Eluding a Police Officer in Oklahoma is a serious crime that can land you in jail.. A Topeka man recently received a sentence of 8 years in prison for eluding an officer and other illegal acts. The man was sleeping in his car when police approached him. He woke and made an attempt to drive away while an officer’s arm…
Oklahoma felony domestic abuse is an extremely serious charge. It can cause emotional, financial, and even social strain for a person facing such accusations. Many domestic abuse charges start out as misdemeanor cases but later are enhanced and charged as a felony. However, up to 70% of domestic abuse allegations in divorce and custody proceedings are a fabrication or an…
Probate in Oklahoma is the judicial process of determining who is entitled to receive the deceased person’s property. Whether the person died with a valid will or died without a will, their estate must go through probate in Oklahoma. This is an important process because it ensures that the person’s property is properly distributed to those who are entitled to…
Bankruptcy Exemptions in Oklahoma protect your personal property from creditors and the Court. To many people filing a bankruptcy is the source for a lot of fear. This isn’t unusual or silly given the financial hardship people find themselves in. When you file a bankruptcy most people will file either a chapter 7 or a chapter 13 case. Regardless of…
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…
Federal Grand Jury Process, like all federal criminal prosecutions is much different than in State Court. Most people are familiar with State court cases in Oklahoma, where the charges are already determined, and the case goes to trial. This is what is most commonly seen on television and what most people will experience if they’re arrested. If someone is arrested…
Shoulder injuries at work are among the most common injuries employees suffer. This is due to the constant and repetitive use by shoulders in order to complete most jobs in any setting. Some doctors will have nearly 300 patients annually come to their office for shoulder injuries at work. This article will explain more about your options when it comes…
Sometimes a person wants to donate money to a charity in the event of their death. In fact, about 5% of Americans choose make charitable donations in wills and trusts. The law provides several ways for this possibility. This article will explain a few and what the perks are in donating this way. Charitable Donations in Wills and Trusts When…
Oklahoma ancillary probate is the process used to distribute property of a person that dies while a resident of one State but has property in a different State. When someone passes away the Probate Court in the State they reside is the state with jurisdiction over their Estate. This means that the Home State is the one that decides if…
Protective order violations in Tulsa are very serious crimes. In April of 2017, a woman reportedly held a man at gunpoint from her front porch. The man was in violation of a protective order that was issued against him. He was at the woman’s house demanding her debit card and sitting in her driveway even after being ordered by the…
Dividing Your Business in a Tulsa Divorce can be the most difficult asset to deal with in divorce. In many ways starting a business is as emotional as getting married. Just like when you first got married and poured your heart into the marriage the same thing applied to starting the business. Countless hours and endless dollars goes in the…
Child Custody Decisions in Tulsa Family Court are based on the best interest of the child. Although this seems obvious getting to the best interest of the child is hotly disputed. Whether the parents are married to each other or not who gets custody is often fought over. Our family law attorneys have done thousands of custody cases in Oklahoma…
Negligent Amputation in Oklahoma is absolutely devastating. in a 2010 CNN Article approximately 107 people had the wrong body part amputated in the hospital. Amputation of the wrong body part is a devastating experience. Take for example a Brazilian man in 2013 who had his left leg amputated only to find out doctors were supposed to amputate the right leg…
Oklahoma Child Support Modification is a right that both parents in a custody case have. Many people have questions about how the courts compute child support and what happens if a child support modification is necessary. Under Oklahoma law, there is a schedule that allows for computation based on gross monthly income of both parents. This article will explain some…
If you have a criminal record in Oklahoma and want to seal it there are different kinds of record expungements available. Let’s suppose you were charged with a non-violent felony or misdemeanor, and the court defers your sentence for a certain period of time, let’s say 2 years, and orders you to attend anger management classes during this probationary period….
