BARTLESVILLE LAW BLOG

Elsewhere on this site , I have explained small claims procedure in Oklahoma. In this post, I’ll discuss small claims court specifically in Washington County. What is small claims court? In Oklahoma, “small claims court” refers to cases where the amount in controversy is less than $10,000. In small claims court, the procedure is quick and simple, so that people may bring their cases without lawyers. “Small claims court” is really a misnomer, because small claims court is not

Perhaps someone has named you an executor in their will. Or maybe you’re writing a will, and you are thinking about whom to name as executor. Or perhaps a court has appointed you executor of someone’s estate. Or maybe you are in the process of petitioning a court to appoint you the executor of an estate. Or maybe you are the heir of an estate, and someone else is the executor, and you wonder what the executor is supposed to do. If any of those conditions apply, I’ve written t

Every county handles divorce cases differently. Since most of my practice is in Washington County, I will focus this post on how the Washington County courts manage divorce cases . Before you file: Make sure Washington County has jurisdiction Under Oklahoma law, you may only file a divorce case in Washington County if: You or your spouse has lived in Washington County for thirty days immediately preceding the filing of the petition, and You or your spouse has lived in Oklahom

A recent news story (available here and here ) describes how a woman claiming to be a “fortune teller and feng shui master” allegedly defrauded $70 million from someone in Sydney , Australia. Prosecutors have charged the woman, along with her daughter, who was a participant in her schemes. The police have publicly stated that this is one of the biggest financial fraud schemes in the history of Australia. Because this blog is devoted to legal topics, and this topic directly t

Probate is where a court distributes property of a deceased person. In two previous posts ( here and here ) I describe what happens in probate court in Oklahoma. In this post, I describe the probate process specific to Bartlesville. When is a Probate Case Heard in Bartlesville? According to the Oklahoma statute of venue for probate cases , Washington County has jurisdiction to hear a probate case if: The decedent was an Oklahoma resident at the time of his death, and was als

Oklahoma now has a program where they will text you automated reminders of your court appearances. If you’re a party to a court case, you don’t have to participate in the program, but if you want text messages to remind you of court dates, here’s how to opt in: Step 1: Look up your case First, look up your case on www.oscn.net . In an earlier blog post, I tell you how to look up your case on oscn.net . Go to this blog post , and scroll down to “How to Find Court Records on OS

In all the time I have practiced law, I have never used artificial intelligence to write a legal brief. This is because there have been so many instances of AI writing legal briefs that contain citations to cases and laws that do not exist. Recently, a business that provides technology support for my firm asked me if I use AI. I told him no. I believe that the clients who pay me deserve better. Every blogger, it seems, has been writing about AI, so I might as well take my tur

Earlier today, I represented an adoptive couple at their final hearing on adoption. As soon as the judge signed the order, my clients had a new child. Adoption is one of the most joyous areas of law to practice. It is one of the few types of cases where a client is happy at the end. Celebrating Adoption Awareness Month November is adoption awareness month. Recently, I saw a heartwarming story about a woman who adopted a child she found abandoned at a skilled nursing facility

Understanding what makes a marriage legal in Oklahoma is essential for couples planning to get married or wondering if their union meets the state’s requirements. At Persaud Law Office in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, we have received questions about age limits, marriage licenses, and common-law marriage. Here’s what Oklahoma law says. Requirements for a Legal Marriage in Oklahoma You May Not Be Married to Anyone Else Marriage by someone who has a living spouse is bigamy. Bigamy

This year, the Oklahoma state legislature passed nearly five hundred new laws. Below is a description of some of the most important laws passed this year. Some of these are brand new statutes, others are amendments to existing statutes. Most of these laws will go into effect this November 1; others have already gone into effect.   Birth Certificates HB 1688 – allows parents to apply for a “minor correction” of an error in a child’s birth certificate within one year of the chi

If you have received a summons in a civil case, you have twenty days to respond. In a small claims case, you do not need to respond until your hearing date, or until seven days after you receive a copy of the petition, whichever is later. If you receive a motion in an ongoing civil case, you generally have fifteen days to respond. In any of those cases, you may ask for an extension of the deadline, and judges are often lenient in granting extensions. Depending on how long you

This year the Oklahoma State Legislature passed the Uniform Child Abduction Prevention Act (UCAPA). UCAPA takes effect on November 1, 2025. The goal of UCAPA is to strengthen the power of the court to prevent abduction of children. Under UCAPA, if a judge, district attorney, parent, or other person with custody or visitation rights to a child, believes that there is a risk that the child will be abducted, the person may file a petition in court showing the facts that demonstr

A relative of yours has passed away, and you want to settle the estate without probate. You wonder if this is possible. In some cases, it...

This September 1, the “Oklahoma Expedited Actions Act” goes into effect. The Expedited Actions Act is designed to make civil lawsuits go...

In Oklahoma, there are procedures that allow adults to gain custody of a relative’s child. However, because parents’ rights are...

Foreclosure can be a confusing, stressful process. Unfortunately, it’s also quite common; in recent years, almost half  of the civil...

In Oklahoma, the short answer is No. However, a judge must accept a will and file it if you present the will to him. Also, after a person...

Want to know how our local courthouse works? The Washington County Court Clerk, Jean Davis, recently gave an interview to our local KWON...

Last year, the Oklahoma state legislature passed the “Oklahoma Standby Guardianship Act.” This law allows a parent to designate another...

Under the law of attorney-client confidentiality, a lawyer may not reveal information relating to the representation of a client,...