At Lewis Probate, we are dedicated to providing compassionate and expert services to families and individuals navigating the complexities of estate administration.
Our mission is to simplify the process, ensure transparency, and offer personalized guidance during what can be a challenging time, helping to settle estates with integrity, efficiency and care.
We Provide Professional and Expert Probates Services!
Coverage areas include,
The Greater Oklahoma City Metroplex, and surrounding counties.
The Greater Tulsa Metroplex, and surrounding counties.
The Greater Lawton/FT. Sill Metroplex, and surrounding counties.
Veteran/Minority owned company.
Probate is a court-supervised process that transfers a deceased person's property to their beneficiaries. The process involves several steps, including:
• Filing documents: The death certificate and will are filed with the local court. If there is no will, or the will doesn't name an executor, the court will appoint an administrator.
• Validating the will: The court confirms that the will is valid.
• Appointing a representative: A legal representative is appointed to act on behalf of the deceased.
• Inventorying assets: A list of the deceased's assets and their values is created and submitted to the court.
• Paying debts and taxes: Funds from the estate are used to pay any debts and taxes.
• Distributing assets: The remaining assets are distributed to the beneficiaries according to the will or to the heirs.
• Closing the estate: A petition is filed with the court to close out the estate. The probate process can be lengthy and complicated, and the cost can vary depending on the estate's size and complexity. Beneficiaries have the right to be notified of and participate in the probate process.
About the Probate Process
What does the Personal Representative do?
The Personal Representative must:
decide if there are any probate assets.
locate the decedent's assets and manage them during the probate process. This could take up to a year or longer and may involve deciding whether to sell real estate or securities owned by the decedent.
receive payments due to the estate, including interest, dividends, and other income (e.g., unpaid salary, vacation pay, and other company benefits)
set up an estate checking account to hold money that is owed to the decedent -- for example, paychecks or stock dividends.
figure out who is going to get what and how much under the Will. If there is no Will, the administrator will have to look at state law (Probate code Sections 6400 – 6414, called "intestate succession"