Many testators begin the estate planning process with a focus on other people. They have children who they wish to protect or loved ones who they want to provide financial support for even after their passing. Wills are useful estate planning tools for those concerned...
Estate Administration & Probate
Who can nominate a guardian for a minor child in Oklahoma?
Guardianship is one of the elements of estate planning. Parents need to choose someone who will take over their responsibilities if they become incapacitated or die while their child is still a minor. So, who can nominate a guardian in Oklahoma? Here is what to know:...
How estate planning can help to prevent adult guardianship
Estate planning can give people peace of mind about many future challenges. Those who have witnessed loved ones fight over a family member's estate may want to prevent their children from destroying their relationships after they die. Those with major medical concerns...
Navigating probate fights concerning pets
Probate disputes involving pets are becoming increasingly common, as many people consider their pets to be family members and work to safeguard their well-being in the event that they might outlive their owners. In Oklahoma, probate fights concerning pets typically...
When an adult child is omitted from their parent’s will
Parents with multiple children often want their estate plans to be as fair and reasonable as possible. It is a common practice for parents to attempt to leave each of their children items of relatively similar value. Some parents go so far as to have the personal...
How should you notify beneficiaries and creditors of probate?
As an executor, one of your responsibilities is to notify beneficiaries and involved parties, such as creditors, of probate. They need to know that the will they have been named in or the estate of the person who owed them money has gone to probate. Failing to notify...
What is ancillary probate?
Ancillary probate is a process that estate administrators must manage when a deceased person owns property in a state other than the one where they resided at the time of their death. This secondary probate proceeding is necessary to manage and distribute the...
When a personal representative doesn’t fulfill their duties
Serving as the personal representative of an estate is a difficult job. People give up quite a bit of their personal time to attend probate court, communicate with interested parties and manage estate resources. The entire process often requires more than a year of...
Handling grief and responsibility as a personal representative
Nothing prepares you for the loss of a parent, no matter how old you get. Amid such immense grief, you can feel overwhelmed to find out that your parent had named you their personal representative in the will. On one hand, it can feel like an honor to be handpicked...
What if you disagree with the guardian named for a minor child?
If you disagree with who has been appointed guardian of a minor child named in that child’s parent's will, there are several steps you can take to address your concerns. Contesting a guardianship can be a sensitive and complex process, but understanding your legal...