What is JUST ASK JOHN?
JUST ASK JOHN is a blog of answers to frequently asked estate planning questions, with videos and articles by Hawaii attorney John Roth. What started as a newspaper column in the North Hawaii News and West Hawaii Today has grown into a trove of answers to the most asked questions about wills, pet trusts, and everything in between. Estate planning can be overwhelming, John tries to take the stress out of it.
This blog does not contain legal advice. You should not rely on this to determine what is in your own best interest. For legal advice, specific to your situation, you must meet with an attorney. All posts are based on hypothetical scenarios, not the actual circumstances of real clients.
Watch the latest:
ASK a question:
VIDEO ANSWERS
to FREQUENTLY ASKED ESTATE planning questions
WHO IS JOHN?
John Roth formed the estate planning law firm Hawaiʻi Trust & Estate Counsel in 2014, in Kamuela on Hawaiʻi Island. The firm has offices in Kamuela and Hilo, and also meets with clients in Kona, Wailuku, Maui, and on ʻOahu.
John has taught Estate Planning as an adjunct law professor at the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai`i–Manoa, and lectures in several other law courses there. He also has taught the Business Law course at the University of Hawai`i–Hilo. John is also a frequent speaker at seminars for lawyers and other professionals in the areas of estate planning, probate administration, law firm management, and legal ethics. His publications include co-authorship of the Hawaii State Bar Association’s Estate Planning Forms Manual (2012) and Hawaii law section of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) Report, Comparison of Domestic Asset Protection Trust Statutes (2014).
In 2016, John was recognized as one of Hawaii's "40 Under 40", an annual award given by Pacific Business News to 40 of the most influential professionals under 40 years old, in the State of Hawaii. John has served as president of the Young Lawyers Division and the Estate Planning Section of the Hawaii State Bar Association, and cofounder of the Solo & Small Firm Section. He is past president of the Rotary Club of North Hawaii and served on the board of the Parker School. John is also a past president of the North Hawaii Hospice board; and on the advisory board for the West Hawaii Fund of the Hawaii Community Foundation. John is currently on the Hawaii Island Leadership Council of the Hawaii Community Foundation and serves on the board of The Donkey Mill Art Center in Holualoa.
John earned a B.S. degree in Business Communications from the University of Kansas in 2003 (Phi Beta Kappa), and joint J.D. and M.B.A. degrees from the William S. Richardson School of Law and Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawai`i–Manoa in 2007. He grew up on Oahu where he attended public elementary schools and graduated with honors from Punahou Academy.
John is an avid painter and devoted dog dad.