The Roles are Flipped, You Need Information:

When you were young your parents found ways to protect and provide for you.  As your parents age they increasingly need your care.  You need answers including legal realities.  This article and the audio content describes the type of information you need to receive.  It also provides practical tips to create open communication.

Dynamics of Communicating with the “Silent Generation”

People born before 1946 are known as the “Silent Generation”.  Their world was shaped by the Great Depression, WWII, The Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement.  They are often described as less open with personal issues including health and finances.  They value simple concepts and rarely view themselves of wealthy regardless of their net worth.  “Waste not want not” means much to them.  Listen Here

Why hire an Oklahoma Attorney to Prepare your Deed or Instrument?

Avoid mistakes with an Oklahoma Attorney prepared deed, mortgages, affidavits, transfer on death deeds and other documents prepared on a flat fee basis in Oklahoma.

Deeds to Revocable Trusts

Once a trust is created it must be funded. In the case of real estate this means that the person creating the trust transfers his or her real estate into a trust. Merely listing the property in the schedule of assets on a trust is not sufficient to accomplish funding. An actual deed must be prepared and filed in the county where the land is located. Trusts, if properly funding avoid probate.

Mineral Deeds and Mineral Deeds to Trusts

In Oklahoma minerals are considered to an interest in reals estate. To transfer minerals to another person or to a trust this is done by filing a deed with the legal description where the property is located. Many owners neglect to transfer their minerals into a trust.

Quit Claim Deed

A quick claim deed transfers all of the grantor’s interest in property to a grantee. However, the grantor does not provide any warranty to title to the property. If it turns out that the person had no title there is usually little restitution for the grantee. These are typically used in family gifting situations.

Warranty Deed

A person issuing Warranty Deed represent that he or she is owns the property free and clear of liens, claims mortgages, etc. Also that he or she has full power to convey the property and will defend the title thereto against all persons who may lawfully claim the same, and the covenants and warranty shall be obligatory and binding upon any such grantor, his heirs and personal representatives as if written at length in such deed.

Joint Tenancy Deed

This is a deed to two or more individuals for the same piece of land. Once the first dies the survivor files an affidavit of surviving joint tenant and take the property free of the deceased person’s claims. It also does not pass through the deceased person’s estate. Once the survivor dies, then it is subject to probate unless some estate planning has been accomplished. This is generally a very poor substitute for estate planning. See more information. Click Here for Help.

Affidavit of Surviving Joint Tenant

Once an person with title to the joint tenancy property dies, the survivor can file an affidavit of surviving joint tenant. This is a document that has certain information about the property, the date the original deed was filed, and the date of death of the decedent. An official death certificate is attached. Once this is filed, the deceased owner’s interest is removed. Click Here for Help.

Transfer on Death Deeds

The owner of real estate executes a Transfer on Death Deed and files it in the county where the property is located. When the owner dies the beneficiary files a Transfer on Death Affidavit and receives the same title that the previous owner had. There are drawbacks to this estate planning method. While it avoids probate there may be unintended consequences. When used property this avoids probate. Click to start form.

Transfer on Death Beneficiary Affidavit

If the beneficiary does not file the property paperwork within 9 months of the owner’s death, the property becomes part of the owner’s estate and subject to probate. The form includes the facts about the original filing of the Transfer on Death Deed along with facts and official records about the previous owner’s death. Click Here for Help.

Is Deed Preparation by an Out-of-State Attorney the Unauthorized Practice of Law in Oklahoma?

In Oklahoma the preparation of a deed for a lay person is considered practice of law. See Samara, 1986 OK 55 at ¶ 9. “Activities that constitute the unauthorized practice of law if performed by suspended or disbarred attorneys include assisting lay-persons in preparing pleadings;4 giving legal advice to lay-persons; writing contracts or selecting and filling out proper deed forms for lay-persons.” This appears to apply to attorneys and not individuals or companies who are parties to the transaction. Generally it is best for out-of-state attorneys to avoid the risk by retaining an Oklahoma licensed attorney to prepare real estate deeds for Oklahoma property.

Oklahoma Counties Served

Click Here to Research Oklahoma Land Records

Limited scope representation:
1. Quality of Legal Work: We guarantee you will receive competent legal services based upon settled legal issues and standards of professionalism, and the highest ethical standards. We cannot guarantee any specific results.

