In Oklahoma and many states across the United States, the state legislature has provided a way for families with loved ones who have recently passed away to move some of their assets without needing to go to probate court if they meet certain characteristics. These forms are sometimes called Small Estate Affidavits in Oklahoma estate planning. It is called an…
Intestate distribution for out of wedlock children can be different than it is for children born to a marriage. In Oklahoma, the government has a default will for you if you die without one. This process of using the government’s will for you is called intestate succession. Your estate may go through probate court, and a judge will help your…
To transfer bank accounts when you die there are a few different methods available in Oklahoma. A will works as a way to transfer ownership of an asset like a bank account from someone deceased to someone who is living. The will or Estate plan is used as a guide for a probate court judge to help determine where the…
Probate delays in Oklahoma are frustrating. Probate is the Court’s process to distribute a deceased person’s estate. The probate process can be a difficult time for families. Emotions are running high, money is involved, and everyone is on edge. This article will describe some of the most common probate disputes and how these disputes might delay the probate process so…
Estate planning for blended families in Oklahoma continues to be more important. In the United States, the current divorce rate for first-time marriages is almost fifty percent. Of the fifty percent of marriages that end in divorce, most people re-marry. Bringing two different families together can be difficult and result in many emotions for both sides of the family. These…
Probate letters of administration in Oklahoma deal with who is responsible to administer a persons estate. During our lives, dealing with the loss of a loved one is, unfortunately, inevitable. Administering the estate of a deceased family member can be an arduous, complicated, and emotionally draining task. Many technical legal terms are used that complicate a probate process with which…
Paying estate debts In probate in Oklahoma comes out of the estate itself. If funds are available they are paid by the executor as part of their probate duties. Oklahoma’s Probate Code details the procedure for paying the creditor claims of a decedent. A question often asked by someone who is faced with going through probate on behalf of a…
How Long Does Probate Take in Oklahoma; The average time varies greatly depending on the assets and liabilities of the decedent and can take anywhere between four months to over a year. In Oklahoma, probate is required when a person dies as the sole owner of real estate or fails to name a designated beneficiary on their insurance policies, investment…
You can remove an Executor in a probate case In Oklahoma but there are things that must be done first. Imagine this: your loved one dies and leaves behind a will. The will named a specific person to be its executor. However, you and other relatives begin questioning the integrity of this executor. You believe that this executor isn’t fulfilling…
A living Will is part of any well prepared estate plan in Oklahoma. Are you interested in estate planning but completely lost on where to begin? Are you confused as your try to piece together all the legal jargon and make sense of what everything means? If so, don’t worry. You’re not alone. As people acquire more wealth and age,…
Oklahoma intestate law is what takes over by default. Creating a will is so important because if you don’t have one in place when you die, the state will decide what happens to everything you own. A will or a trust is a legal document that explains what to do with your property after death, among other things. You die…
A properly organized and operated business offers levels of legal protection for its owners. This is a great benefit but these protections are limited in scope and area. A corporation or an LLC can provide the owner a liability shield from the company’s actions and debts. It does this while it remains an asset on the individual’s personal balance sheet….
Saying “I do” typically comes with a ring, but it doesn’t always come with forever. So here you are, preparing for a divorce, and you realize that there’s so much to do. You realize that planning a wedding was much easier than planning for a divorce and the new estate planning that comes with it. The thing about estate planning…
An Oklahoma power of attorney is a powerful right one person gives to another. There are times when you may need to authorize someone to do something that you would normally do yourself but can’t for some reason cant do. This includes things like an illness or other incapacity. A legal document called a power of attorney allows you to…
Intestate distribution In Oklahoma impacts who gets what in a probate court. Losing a loved one is hard. It’s even harder when the family begins bickering over rights and inheritances. Did the deceased leave behind a will or did they die without a will? How do you know, for sure, who gets what? If you’re in Oklahoma and find yourself…
Executor duties in Oklahoma probate consist of much more than we normally think. Losing a loved one is painful. And now your loved one’s estate is going to probate court. There is all this talk about executors and administrators. Because you’re grieving, much of it is going over your head. Maybe you’re wondering whether there’s a difference between the two…
Second Marriage Estate Planning requires a more complex look at your current estate plan. A second marriage could be great for you. Many people find that after a prior marriage a second marriage will provide them personal comfort. But, the estate planning gets more complicated particularly if either of you have any children from your previous marriages. Estate planning is…
An Inherited IRA In Oklahoma Bankruptcy may be at risk if you file a chapter 7 bankruptcy. When you file a bankruptcy in Oklahoma certain assets are considered exempt from creditors and the court. If you have certain retirement accounts or Trusts they may be exempt assets in the event that you file a bankruptcy. Although your personal IRA and…
Pour-Over Wills In Oklahoma Estate Planning are one of many useful tools in the distribution of property after you pass away. The type of tools a person uses in their estate planning really depends on what property they have to distribute to heirs. It also depends on the type of trust they have and other probate avoidance tools at their…
Deciding on a Living Trust or a Will In Oklahoma depends on a few different things. When it comes to planning for your incapacity or death, you will naturally come across a number of terms including living trust or a will. These instruments play vital roles including allowing for the distribution of your assets to your loved ones according to…
The benefits of Estate Planning in Oklahoma are many fold. An estate plan provides individuals with a number of benefits including the opportunity to dictate what will happen with their assets at their incapacity and death. Completing a will, trust, and other estate planning documents can give you the peace of mind in knowing that you – rather than the…
It is possible to contest a Will in Probate Court in Oklahoma. Its best that you do the will contest as soon as possible while all the evidence is fresh. There are several basis for a will contest from the will not meeting statutory requirements down to out right fraud. The contest is filed in the Court where the probate…
Undue Influence In Estate Planning is a fairly common occurrence. Estate planning means much more than mitigating the tax liability associated with transferring assets to others at your death. It also involves choosing one or more fiduciaries (e.g. family members) to manage your financial and healthcare matters at your incapacity and death; choosing who will be responsible for administering your…
The probate process in Oklahoma is governed by the states probate laws. Each state throughout the country has its own rules for how probate works. The probate process in Oklahoma is kick started in the majority of deaths occurring in the state. Probate becomes necessary for facilitating the transfer of assets of a deceased and winding up their estate unless…
In Oklahoma Hand Written Wills Are valid but they must satisfy certain requirements. In Oklahoma hand written wills are called holographic. Holographic wills are wills that are completely handwritten by the person wishing to will their property away when they die. Some people prefer to hand-write their final wishes because its easy and personal. Not all States allow for holographic…
Our Tulsa Probate Lawyers will tell you that probate doesn’t have to be hard. Probate is the legal process by which the court, oversees and directs the distribution of assets and liabilities to beneficiaries. Thus, the probate process is the means by which legal title to real or personal property transfers to heirs or beneficiaries. The distribution of one’s property, whether they had…
Planning for incapacity is never a pleasant task. But there is significant risk in delaying the development of such a plan if you should become incapacitated. Most people associated this type of prolonged loss of consciousness may be elderly people suffering from mental ailments. However, young people can suffer the same type of incapacity. It is impossible to prevent temporary…