A New Year, a New….Trust?
Happy New Year! As the calendar turns to January, many of us reassess things. From earning a work promotion to finally using that gym membership, resolutions abound. Consider adding this resolution for 2017: sit down with a knowledgeable Norman, Oklahoma estate planning attorney and discuss a revocable living trust. Here are a few reasons why […]
Will the Federal Estate Tax Be Repealed?
Regardless of our political affiliations, I think we are all glad that the 2016 election is over. In any new administration, there are apt to be policy changes. This is particularly true whenever one party controls both the executive and legislative branches. In addition to other priorities, President-elect Trump and the Republican Congress almost certainly […]
Why You Should Be Thankful for Estate Planning
We are nearing my favorite holiday: Thanksgiving. From family to turkey, from pumpkin pie to football…the list of things for which to be thankful is long. Something that may not immediately come to mind, however, is estate planning. I know you are probably thinking, “Estate planning is how Tyler makes a living. Of course he […]
The 3 Key Components of a Good Estate Plan
Estate planning is the process of managing your property while you are living and providing for its distribution after your death. A good estate plan has three key components: Last Will and Testament or Living Trust – If you do not specify who receives your property, then the State of Oklahoma decides for you. In […]
Top Three Reasons to Consider an A-B Trust
Revocable living trusts enable one to avoid probate, resulting in greater privacy as well as decreased legal fees and costs. If structured properly, revocable living trusts also provide other benefits. To achieve these benefits, the client should execute an “A-B trust”. What is an A-B trust? Let us use a married couple to illustrate. In […]
Top 5 Reasons to Update Your Estate Plan
If you have an estate plan, congratulations: you are way ahead of most people in terms of protecting your legacy and giving your loved ones peace of mind. By some estimates, nearly half of all American adults lack even have a basic will. Consequently, millions of families every year will incur unnecessary taxes as well […]
Maintaining Family Harmony In Probate
The loss of a loved one is a very difficult time for all involved. Probate only compounds the stress. As a result, long-held feelings of disappointment, distrust and resentment between family members may surface. In every probate, my goal is to efficiently administer the estate while following Oklahoma probate laws. At the same time, I […]
Asset Protection in Revocable Living Trusts
Revocable living trusts are a wonderful estate planning tool. A fully funded revocable living trust avoids probate, thus enhancing privacy as well as saving your loved ones significant legal fees and court costs. Importantly, revocable living trusts can also offer asset protection to beneficiaries. Here’s how. If someone receives money outright under a will or […]
The Contested Probate: Should I Object?
In grieving the loss of a loved one, many are surprised to learn that wrapping up the deceased’s affairs is not as simple as they had assumed. If the deceased owned property in his or her name alone, a probate is necessary to pass the property legally to the heirs and beneficiaries under any last […]
Preparing the Estate Inventory: 3 Things Personal Representatives Should Know
In a probate case, one of the primary responsibilities of the personal representative is to collect, maintain and manage the assets of the estate. This includes filing with the probate court an inventory of the estate’s assets. Here are three things every personal representative should know about preparing the inventory in a probate case: What […]