1. Limited representation. The representation is limited to providing you with certain legal forms, instructions on how to complete them, instructions regarding witnesses where necessary and what to do after signing. This does agreement does not contemplate comprehensive estate planning, tax, real estate,

3 Forms provided: You understand that creation of forms is one step and that forms must be signed. In some cases they also must be signed before a witness and/or a notary public. Witness and notary services are not provided unless a separate agreement is reached. We are also not responsible to determine whether you printed or executed the form.

1. Conflict of Interest: The firm may withdraw from representation at any time if it believes that a conflict of interest exists. If you know of any conflict of interest during the course of our representation of you, please notify us promptly to discuss the need, if any, for independent counsel. You hereby specifically waive any and all conflicts of interests which you know of but do not disclose. You have asked me to assist you both in planning your estate and in preparing the necessary estate planning documents. Although it is customary for a married or domestic couple to employ the same attorney to assist them in such matters, the Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Oklahma require me to inform you in writing of the following potential conflicts of interest:

2.    A married may have conflicting interests concerning their property. If, as you request, I act as the attorney for both of you for your estate planning, I must try to balance all factors and cannot, therefore, act as an advocate for either of you. This balancing could end up favoring one of you to the detriment of the other.
   

3.    To complete your estate planning, I must necessarily obtain confidential information from each of you. However, as between the two of you, I cannot keep that information confidential since I am representing both of you. Of course, anything either of you discuss with me is privileged from disclosure to third parties.
   

4.    I may make recommendations which could affect each of your interest in your assets both during your lifetimes, after the first death and after the death of the survivor. These determinations could potentially affect income, property division and support provisions in the event of divorce.
   

Based on the foregoing, you must decide whether or not you want me to represent both of you in your estate planning. You are each, of course, welcome to have your own counsel for any part or all of the matters in which I would be acting; in addition, either of you may, at any time, forbid me from being involved in any way on behalf of the other.

1. Process for Handling Disputes: You have the right to terminate our services at any time by notifying us in writing. You will be responsible to pay our fees for services performed through the date we receive such notice. If any dispute arises as to fees, costs or performance that we cannot resolve between us, the dispute shall be settled by mediation and, if necessary, legally binding arbitration in accordance with the Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Judgment upon an arbitration decision may be entered in any court otherwise having jurisdiction. You and we agree these methods shall be the sole remedy for any controversy or claim arising out of this agreement and expressly waive the right to file a lawsuit in any civil court against one another for such disputes, except to enforce an arbitration decision.

Estate Planning Challenges During Corona Virus Pandemic Overcome

405.340.6554

Estate plans Generally require three steps:

1. Planning
2. Signing
3. Completing

Normally this requires meetings with an attorney to design the plan. It can also involve the signing at the lawyer’s office with two witnesses and notary.

While this is preferred method of creating an Estate Plan, these steps can all be handled remotely and still be legally binding estate plan.

1. Planning During Coronavirus Outbreak

My office is observing social distancing practices. Meetings are held on the telephone or through video conferencing. The online questionnaires are also useful. You will receive counseling regarding what documents and strategies are best in your circumstance. The plan will include one or more of the following:

An Advanced Healthcare Directive

(Living Will)

These are instructions to your family and doctors concerning the measures you want taken or not taken at the end of your life. You may choose to have treatment continued, restricted or discontinued.

Financial, Property and Healthcare Powers of Attorney

For many this is one of the most important documents to have in place.

This document allows somebody to act on your behalf if you become unable to do so for yourself due to incapacity, illness, hospitalization. It is also useful if you are unable to act for yourself if you are confined or physically unable to do so.

Last Will and Testament

This instructs how your property is to be distributed upon your death and who will be in charge. There is a way to create a valid Will even if you are unable to have witnesses or a notary.

Living Revocable Trust

A revocable trust can address many situations and avoid probate and add protections for your family. Trusts are popular because they are simple and they work. Also onerous probate procedures are avoided.

HIPAA Medical Privacy Release

This allows loved ones or anybody else you choose to have access to your medical information.

2. Signing Safely During Pandemic

We have developed a couple of ways to have your documents signed. Some documents do not require a witness or notary.

1. Many documents can be signed in the comfort of your own home without any witnesses or notaries.
2. We are also witnessing documents curbside at our office so that our clients never leave their vehicle.
3. If you are unable to leave your home or facility a remote notary or mobile notary may be used. This can be done at a window with no contact.

3. Completing

Once the documents are properly executed, you will have instructions regarding your next steps. This may involve providing copies of documents to certain individuals such as doctors and family members. If a trust is created you may need to contact various companies to inform them that a trust was set up.

After the Crisis

Once the crisis has passed, many may want to revise their plan. Some may wish to re-sign certain documents before witnesses to take advantage of special statutes.