Estate planning is not a very glamorous subject, and some people may think they don’t need to do it at all. Maybe you and your spouse have two grown children, and you know that when you pass everything will be given to them, but often there is a little more to it than that. Yes,… Continue reading What Exactly Does Estate Planning Include?
While no one wants to envision a worst case scenario when it comes to their health, life does happen, and if you become incapacitated, either for a short time, or long term, giving someone the power to make decisions on your behalf can be difficult if a plan has not been implemented beforehand. Whether you… Continue reading “Who Can Handle My Affairs If I Get Sick or Injured?”
A common question in estate planning is: “How do I dispose of my ‘stuff?’” While bank accounts can have beneficiaries listed, and items like homes and vehicles can be titled over to a trust, passing on the jewelry, furniture, and antiques around our homes may be less obvious, but does not necessarily need to be… Continue reading “I Know What Will Happen to my Finances, but What Will Happen to my ‘Stuff?’”
These types of assets are referred to as digital assets. Digital assets are your personal e-mail accounts, online bank and brokerage accounts, frequent flier accounts, Facebook accounts, and other social media websites. There are four main categories of digital assets: Personal assets Social media assets Financial assets Online business accounts While you may not… Continue reading Estate Planning for Your Facebook Account?
An Affidavit of Heirship is a sworn statement that can be used by heirs as an alternative way to transfer property and establish ownership when the original owner dies intestate or without a will. Affidavit of Heirships allow for heirs to take possession of the estate without going through probate. The Affidavit of Heirship outlines the deceased… Continue reading Affidavit of Heirship – An Alternative to Probate?
The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 (SECURE Act) was signed into law on December 20, 2019 and became effective on January 1, 2020. The SECURE Act makes over two dozen changes to the law affecting retirement benefits and inherited IRAs (Individual Retirement Accounts). The revisions also apply to other defined contribution… Continue reading How Does The New Federal SECURE Act Affect Your Estate Plan for IRAs & 401(k) Plans?
Before 2008, there was no way in Oklahoma for real property or mineral rights to skip probate except for a revocable trust. In 2008, the Oklahoma legislature passed 58 O.S. Section 1251-1258. This statute codified Oklahoma's Transfer on Death Deed ("TODD"), otherwise known as a "beneficiary deed." This allows the owners of real property, including… Continue reading Oklahoma’s Transfer on Death Deeds
The attorney of Skillern Law Firm, PLLC, Penni Skillern, recently had a baby girl in January of 2015. Yes, that is why there was a lack of blog posts and updates on our website. The first thing she did when she was able to go back to work was update her estate plan to reflect… Continue reading Estate Planning for Your New Expanded Family
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
In 2003, the United States Department of Health and Human Services enacted regulations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or as it is more commonly known, “HIPAA”. Under this new law, medical providers can face serious sanctions and monetary fines for releasing unauthorized “Protected Health Information,” usually meaning medical records. As a result, medical… Continue reading HIPAA Authorizations – Why They Are Important
