A common question related to wills or estate plans is how often individuals should update them. The answer is twofold: when you undergo a significant change in your life that could impact your estate planning and if there are no changes in your life, every three to...
Probate
How does the probate process unfold if there is no will?
The probate process may often be a necessary component to managing the affairs of an estate after the testator passes on. If there is a will in place, this document may depict a person’s wishes and preferences and may identify an executor who will carry out this...
Helpful tips for Oklahoma ancillary probate
You might be preparing to execute an estate plan for the first time. After determining, compiling and signing whatever documents you need, your plan will be legally enforceable, provided you adhered to Oklahoma estate and probate laws during the execution phase of the...
Oil and mineral rights regarding probate
Asset issues can be complex when administering an Oklahoma estate. This is especially true when the assets in question are oil and mineral rights. In probate, such assets do not receive the same treatment as stocks, bonds or other investments, but rather involve true...
Five things to do after you become the executor of a will
When someone close to you passes away it is a challenging time. In addition to the natural feelings that come with the death of a loved one, such as grief and sadness, you may feel overwhelmed by practical issues that you will have to address. The administrative tasks...
What happens during a probate dispute?
You may have recently learned that you were named as the executor of a loved one’s estate, and you are worried about the prospect of one of the will’s beneficiaries challenging the will in court. Alternately, you may be a beneficiary to the will who wants to bring a...
Taking care of the deceased’s debts during probate
The executor's job is to distribute the decedent's assets according to their final wishes. But being the executor of an estate in Oklahoma also means settling the decedent's debts. Most of us in Norman carry some amount of debt. Mortgages, credit card bills, car...