If you are facing an elbow injury at work in you have a workers compensation claim. Because an elbow injury at work is so costly, its important that you do the right things that ensure the injury id covered. First, on average an elbow injury costs a total of $7,000 for the entire treatment and recovery process. During the recovery,…
Sometimes when a single person is beginning a small company of their own, they will form a Sole Proprietorship. For instance, some examples of sole proprietorships could be a bakery, a small service shop for vehicles, etc. In Oklahoma it is relatively simple to establish a Sole Proprietor business. This is a good way for many people to take advantage…
In April of 2017, parents of a 4 year old girl confronted a Nebraska daycare worker after witnessing a video of child care abuse against their daughter. The worker full force punches the girl in the arm and violently shakes the girl on the video after the girl begins crying. The parents of the girl are pressing charges against the…
A NYC Journalist recently received a prison sentence in stalking charges of involving his ex-girlfriend. The man, over a year’s time, issued over 150 bomb threats to Jewish centers across 37 states in the name of his ex. He also posted nude photos of her online and harassed a large number of her family members. The courts found him guilty…
Many Oklahomans know of the legendary musician Leon Russell from Lawton. But, what many do not know, is that Leon Russell was the victim of a birth injury that left his right side partially paralyzed. While Leon Russell overcame his birth injury to become a famous artist, some people never overcome their birth injuries. As a result, these victims will…
Kidnapping criminal charges are filed as a felony in Oklahoma. Most people think of famous cases like Elizabeth Smart or the three girls in Ohio who recently escaped. However, these are extraordinary cases involving kidnapping criminal charges. The crime often times will be from an estranged or ex-spouse taking a child. Other forms are often holding a person against their…
Expunging Juvenile Records is possible under the law. There are often times people find themselves in terrible situations as a juvenile. Whether this is due to poor choices or a lack of maturity, it can still have consequences as an adult. For example, depending on the crimes you are charged with, a juvenile record could enhance your adult charges. Over…
When you are creating your estate plan, you will come across the idea of using “trusts”. There are several different types of trusts that estate lawyers will use as tools in creating your plan. Of course, you have the ability to choose if you want a trust and what type of trust you would like to include in your plan. …
Alimony Under The New Tax Laws has changed as to who can deduct it as an expense. As you probably know, Congress passed a tax bill in December of 2017. There are still changes in the bill that people do not understand in regard to the laws. Most notably for attorneys so far are the changes in tax-ability of alimony…
Cosigning For Debt and Bankruptcy helps get you off the hook for the debt once you file your chapter 7. If you or someone you co-sign for is considering bankruptcy, you’re probably wondering what happens to the debt. If you’re the one that co-signed for the debt its okay. If you’re filing a bankruptcy this doesn’t mean that the person…
Oklahoma Prescription Drug Possession crimes are common in our State. Statistics from a 2016 study show that almost 60% of overdose deaths in the state of Oklahoma are due to abuse of prescription drugs. These include many painkillers and anti-anxiety pills such as Oxycodone or Xanax. These habits not only threaten lives, but they can cost you. Some habits can…
Knee Injuries Caused at Work are covered by your employers workers compensation insurance. Knee Injuries are an extremely common injury in the workplace. This is even more true if your job is of a physical nature such as construction, fire fighting, EMS, etc. Knee injuries generally average to a total cost of $20,000 once all medical expenses and recovery is…
Defending Rape Charges requires a strong understanding of potential defenses. In February of 2017 a Tulsa man was convicted of rape by instrumentation and crimes against nature. During Valentine’s Day, a woman became unconscious at the man’s home. She awoke to severe pain and later found photos of sexual assault against her involving objects and at one point a dog. …
Oklahoma Work Injury options include having all your medical care paid by your employers insurance. In Oklahoma employers must carry Workers Compensation Insurance. This means that if any employee of the company faces on the job injuries, the Workers Comp Insurance will cover them. It provides benefits to workers who are unable to perform their regular job duties because of the…
Oklahoma Emergency Custody Orders are designed to protect children from an immediate risk of harm. In Oklahoma, thousands of Emergency Orders are issued each year. Most are issued on good valid facts while in some other cases they may be issued on a more dubious basis. A Ponca City woman recently faced arrest and emergency child custody loss. She faces…
