What is Probate in Oklahoma?

Probate in Oklahoma is the process of finalizing a person’s estate according to their Last Will and Testament.   The process is directed by Oklahoma law with Court oversight.  Generally the probate involves the Court appointing a person or persons to the position of Personal Representative.  The Personal Representative is responsible for managing the estate.  During the probate the assets of the deceased will be gathered, the debts and creditors of the deceased will be determined, property may need to be sold, then once the taxes are paid, administrative costs are paid, the creditors are paid, and the beneficiaries all determined, the Court will issue an order to distribute the assets to the appropriate beneficiaries.

What if the deceased did not have a Last Will and Testament?  The process is very similar, but it is called administration.

This article was written 2/2/2015 by Todd Willhoite, a probate attorney in Claremore, Oklahoma specifically for the Oklahoma jurisdiction.  A different result may occur in a different jurisdiction and the law does change, so it is important to seek competent legal and tax advice from professionals before acting on anything written in this article.  Abby Law Offices Inc. is a law office that handles probate law in Claremore, Oklahoma.