Category Archives: Uncategorized

“Why won’t the oil and gas company pay me?” This is a question which clients frequently ask me. I find that the answer usually involves a missing probate in the chain of title or incomplete funding of the client’s revocable living trust. “Probate” refers to the court-supervised process of distributing the property and assets of […]

If you have estate planning documents in place such a last will and testament, durable power of attorney, trust and Advance Directive for Health Care, congrats! You’ve taken a big step toward achieving peace of mind and easing the burden on loved ones after you are gone. Unfortunately, however, your work doesn’t end whenever you […]

The term “ancillary probate” refers to a probate case which occurs in a state other than the state where the deceased resided at the time of death. Ancillary probate is necessary because probate courts have jurisdiction only over property located within their borders. Therefore, if the deceased was a resident of Nebraska at the time […]

The days of “Leave it to Beaver” are far behind us. According to the Pew Research Center, just 46% of children live in a household with two married heterosexual parents in their first marriage. In 1960, 73% of children fit this description. In 1980, the number was 61%. The rise of so-called blended families — […]

Wills vs. Trusts: which estate planning tool should you choose? That is the subject of a column I wrote for the Norman Transcript, which appeared in the paper’s business section on Sunday. Check it out by clicking here.

“The cost is more than I expected.” I’ve heard this on several occasions during estate planning consultations, which is understandable. You’ve got a mortgage and other bills to pay, a family to support. Many people think of estate planning as a luxury: sure, it’d be nice to have, but it’s not something you absolutely need. […]

Whenever somebody creates a last will and testament, they designate a personal representative (also called an executor). What are the duties of a personal representative, and what should you expect if a family member or loved one appoints you as personal representative under their last will and testament? Answering these common questions is the subject […]

You signed the trust documents. Your estate planning is complete, right? As Lee Corso of ESPN’s College GameDay would say, “Not so fast, my friends!” For a revocable living trust to work as intended, it must be fully funded. Otherwise, the trust is worth little more than the pieces of paper on which it is […]

Our society highly values private property rights and the freedom to contract. As a result, the legal system gives significant deference to an individual’s choices regarding the disposition of their estate. Provided a will or trust was executed according to law, courts are very reluctant to declare it invalid. One exception is in cases of […]

In my opinion, a revocable living trust is the best estate planning tool available to avoid probate, maintain the privacy of your affairs and provide for incapacity or disability. However, for some people, a revocable living trust may not be the right fit. In these instances, it makes sense to consider a transfer-on-death deed, which […]