What an estate plan actually does
Most people picture estate planning as a stack of documents. It is closer to a set of answers. If something happens to you, who raises your children? Who pays the bills while you are recovering? Who inherits the house, and how quickly can they reach it? A good plan answers those questions before anyone has to guess.
Without a plan, Oklahoma law answers them for you. The intestacy statutes decide who inherits and in what share, a judge decides who manages your affairs if you cannot, and your family absorbs the delay and the expense of sorting it out. That result is rarely what anyone would have chosen.
What goes into a plan
- Last will and testamentDirects who receives your property and names the personal representative who carries it out.
- Revocable living trustWhere it fits — keeps assets out of the court process and out of the public record.
- Durable power of attorneyLets someone you trust handle money matters if you are unable to.
- Healthcare directiveNames a medical decision-maker and records your wishes about treatment.
- Guardianship designationsNames who would raise your minor children, so a judge does not have to choose.
- Beneficiary reviewRetirement accounts and life insurance pass outside your will — we make sure they match the plan.
Not everyone needs every document. Part of the first meeting is working out which of these you actually need — and which you can skip.
How the process works
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Free consultation
We talk through your family, what you own, and what worries you. No charge, no pressure, and no obligation to hire us.
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A straight recommendation
You get a plain answer about which documents you need, what each one does, and what it costs — before any work begins.
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Drafting
Matthew drafts your documents personally. Nothing is farmed out.
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Review together
We read through every document line by line and change it until it says what you want it to say.
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Signing
We arrange the witnesses and the notary and execute everything properly under Oklahoma law.
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Funding and safekeeping
If your plan includes a trust, we make sure your assets are actually retitled into it — the step most often missed.
“He went thru everything very thoroughly, advising us on any missing documentation we needed to locate and additional steps that would streamline things in the future. He was professional, patient, and just a pleasure to work with on such a sensitive matter.”
Common questions
Do I need a will or a trust?
They do different jobs. A will directs who receives your property, but it is carried out through the court after you pass. A trust holds your assets during your lifetime and passes them on without that court process. Which one fits depends on what you own, whether you own real estate in more than one state, and how private you want the transfer to be. You will get a straight recommendation at the consultation.
What happens if I die without a plan?
Oklahoma's intestacy statutes decide who inherits, in a fixed order set by the legislature rather than by you. If you have minor children and have not named a guardian, a judge chooses. The system works, but it is slower, entirely public, and often not what the family expected.
How much does an estate plan cost?
It depends on which documents you need. You will have a flat quote before any work starts, so there are no surprises later. The consultation itself is free.
I already have a will from years ago. Is it still good?
It is probably still valid, but valid and current are not the same thing. Older plans often name people who have moved or passed away, miss assets acquired since, or no longer match the law. Bring it in and we will review it.
Do I have to come to the office?
Signing has formal requirements we handle in person, but much of the earlier conversation can happen by phone if that is easier for you.