Bar Association Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law, Law Student Writing Contest.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.0
Yelp
3.6 / 5 (5)
Google
5.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
6600 Kalanianaʻole Highway, Honolulu, HI 96825
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust

Why choose this provider?

Estate Planning-Honolulu is a small firm founded by Attorney Michael J. Madison to advise clients in matters of estate planning and probate law. Mr. Madison has experience in dealing with formal and informal probate cases, which includes assessing the deceased's estate, ensuring creditors are paid and producing the legal paperwork for fair distribution of assets. The attorney also works with named executors to smooth the transition of the deceased's final will.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Michael Madison - Principal9 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (14)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (2)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
345 Queen St #702, Honolulu, HI 96813
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

David A. Bernstein offers legal life planning assistance for Honolulu families. Bernstein guides clients through the probate process and relieves them of any administrative or legal burdens they may face during their loss. Other legal services he offers include assistance in estate planning, tax protection, and trust administration. He also navigates elder law and Medicaid planning matters on behalf of clients. Bernstein is a personal family lawyer​ who aims to help families avoid collapse after the death or disability of a loved one.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
1100 Alakea Street Suite 1701, Honolulu, HI 96813
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Curtis B. K. Yuen assists clients in Honolulu in dealing with probate issues. Yuen, who is a former president and director of the Hawaii Estate Planning Council, handles the creation of wills and trusts that could help families and individuals avoid or minimize probates. He also practices real estate, corporate, and business law, as well as gift tax. Yuen was listed among the best lawyers in Hawaii for trusts and estates in the Honolulu Magazine.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Curtis Yuen - Principal35 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.4
Google
4.8 / 5 (5)
Yelp
4.0 / 5 (5)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
700 Bishop Street, Suite 2100, Honolulu, HI 96813
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Saiki & Associates is a limited liability law company based in Honolulu. It focuses on probate law, covering matters related to estate planning, business succession, wealth planning, tax planning, and fiduciary services. Founding partner Curtis K. Saiki has over 25 years of experience in probate and estate planning and has experience working with different clients, including business owners and high-net-worth families. He holds lectures on estate planning at the Shidler School of Business. Saiki also helped write Hawaii’s “Asset Protection Trust” and “Directed Trust” laws.

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
1585 Kapiolani Blvd. Suite #1230, Honolulu, HI 96814
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

Law Offices of Rowen N. Young caters to clients in Honolulu and the surrounding communities. It offers assistance in navigating the probate process, including the creditors' notification, legal notices publishing, asset distribution, personal representative appointment, and income tax payment. It also provides counseling to individuals for health care and financial power of attorneys and wills and trusts. Rowen N. Young, the attorney, brings over 35 years of experience in estate planning. He holds a Master of Laws in Taxation degree.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Rowen Young - Principal44 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.2
Yelp
4.0 / 5 (10)
FindLaw
4.0 / 5 (10)
Google
5.0 / 5 (6)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
1000 Bishop Street, Suite 908, Honolulu, HI 96813
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Randall M. L. Yee provides legal solutions to Honolulu clients. It guides estate executors or personal representatives in the probate process. It also takes on a variety of cases, such as estate and trust administration, tax planning, business formation and succession, and asset protection. Yee has been in legal practice for over 25 years and is also a certified public accountant. He maintains affiliations with the American College of Trust and Estates Counsel and the Hawaii Estate Planning Council.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.0
Google
4.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
1164 Bishop St Ste 1555, Honolulu, HI 96813
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

DeVries & Associates is a law firm that has been serving Honolulu since 2013. It assists individuals in different areas of real estate conveyances and estate planning & administration such as probate, power of attorney, trust transfer deed, advance healthcare directive, and petition to note death. Its legal team conducts consultations to help clients determine their short-term and long-term goals and prioritize them when building a strong case. The firm's founder, Porter DeVries, is a former litigation lawyer and advisor for the United Nations.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Porter Devries - Founder/Managing Attorney11 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.6
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (15)
Google
4.7 / 5 (14)
Avvo
4.7 / 5 (12)

(+1 additional source)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
1620 Ala Moana Blvd Suite #510, Honolulu, HI 96815
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust

Why choose this provider?

