Whether you are 12 or 62, the death of a parent is not easy to handle. If you recently lost your father, you are probably still grieving the loss. At the same time, you may be feeling the need to get started on the administration of your father’s estate. If your father failed to leave behind a Last Will and Testament appointing an Executor of his estate, someone must petition to become the Administrator. What happens if the family cannot agree on who that person should be? If you find yourself … [Read more...]

Most people will be involved in the probate of an estate at some time during their life. Your involvement may be the result of overseeing the administration of an estate or as the beneficiary of an estate. In both instances, knowledge of the probate process is beneficial. It is also beneficial to understand the probate process to help you create your own estate plan. With that in mind, the Oklahoma City probate attorneys at Parman & Easterday discuss some common steps in the probate … [Read more...]

Ideally, when someone creates a Last Will and Testament he/she discusses the appointment of the Personal Representative (formerly referred to as "Executor" or "Executrix") with the prospective Personal Representative before making the appointment official and executing the Will. In reality, however, that doesn’t always happen. Consequently, it is not uncommon for a grieving loved one to find out that they have been appointed to administer the estate of the decedent. If you … [Read more...]

When you create your estate plan, you normally identify several important goals and objectives you want it to accomplish. One of the most important estate planning goals is to avoid probate. Although every estate plan is unique, there are common tools and strategies you may choose to avoid probate in your own estate plan. Why Should I Try to Avoid Probate? Avoiding probate is a common estate planning goal for several reasons. First, if your estate goes through probate, all the terms of … [Read more...]

If you have lost a family member or loved one, you are going through an emotional time. If you are also responsible for administering the decedent’s estate, either because you were appointed in a Will or because you volunteered for the job, your plate is overflowing and you have an important job ahead of you. If you are a beneficiary or heir of the estate, you undoubtedly want to know what to expect from the probate process ahead. If you have never been through a probate, you may feel … [Read more...]

When a loved one passes away, the loss you feel can be overwhelming and debilitating for an indeterminate amount of time afterward. Typically, you at least have the luxury of working through your grief on your own schedule. If you were also named as the Executor in the decedent’s Last Will and Testament, however, you must set aside your grief to some extent because your loved one is counting on you to handle the administration of his/her estate. If this is your first time overseeing the probate … [Read more...]