How to Form an LLC in Oklahoma is a concern for anyone interested in starting their own business in Tulsa. Business owners and entrepreneurs will often hire business law and formation attorneys to help establish their companies. In a large percentage of entrepreneurial endeavors, the owner will form an LLC, or Limited Liability Company. People choose to form an LLC…
Marriage and Fiance Visa Process is tricky but paying close attention to the details helps get the process done. Each year the US Department of State provides approximately 30,000 couples with a marriage visa. These are professionally the K-1 Visa. K-1, or a marriage visa, is a requirement for couples to marry in which one person is a non-citizen of…
Defending Possession of a Firearm After a Felony in Tulsa requires careful preparation by your criminal defense attorney. While the United States Constitution provides the “right to bear arms,” the Oklahoma State Constitution applies further protections. In Art. II, § 26 the authorities “shall never” prohibit the right to bear arms for defense of person or property. However, the section…
Relocating With Your Child after Oklahoma Divorce is possible but requires that you do certain things first. Often times, Oklahoma parents will have the opportunity to leave the state for many reasons. This could be better employment, closeness to out of state family, or other pressing reasons. However, having a custody and visitation agreement make things more complex. This is…
In the world of criminal sentencing the difference between Deferred and Suspended Criminal Sentencing is huge. Our clients often ask us: What is the difference between deferred sentences and suspended sentences? While there are similarities between the two, they are some very important distinctions. This article explains these differences and helps you know which you prefer during a plea or…
Contributory Negligence in Oklahoma Car Wrecks changes the way insurance company’s pay claim to injured people. Most people are familiar with the tragic death of actor Paul Walker in 2013 after wrecking into a street pole in a Porsche. In the months following his death, Walker’s daughter filed a suit against Porsche for not providing adequate safety features on the…
Step Children and Estate Planning for after you die require certain things be done. Blended families and step-children are a common occurrence in American families today. This makes up over a quarter of a million families and children who are living with non-biological parents. With these statistics in mind, it is important to know how the law affects step-children and…
Fighting First and Second Degree Burglary in Oklahoma begins with understanding the difference between the two charges. Oftentimes many people believe that the degrees of a crime are not that important. For instance, someone may not take the idea of first degree burglary much more serious than second degree burglary. However, there are a few significant differences between first and…
Dividing Debts in Oklahoma Divorce is a question faced by many families working through divorce. One of the most frequently asked questions of a lawyer is “How does property divide in a divorce?”. This generally includes dividing debts also. Take for instance you had certain debts entering into a marriage, or your spouse took out student loans for a professional…
Possession of a Stolen Vehicle in Oklahoma is a crime the Tulsa County district attorneys office hotly pursues. In early June of 2017 an unmarked police vehicle was stolen in South Tulsa. The vehicle did not have any external markings, but did hold a pepper spray ball, a ballistic shield, and handheld radio. As of June 9th, the vehicle whereabouts…
Holographic Wills in Oklahoma are valid if done correctly. Life expectancy in Oklahoma is 73 years old. A large percentage of people over the age of 65 do not have a valid will or trust in place. Sometimes, a will is put in handwriting before a person’s death though. This is legally a holographic will. Oklahoma recognizes holographic wills in…
Oklahoma Child Support Modification is possible but only when there’s a change of conditions since the last order was entered. Often times when people travel through life, their financial circumstances change. Sometimes this includes job promotions and income increases. Say for instance, you are part of a divorce and child support payment plan. If you or your ex-partner receives a…
Student loans in Oklahoma bankruptcy are one of the most frustrating aspects of modern life. In order to obtain the education you need for the career you want, you have to take on debt. Sadly, that doesn’t always work out. Employment fluctuates, life intervenes, and student loans go from being an annoyance to a full blown crisis. As bankruptcy attorneys,…
