Estate Planning Attorney Oklahoma

Delivering Oklahoma Estate Planning Services with Integrity and Care

The single biggest mistake you can make with your legacy is doing nothing. Without an estate plan, the State of Oklahoma (not you) will decide who gets your assets and who raises your children (if any). Your family will be forced into probate and have no choice but to go through months to years of court, along with insane expenses and delays to gaining access to assets. 

At Green Country Law Group, we believe that you’ve worked too hard to let your life’s hard work be tied up in the court’s hands. With over 50 years of combined experience and a deep-rooted history in Oklahoma for over 25 years, we’re dedicated to helping you understand your options, the impact of the choices you make on your loved ones, and guiding you through the process to implement the choice you make.

We vow to never provide a client with just a simple form to sign. We strategize in curating practical and workable structures to ensure your plan works perfectly when it needs to. 

Estate Planning is A Necessity for Everyone

We’ve seen many people with the belief that estate planning is only for the wealthy. In reality, if you own anything at all, you need an estate plan to ensure your assets are placed into the right hands after your death. Without a plan, your loved ones are at risk. Probate in Oklahoma can take six months to two years on average, during which your assets are completely frozen and unable to be accessed. 

You’re facing:

• Financial Loss: Legal fees and court costs can eat up to 5% or more of your estate’s value.
• Privacy Issues: Probate is a public record. Anyone can see what you owned and who you owed.
• Family Conflict: Ambiguity leads to arguments. A clear plan is the best gift you can give your grieving loved ones.
• Tax Burdens: Without proper guidance from a qualified estate planning attorney in Oklahoma, your heirs might face unnecessary tax hits. Our Managing Attorney holds a Master of Laws in Taxation, giving us a unique leverage in protecting your wealth from the IRS.

Estate Planning Tools We Provide

A complete estate plan addresses not only what happens at your death, but also important decisions for your life as well. We listen to your situation and intentions to create the plan that accomplishes your choices. Some of the most important documents include:

Wills – alone, or in conjunction with a Trust, a will is important to ensure your wishes are followed. A will is your voice after you’re gone. It identifies who inherits your property and, crucially, who will serve as the guardian for your minor children. While a will is essential, keep in mind that a will alone does not avoid probate in Oklahoma.

Powers of attorney – Estate planning isn’t just about what happens when you pass away; it’s about who takes care of you while you’re alive. If you become incapacitated due to illness or injury, a Power of Attorney ensures a person you trust can pay your bills and manage your business affairs. 

Advance directives – An Advance Directive clearly outlines your wishes regarding life support, artificial nutrition, and medical intervention. Many people don’t realize that under Oklahoma law, your spouse doesn’t automatically have the legal authority to make these decisions if you are persistently unconscious. By using an advanced directive, you can ensure your doctors follow your specific instructions and spare your loved ones from the trauma of guessing your wishes.

Trusts – If you want to avoid probate entirely, a trust is your best option. Trusts are flexible, immediate, and can be structured to manage assets for children or grandchildren over many years. Because we have offices in Tahlequah and Muskogee, we understand the local real estate and agricultural differences that come with “funding” your trust properly.

Assets Protection

While a standard trust helps you avoid probate, it doesn’t always protect your assets from lawsuits or creditors. Under the Oklahoma Family Wealth Preservation Act, our state offers some of the best protections in the country, allowing you to protect up to $1 million in assets from future claims! We can help you create asset protection strategies that shield your assets from any risk and make them “tax-smart”.

Your estate plan includes important tax considerations, and with a Masters of Law in Taxation, our Managing Attorney can advise you on any such issues relevant to your estate.