Oklahoma Bar Association

The December "Ethics & Professional Responsibility" issue of the bar journal is available now! Read about navigating generative AI in your legal practice, navigating Oklahoma’s attorney discipline process and more. Read it online at https://lnkd.in/g3Qe9fSC.

The wait is almost over! The 2024 Year-End Review CLE in OKC is on Thursday, Dec. 5, and Friday, Dec. 6. Register now to earn 6 MCLE credit hours per day, including 1 hour of ethics. In person program: Day 1 – https://lnkd.in/gkdhBmNf Day 2 – https://lnkd.in/g543FD25 Webcast: Day 1 – https://lnkd.in/gp_g6qdZ Day 2 – https://lnkd.in/gbtzuvQk

"A client has come to you because a family member, a resident of Oklahoma, has recently passed away owning real or personal property in Oklahoma that will require a probate proceeding to change ownership. What do you file, and when do you file it? To answer those questions, the following is a basic framework of a regular probate proceeding ('regular' meaning not an ancillary probate or special or summary administration), assuming the estate is solvent and there are no contests or other litigation involved." Continue reading "Basic Probate Procedures" by Sheila Southard in the November bar journal at https://lnkd.in/gZqZm4Bq.

Don't miss out on the OBA CLE Black Friday sale from 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 29, to 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2. Earn the remaining MCLE credits you need for 2024 with a discounted bundle before this deal's over. Save now at https://lnkd.in/g4bVt77F.

ICYMI! Make sure you're caught up with this week's issue of Courts & More. Read it now at https://lnkd.in/gJpFcYv5.

"What is a pretermitted heir? A pretermitted heir is any child or descendant who has been omitted by a testator’s will but is still entitled to a share of the testator’s estate. This omission can occur either at the execution of the will or because the pretermitted child was not born before the will’s execution. Where it has been found that an heir has been omitted unintentionally, that heir is granted rights to an intestate share of the testator’s estate by statute under 84 O.S. §132. It should be noted that Oklahoma courts have ruled that §132 can only be applied to wills, not to trusts." Continue reading "Pretermitted Heirs: A Basic Overview" by Hal Wm. Ellis in the November bar journal at https://lnkd.in/gvDPfJvT.

"As attorneys, many of us regard pro bono work as the legal profession’s preferred mechanism to give back and satisfy our obligation to render 'public interest legal services.' While this is a much-needed and important method for lawyers to support our communities, there are a myriad of ways for us to be part of the fabric of philanthropy and use our specific talents for the public interest." Continue reading "Testamentary Charitable Planning: Supporting Your Clients and the Community" by Christa Evans Rogers in the November bar journal at https://lnkd.in/g4NwXFGw.

Make sure you're caught up with this week's issue of Courts & More before the weekend! Read it now at https://lnkd.in/gUpnhYNX.

Attention Oklahoma teachers and students! You can now submit your entries to the 2025 OBA Law Day Art and Writing Contest. Categories include art and writing for grades pre-K through 12th, with cash prizes up to $500 and plaques for winners. Every student will receive a participation certificate to honor their hard work. The 2025 Law Day theme is “The Constitution’s Promise: Out of Many, One.” The deadline to submit entries is Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. All prompts, contest rules and submission instructions are available at https://lnkd.in/giXB-_Ch.

"Theoretically, testamentary freedom serves as the hallmark of American law as it pertains to wills and estates. When I say 'theoretically,' I mean as a matter of praxis (as in its denoting an accepted practice or custom) rather than a matter of law. As to the latter, there should be no real dispute as to the reality of testamentary freedom as a matter of black letter law." Continue reading "How Free Is Testamentary Freedom? Sanism, Ageism and Testamentary Intent" by Richard J. Goralewicz in the November bar journal at https://lnkd.in/gdC6E6cD.