Oklahoma Common Law Marriage has been recognized in the State for over 100 years. It is a long-held tradition to uphold in the courts, if a common law marriage actually exists. So, for instance if you question whether or not you are participating in a common law marriage, then this article will answer some of those questions for you. Read…
Child abuse domestic violence charges dismissed in Tulsa today. Just like any domestic violence case if its enhanced and charged as child abuse domestic violence the charge must be supported by what the State can prove. This means that State of Oklahoma, when charging Child abuse domestic violence, has to meet the elements of the crime and this includes some…
In bankruptcy cases It’s uncommon for people to ask if I can file bankruptcy without a lawyer. It not common to file without a lawyer but it is possible. The difference between filing bankruptcy without a lawyer and other legal cases is that a bankruptcy case is governed by federal law not State law. By itself this doesn’t change whether…
In 1983, Oklahoma courts held in the Sanchez v. State appeal that “breaking” can be applied to small breaking “no matter how slight” to remove an obstruction in order to enter a place. This was illustrated in Sanchez when he rang a doorbell and when the resident of the home tried to shut the door he pushed it open. Thus,…
Defending Oklahoma False Impersonation Charges in Tulsa is complex with serious consequences to those accused of this crime. For example, in March of 2017 a Skiatook Oklahoma man was taken into custody for false impersonation of a federal agent. The man struck an Italian restaurant manager in the chest while claiming the manager was a German spy. Further, the man…
Application to Revoke Probation for a failure to complete your terms and conditions of the criminal sentence puts your personal freedom in danger. Sometimes people convicted of crimes receive a suspended sentence or deferred sentence. However, both type plea agreements require a plea of guilty at the time of sentencing. Once the plea enters, you are on a probationary period. This…
Prescription Fraud Charges in Tulsa are more common then many people realize. August of 2016, the lead dentist of Signature Smiles in Tulsa received charges for murder. During the investigation, Tulsa Police officers also discovered several possible criminal activities by Franklin’s employees, including prescription fraud. For example, one of the firms dental assistants is under investigation for forging narcotic prescriptions…
Oklahoma manslaughter charges are very serious and could land an excused person in jail. In January of 2017, a Minnesota man was charged with manslaughter after shooting at trespassers on his property. The group was casing his house early in the morning for a future burglary attempt. The owner awoke to the noise and discharged two shots, hitting one of…
Embezzlement crimes in Oklahoma together with Ponzi schemes have become famous under the likes of Bernie Madoff and Enron’s Kenneth Lay. However, even Oklahoma is susceptible to such practices. For example, the punter for the OU Sooners 2000 championship team, Jeff Ferguson, is facing financial embezzlement charges. He allegedly embezzled $620,000 from Firstar Bank, N.A. This is a significant number…
Tulsan’s filed approximately 1200 Oklahoma Workers Compensation disability claims in 2015. This is an estimated 17% of the work force according to the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission Report. As a result, just over $2,350,000 worth of Oklahoma Workers Compensation Disability payments went to the partially disabled employee claims. The partial disability industry is substantial and one that requires legal counsel…
Oklahoma Burn Injuries cause horrible injuries each year. In Oklahoma, it is common for teenagers and young adults to work in the fast food industry. Oftentimes this requires handling hot grease and other scalding substances which may result in accidental burn injuries. Oklahoma State Department of Health statistics show that 17% of burn victims in restaurant work-related burns were under…
Construction injuries Covered by Oklahoma Workers Compensation depend on your status as an employee or an independent contractor. If you suffer injuries while working on a construction site, the contractor, through his workers compensation insurance, may be responsible for your medical expenses and certain disability payments owed to you. In Oklahoma, its often a question of if you carry the label…
Endeavoring to Manufacture Meth Charges in Oklahoma have undergone a serious expansion as the war on meth ramps up. In 2015, the OSBI reports that close to 300 arrests regarding drug use alone were made in Tulsa county. This is not necessarily surprising, as Oklahoma has topped the methamphetamine epidemic charts for years. However, endeavoring to manufacture meth is a growing…
Shooting with Intent to Kill is a serious crime in Oklahoma. Many people are familiar with the controversial 2007 “Horn Shootings” in Texas. A 61-year-old man shot two illegal immigrants leaving his neighbor’s home in what appeared to be the course of a robbery. These brought into question The Castle Doctrine (otherwise known as “Stand Your Ground”) versus shooting with…
