Cortes Law Firm Expands to Offer Lawton Oklahoma Probate Attorney Services

Cortes Law Firm, an estate planning law firm based in Oklahoma City, OK, is pleased to announce that they have expanded their legal services to include probate matters in Lawton, OK, and the neighboring areas. The firm’s attorneys have an in-depth understanding of probate law and are dedicated to helping clients navigate the legal procedures with professionalism and compassion. Probate is the legal process of distributing and settling the assets of a person who has passed away. It can be an emotional and complicated process for those who are involved, which is why the attorneys are ready to guide their clients at every step of the process. They can help with the distribution of assets, the payment of debts and taxes, and the resolution of any disputes that may arise.

Steve Cortes of the Cortes Law Firm says, “Probate law is the process of administering a deceased person's estate, and it involves the distribution of assets to the rightful heirs or beneficiaries. This process is necessary to ensure that the deceased's wishes are carried out and that their assets are distributed according to their wishes. When it comes to probating a loved one's estate, it is important to find the right Lawton probate attorney to ensure that the administration is carried out in the most efficient and effective manner. If you are an heir, you most likely have not had to experience the pain of probate settlement.”

There are two general types of probate in Oklahoma. One is the regular probate and the other one is the summary probate process. The summary probate may be used when the total assets are less than $200,000 and it will take at least 45 days, according to the law. Depending on the schedule of the court, a summary probate is typically completed within two to three months. It can be a great option when the estate is small, there is not real estate property that has to be sold, and all of the family members are in agreement throughout whole probate process. All of the heirs have to agree in writing to proceed with the summary probate to be able to file the initial petition for probate. Even if just one person disagrees, the probate cannot push through as a summary administration.

The regular probate process will usually require several months or even years if the parties fail to agree. The lawyers will first determine if there is a last will, a pour-over will, or there is no will at all. The lawyer will draft an initial petition for probate and if the client agrees with the wording, the firm will file the petition with the Comanche County Court Clerk. The court will order the hearing of the petition at a future date and the probate lawyers will publish a notice of the hearing in the local newspaper and will mail a copy of the Notice of Hearing to all involved parties.

The Court will make four determinations at the initial hearing and once these have been accomplished, it will appoint the petitioner as the personal representative, who will be in charge of administering the estate of the deceased. Creditors typically have 60 days after the filing of a Notice to Creditors to file a claim against the estate. The Court will have to approve the claim before any payment can be made. A general inventory of the estate’s assets will usually be needed, with the list including personal property, real estate, financial accounts, and mineral interests. If everything proceeds perfectly, a probate will usually take four to five months but they generally take five to seven months because the proceedings never go perfect.

Started in 2013 by Attorney Steve Cortes, Cortes Law Firm offers estate planning and probate services for individuals, enterprises, and business people in Oklahoma City and surrounding areas. Steve Cortes has been providing legal services for estate planning for a wide range of clients for more than 24 years.

Those who are interested in getting the services of a Lawton Oklahoma probate attorney can visit the Cortes Law Firm website or contact them on the telephone or through email. They are open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, from Monday to Friday.