Its important to Make a Will in Oklahoma so that your estate is in order when you pass. The United States has long focused on the Baby Boomer population and how the aging of this generation will affect Americans. There are 76.4 million people in this generation, and of this over half do not have a last will and testament in place. So, there are 38.2 million people between the ages of 73 and 54 who do not have an estate plan set. As a result, many children of the Baby Boomer generation may be subject to excessive court costs and legal fees from trying to divvy up their parent’s estate. You can prevent leaving your children with this burden though. This article will explain how to make a will and move forward on a proper estate plane in Oklahoma.
Make a Will in Oklahoma
The laws in Oklahoma are generally clear when it comes to instructing us on how to make a will. First, you must be over 18. Second, the will must be a writing or an oral statement. A “writing” includes a will that is typed or written. Any writing that intends to be a will, must have two witnesses. When choosing your witnesses, you need to explain to them that the document they are witnessing you sign is your will. Once explaining this, you should add your signature to the will in the presence of the witnesses.
It is important to note the nuances in creating a will. Wills in writing must be typed or hand-written. However, if a will is typed, the entire documents must be typed aside from the signatures. If it is not, the will is in danger of being invalid. If your will is in your handwriting, then it is a holographic will. Like a typed will, it must be completely in your handwriting. However, holographic wills do not require witnesses. If it is not in your handwriting, signed, or dated, it may not stand up in court and will then go to probate.
SEE OUR ARTICLE ON PROBATE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS.
An oral statement intended as a will are much harder to use in court. Creating a will orally is a nuncupative will. These are difficult to use and do not have a solid basis in the law. For example, these types of wills are only valid when the testator believes immediate death is likely. Further, any property the testator bequeaths must be under $1,000 in value. As a result, these are generally for military or maritime service.
Tulsa County Wills and Trust Lawyer
You can execute a valid will on your own or we can help you make a will. But, again, when creating a will you must be aware of the many nuances in order for the process to go smoothly for your heirs. Therefore, it is generally in your best interest to hire an attorney. We can ensure your will is valid and takes care of any tedious legal requirements. Tulsa County Lawyers Group attorneys have years of experience in this field and are willing to help. Get a free consultation with a Will and Trust attorney in Tulsa by calling 918-379-4864. Or you can ask an online legal question by following this link.