Law Office of Frederic M.C. Hu helps families and individuals navigate the probate process in Honolulu. Its attorneys have 51 years of combined experience in probate, estate planning, wills, and trusts. They provide representation and counsel during probate hearings, transfer of assets to beneficiaries, and disputes. The firm has been assisting grieving families in protecting their departed loved one's legacy since 1982. It seeks to deliver conscientious service by being sensitive to the family's needs and working to achieve ideal results in each situation.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Frederic Hu - Principal42 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (18)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
1013 Poha Lane, Honolulu, HI 96826
  • Estate Planning
  • Adult Guardianship
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

Scott C. Suzuki, Attorney at Law, offers legal services for individuals and families in Honolulu and nearby locations. He assists clients through the processes of probate, conservatorship, and guardianship. He also offers estate planning services, with a primary focus on seniors and clients with disabled loved ones. He is a member and former president of the Special Needs Alliance, a nonprofit organization that comprises attorneys who practice disability and public benefits law. Suzuki is also a fellow at the Hawaii State Bar Association Leadership Institute.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
3.8

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
841 Bishop St., Honolulu, HI 96813
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Stephen H. Reese serves clients in the Honolulu metro. It takes on probate and trust administration cases and helps the decedent's family in carrying out the will. Its attorneys also assist in paying the decedent's debts and last medical and funeral expenses. In addition, the firm accommodates individuals with business planning concerns. One of the firm's attorneys, Stephen H. Reese, has been in the legal field for more than 35 years.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (2)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
705 S King St Ste 108, Honolulu, HI 96813
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

Tamashiro Sogi is a full-service law firm that offers a range of estate planning and probate-related services to the residents of Honolulu. Mr. Sogi handles contested and uncontested probate and trust proceedings, guardianships, conservatorships, powers of attorney and health care directives, and estate administration matters. He is a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association's Probate and Estate Planning and Elder Law Sections, as well as the American Bar Association.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Tyson Tamashiro - Partner15 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
3.8
Yelp
3.5 / 5 (5)
Google
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
4.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
1088 Bishop St Ste 907, Honolulu, HI 96813
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Wills and Trusts Hawaii handles probate cases in Honolulu and the surrounding areas. It focuses on helping individuals prepare estate plans to protect the future of their assets, create long-term care plans, and provide the special needs of their children. These estate planning services also assist individuals in growing their assets and businesses. In addition, the firm works with clients in drafting wills and trusts. The law firm's attorney, Peter J. Lenhart, concentrates on protecting the clients' children from conservatorship.

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
1585 Kapiolani Blvd Ste 1111, Honolulu, HI 96814
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

The Estate Planning Group is a law company of probate attorneys in Honolulu that helps clients protect assets and wrap up estates. Its probate practice guides individuals through the legal proceedings following the death of a loved one without a comprehensive estate plan. Attorneys take the responsibility of informing all interested persons of the decedent's death, handling creditors, and transferring assets to the rightful beneficiaries. The Estate Planning group also advises those with guardianship cases.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Michelle Ogata - Principal23 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.9
Yelp
4.9 / 5 (76)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.3
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Disclaimer:  Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services withExpertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Honolulu, Hawaii?

    The Honolulu Police Department takes routine assistance calls at (808)529-3111. There is also an online portal at https://www.frontlinepss.com/honolulupolice.

  • Does an estate worth $100,000 in Honolulu have to undergo probate?

    Whether an estate worth $100,000 in Honolulu has to undergo probate depends on whether or not the decedent left behind real property or purely movable assets. As long as there is any real estate involved, probate is indispensable, though the process may be started with the Small Estates Division of the Circuit Court. If there's no land or buildings involved, only an affidavit for collection between the heirs is needed.

  • In Honolulu, is probate needed to pass title to properties held in trust for another?

    It is not necessary in Honolulu to go through probate to transfer the ownership of assets held in trust. The only properties that are subject to these proceedings are those solely owned by the testator. A property held in trust is owned by the trustee for the benefit of beneficiaries, hence there aren't even the departed's at all.

  • In Honolulu, can an unrelated but close personal friend of a decedent inherit from the latter if there's no will?

    In Honolulu, a close yet unrelated personal friend can only inherit from the decedent if there is a will. The rules on intestate succession enumerate the family members who may inherit without a testament, and these range from spouses and children to uncles and aunts. A dear acquaintance is not a part of the family and has no claim to the inheritance.

  • What is the rationale behind requiring a will in Honolulu?

    Requiring a will in Honolulu is designed to protect the wishes of the departed and the interests of the heirs. The formal process is used to determine what the actual intentions of the decedent were and if the choice of what to give away and to whom was done so freely. The close family is also served because it prevents disputes as to who owns which assets.

  • What can a person do in Honolulu to protect the inheritance interests of beloved stepchildren?

    To protect the inheritance interests of stepchildren in Honolulu, a person may draft a will or trust that gives the stepkids a share and keep these documents updated. The decedent may also adopt the stepchildren. This is because intestate succession in Hawaii leaves nothing behind for stepkids unless there is a formal adoption.

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