In September of 2016, an Oklahoma City woman was arrested on four counts of Oklahoma second degree burglary. She began in the Valvoline gas station parking lot, entering unlocked vehicles and also taking purses. Upon arrival in the Sprouts parking lot, police found her in her car with her shirt around her neck and covering her face. While searching her vehicle,…
Oklahoma First Degree Manslaughter involve complex legal issues. The following is an example of one instance of it. In the 2010 Oklahoma case of State v. Ceasar, a driver in a hit-and-run accident was charged with first degree manslaughter. Ceasar was driving with a revoked license. Further, he hit two pedestrians crossing the street. One pedestrian died due to her injuries,…
Failure to Pay Fines and Court Costs in Oklahoma is a crime. Its a crime that can land you in jail. A 2013 Tulsa World article, the editors at Tulsa World discuss the increasing number of people in jail for failure to pay fines and Court costs in Oklahoma. The article focuses on a woman who originally had $150 in fines…
Unauthorized use of a motorcycle is a crime in Oklahoma. It is unlawful for a person to use a motor vehicle of which they do not have possession of, nor permission to use. You may ask if your motorcycle or three-wheeler falls under the jurisdiction of this law. Well, 47 Okl.St.Ann. § 1-135 legally defines motorcycle: it is a motorized…
Texting and driving in Oklahoma causes serious personal injury. On November 1, 2015 in Oklahoma, the Trooper Nicholas Dees and Trooper Keith Burch Act of 2015 went into effect. This bill resulted from an accident in which a driver—distracted by texting—hit and killed Oklahoma State Trooper Nicholas Dees and injured Trooper Keith Burch. Although the wreck was unintentional, the driver…
In Oklahoma law, some acts are subject to strict liability. Strict liability is a rather unforgiving rule. It essentially imposes liability for damages on the defendant and takes no account of the fault of the plaintiff. That’s why Oklahoma attorneys refer to it as liability without fault. The main elements that must be present are: – the defendant was the…
In Oklahoma, it’s a felony to commit assault and battery on an officer. This also includes police, sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, corrections officers, highway patrol, and any other peace officers that are in the line of duty. As tension rise across the nation regarding law enforcement and defendants, it’s more important then ever to address this topic. Read on to understand…
Nursing Home abuse is devastating to families. When we’re dealing with our sickly family members sometimes all other awareness goes out the window. As we grapple with the difficult reality that our once vibrant parent or other family member can no longer care for themselves the prospect of nursing home abuse just doesn’t register on our radar. Each day, together…
Robbery Crimes in Oklahoma occur every day. Oklahoma Neighborhood Scout reports over 75,000 Oklahoma robberies in the last year. It also states 1 in 33 residents will be victim to a property crime at some point within the year. These numbers are significant and alarming. Further, many of these crimes will include eye witnesses. Eye witnesses typically have a high…
Strict Liability in Criminal cases exist in Oklahoma. Although strict liability mainly applies to product defect cases or other personal injury cases in the civil arena, it is occasionally part of criminal cases as well. The elements of strict liability in criminal law are simple: a statute exists and someone breaks the statute. It does not require that a person knowingly or…
The new expungement law in Oklahoma makes sealing your criminal record just a little bit easier. The impact of a criminal record can be devastating. It means employment opportunities are limited as well as many other opportunities that look to your criminal record and require that its clean. For years the impact of open records and the free flow of…
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia is a crime in Oklahoma. With high social stigma attached to it, often times it haunts a person throughout their lifetime. Okla. Stat. tit. 63 §2-405(B) addresses drug paraphernalia. It states: “No person shall use drug paraphernalia to plant, propagate, cultivate, grow, harvest, manufacture, compound, convert, produce, process, prepare, test, analyze, pack, repack, store, contain, conceal, inject, ingest, inhale…
Guns in Oklahoma Bankruptcy are yours to keep but you have to disclose them to claim the exemption. When we prepare a client’s bankruptcy paperwork, we ask them about their assets, the things they own. This includes checking and savings accounts, retirement funds and other personal property. Many clients get nervous when we ask them to list what firearms they…
Domestic assault and battery in Tulsa is a common crime. More often then most people realize citizens are charged with domestic assault and battery. The increase in arrests follows closely the public’s desire to reduce domestic violence. This effort comes in the form of strict enforcement of assault charges as they relate to family members. What was once a rare and…
