Estate Planning, Intestacy, Oklahoma, probate, Trusts, Wills

Reasons to Choose Going to Probate

As an estate planning attorney, most of my clients are meeting with me to help avoid probate as much as possible. I have written previous posts all about how to avoid probate. However, sometimes, probate can be beneficial in certain circumstances. A lot of estates go through probate, which is the court process to distribute… Continue reading Reasons to Choose Going to Probate

Beneficiary Designation, Estate Planning, Oklahoma, Oklahoma News, Our Attorney, probate

Oklahoma Small Estate Affidavit

Oklahoma permits the distribution of a small estate without probate, if the estate is worth $50,000 or less in total. There are two ways to avoid probate using affidavits in Oklahoma - one for financial accounts, one for personal property. The first type of "Small Estate Affidavit" allowed in Oklahoma is one for financial accounts… Continue reading Oklahoma Small Estate Affidavit

Beneficiary Designation, Estate Planning, Family Law, Life Insurance, Oklahoma, Trusts

(Minor) Children in Your Estate Planning

When handling people's estate plans, I am often asked how life insurance, retirement accounts, and other “beneficiary” property should be handled with regards to the young children. More often than not,  people with children want some or all of the proceeds of these accounts to go to their minor children. For example, if a client… Continue reading (Minor) Children in Your Estate Planning

Beneficiary Designation, Estate Planning, Oklahoma, probate, Trusts, Wills

Oklahoma’s Simplified Probate

If you do not have a Revocable Living Trust, your estate will  need to be probated or be small enough for a simple affidavit. Probate is the legal process required for estate administration and asset distribution.  To read more specifically about what probate is, read our previous post "what is probate." One important thing about… Continue reading Oklahoma’s Simplified Probate

Beneficiary Designation, Estate Planning, Oklahoma, probate, Trusts

How to Handle Titled Transportation Vehicles to Skip Probate

Most people know how to put beneficiary designations on their accounts to skip that asset from going to probate. Most of the time, it is a one or two page form that the financial institution provides you. (See more about that at our post about Beneficiary Designations). However, one type of asset that is often… Continue reading How to Handle Titled Transportation Vehicles to Skip Probate

Beneficiary Designation, Divorce, Estate Planning, Family Law, Oklahoma, Trusts, Uncategorized, Wills

It’s Important to Update your Estate Planning After A Divorce

Most couples, especially married couples, get their estate planning done together and draft them accordingly. Most of the time, married couples will get a Family Trust, rather than two individual Trusts, and all the beneficiaries/executors/trustees are listed as each other. After the unfortunate event of a divorce, it is extremely important to get your estate… Continue reading It’s Important to Update your Estate Planning After A Divorce

Beneficiary Designation, Estate Planning, Life Insurance, Oklahoma

Life Insurance And Your Estate Planning

Most people know what life insurance is and what it does for you. However, if you do not, let's go over the basics. Life insurance is insurance that you can pay a monthly fee for that will pay a beneficiary an amount of money after you pass away. The amount of money paid at the… Continue reading Life Insurance And Your Estate Planning