A.  The district court has probate jurisdiction, and the judge thereof power, which must be exercised in the cases and in the manner prescribed by statute:

1.  To open and receive proof of last wills and testaments, and to admit them to proof and to revoke the probate thereof, and to allow and record foreign wills;

2.  To grant letters testamentary, of administration and of guardianship, and to revoke the same;

3.  To appoint appraisers of estates of deceased persons and of minors and incapacitated persons;

4.  To compel personal representatives and guardians to render accounts;

5.  To order the sale of property of estates, or belonging to minors or to incapacitated persons;

6.  To order the payments of debts from estates or guardianships;

7.  To order and regulate all distribution of property or estates of deceased persons;

8.  To compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of title deeds, papers, and other property of an estate, or of a minor, or incapacitated persons;

9.  To exercise all the powers conferred by this chapter or by other law;

10.  To make such orders as may be necessary to the exercise of the powers conferred upon it; and

11.  To appoint and remove guardians for infants, and for persons insane or who are otherwise incapacitated persons; to compel payment and delivery by them of money or property belonging to their wards, to control their conduct and settle their accounts.

B.  The district court which has jurisdiction and venue of the administration of any estate is granted jurisdiction and venue to cause Oklahoma and federal estate taxes to be equitably apportioned and collected.

C.  The district court which has jurisdiction and venue of the administration of any estate is granted unlimited concurrent jurisdiction and venue to hear and determine:

1.  In whom the title to any property is vested, whether the property is real, personal, tangible, intangible, or any combination thereof;

2.  Rights with respect to such property as to all persons and entities;

3.  Whether or not such property is subject to the jurisdiction of the court in the decedent's estate; and

4.  Issues relating to trusts or issues involving a guardian or ward that may arise.

D.  For proceedings under subsection C of this section, service of notice and process shall be required as in other cases and the provisions of the Oklahoma Pleading Code, Section 2001 et seq. of Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, shall be followed.

Historical Data