Probation revocation Oklahoma is a serious offense. When you’re convicted of a criminal charge in Oklahoma the Judge has the choice of sentencing you to a jail term, probation or a combination of jail and probation. If the Judge sentences you to a term of probation and you violate the probation the court can revoke the probation and sentence you…
Revoking a Tulsa will with Oklahoma divorce is one way to revoke a will. As we go through life and acquire more assets estate planning becomes more important. More importantly then acquiring more assets is the need to protect our family members even after we’ve left this earth. An important part of estate planning in Oklahoma is understanding when parts or…
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…
A Protective Order in Tulsa is a quasi-criminal proceeding the state’s Protection from Domestic Abuse Act establishes. The intent of a Protective Order in Tulsa is to serve as a deterrent. It deters from continued behavior of domestic abuse, stalking, harassment and rape. While there is nothing stopping the defendant (the individual whom the Protective Order is against), from continuing this…
Stopping garnishments in bankruptcy happens everyday. Wage garnishments can occur automatically. They happen when government agencies like the IRS or other creditors think that you owe them money. They can also occur as a result of a court order that one of your creditors has secured against you. A wage garnishment summons is then issued to your employer. Either way,…
A green card is a resident visa. It’s name is after the color of the identification card that issues to aliens. The green card allows foreign citizens to live and work in the U.S. lawfully. The official name for the green card is Form I-551. If you are not eligible for U.S. citizenship but you wish to permanently reside in…
Fatal Car Accident kills Ashley Biggs , Larry Lawson and Toby Lawson of Oklahoma Larry Lawson and his 10-year old grandson were both killed along with a passenger in the other vehicle, 24-year old Ashley Biggs, when the Lawson vehicle swerved into oncoming traffic striking the Biggs vehicle head on causing a violent, fiery fatal car accident. Further, Ashley’s mother…
When you suffer injuries in a work-related accident, you should not talk with the insurance company’s attorney. You only talk with them about your accident only in the presence of your workers compensation lawyers. You need time to accesses your injuries, to heal and eventually to recover. In the days following your Oklahoma work accident an insurance company representative will be…
Stepparent adoption is now the most common type of adoption. Across the U.S. today, the majority of all families are re-coupled or re-married, meaning that millions of children are raised in the care of their step-parents. Studies show that about 1,300 new step-families form each and every day. Many stepparents seek to adopt their stepchild following marriage in order to…
A criminal record can hamper your job prospects, prevent you from obtaining housing, or government benefits. Fortunately, you can achieve an expungement of criminal records in Oklahoma. This helps prevent your past from ruining your future. Call us now for more information on how to get your a clean slate. An Oklahoma criminal records expungement results in the sealing of…
Sadly Divorce in Oklahoma has become commonplace. A divorce occurs somewhere across the country approximately every 13 seconds. This equates to over 6,500 divorces each day and 46,000 every week. Over 50% of all first marriages will end in divorce, and the divorce rate climbs to 65% for all second marriages. Those between the ages of 25 and 39 are most…
Social security disability insurance (SSDI) helps Oklahomans receive necessary income to pay life’s daily expenses. These include housing, clothing, food, and medical care. When applying for SSDI benefits, individuals must take into account the many factors the Social Security Administration (SSA) considers when reviewing your application. These factors determine your eligibility for SSDI benefits. Even if you truly believe you have…
In 2012, over 1.3 million Americans resided in a nursing or adult care facility. Additionally, in 2013, that number had climbed to over 3.3. million. With the Baby Boomer generation aging and increasingly requiring outside care, the number of individuals in nursing homes is continues to grow exponentially. In fact, estimates predict that by the end of this year, one in seven people over…
If you receive charges of a DUI in Oklahoma you may need need the help of Tulsa expungement attorneys. They help seal your criminal record. A conviction of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) can have disastrous consequences for years to come. Of course, the severity of the crime plays a huge role. It determines whether or not you’ll need to serve jail…
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