Estate Planning Services at CFC Law Office

 If your assets are unplanned, a court is required to give notice to all potential creditors and the general public which is a process requiring multiple filings made by parties you must pay.  For example as of 2024, you have a required filing fee of $200+, then your assets will also pay for 5% of the first $1,000 of the estate, 4% of the next $5,000, and 2.5% of the remainder above $6,000. For example, on a $100,000 estate, this statutory commission would amount to approximately $2,700.  Commonly these are contested as well, so attorneys fees and accounting experts are huge additions to estate costs before anything is distributed to heirs.  

You may also want to determine who gets guardianship of your children, business, or end of life care which are all addressed in standard estate planning. 

Most of the cost of estate planning is up front, usually $2,500-$4,000, and then you should have relative peace of mind the rest of your life so long as there are not many major tax law changes.  Some of our clients have an annual review, some have one every few  years, but an individual with an estate plan drafted fifteen years ago is still lightyears ahead of someone with no planning.

At CFC Law Office, we make the process approachable, affordable, and stress-free for Tulsa families. Here’s why clients trust us with their legacies:

• Expert Guidance: Christian has extensive business and high net worth advising experience, so we don't focus just on the standard estate planning forms, we want to understand the underlying assets or businesses so we can help you plan your legacy on both the estate planning level and business level.

• Experience You Need:  Christian has managed both assets and complex family or heir psychology.  When handing a business over or money to the next generation, legal advice should include exposure to family dynamics or culture.  How you write documents or determine who gets what can determine legal responses, infighting, etc.  We believe our experience will lend you superior advice to preventing these terrible consequences.  

• Personalized Solutions: We listen to your unique needs—whether it’s protecting your children, minimizing taxes, or planning for long-term care—and design a plan that reflects your values.

• Christian Commitment: As a Tulsa native and Christian, I have a deep connection to our community, having managed thousands of Oklahoman's, founded local charities and startups, and zealously reflecting our intention to fulfill Christ's mission in our every day discipleship.  These values can be included in discussions as well!  I do and have served Muslim, Jewish and any other communities as well; taking into account any special requirements that may need to be considered in your estate plan.

• Proven Results: With a track record of managing complex asset restructurings, litigation, and multimillion-dollar transactions as a corporate officer, Christian brings precision and foresight to every estate plan any business owner needs, helping you maximize your culture of wealth to transfer to the next generation.

We provide a full range of estate planning services to secure your legacy and provide for your loved ones. Our comprehensive approach ensures every detail is covered, minimizing probate costs and potential tax liabilities:

• Wills
  Create a legally binding will to ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes. We help you appoint guardians for minor children, designate beneficiaries, and minimize probate challenges under Oklahoma law (84 O.S. §§ 41 et seq.).
• Trusts
  Establish revocable or irrevocable trusts to protect your assets, avoid probate, and reduce estate taxes. Whether you need a living trust, special needs trust, or charitable trust, we tailor solutions to meet your goals, leveraging the flexibility of Oklahoma’s Trust Act or Wealth Preservation Trusts.
• Powers of Attorney
  Appoint trusted individuals to manage your financial or healthcare decisions if you become incapacitated. We draft durable powers of attorney to ensure your affairs are handled seamlessly, giving you peace of mind.
• Advance Directives
  Plan for your medical care with living wills and healthcare proxies. Our team ensures your healthcare wishes are documented and legally enforceable, protecting your dignity and preferences.
• Asset Protection
  Safeguard your wealth from creditors, lawsuits, or unexpected claims. We specialize in strategies to protect your estate or businesses, drawing on Christian Cox’s expertise in risk mitigation from his experience in construction or retail.
• Estate Tax Planning
  Minimize federal estate taxes through strategic planning, including trusts, gifting strategies, and charitable contributions. While Oklahoma has no state estate tax, federal estate taxes apply to estates exceeding the 2025 exemption of $13.99 million per individual (up from $13.61 million in 2024). We also monitor potential federal law changes, as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017, which doubled exemptions to historically high levels, is set to expire in 2026. If not extended, the exemption could drop to around $7 million (adjusted for inflation), significantly increasing tax burdens for larger estates.
• Probate Avoidance
  Streamline the transfer of your assets with tools like trusts and beneficiary designations, reducing the time and cost of probate in Oklahoma (58 O.S. §§ 1 et seq.). Probate costs in Oklahoma can include court filing fees (typically a few hundred dollars), attorney fees (based on reasonable charges for services), personal representative fees (approximately 2.5% of the probate property value, often waived by family members), appraisal fees, and newspaper publication charges. For a $200,000 estate, these costs could total $5,000–$10,000 or more, depending on complexity. Small estates under $50,000 may avoid probate entirely with a Small Estate Affidavit, and those under $200,000 may qualify for summary administration, both of which we facilitate to save you time and money.
• Special Needs Planning
  Ensure loved ones with special needs are cared for without jeopardizing government benefits. We design special needs trusts to provide long-term support while maintaining eligibility for programs like Medicaid.

Our estate planning process is designed to be straightforward and client-focused, ensuring your plan reflects your wishes while minimizing costs and tax risks:

1. Free Consultation: Schedule a no-obligation consultation to discuss your goals and concerns. Call us at (918) 606-3848.
2. Personalized Assessment: We evaluate your assets, family dynamics, and objectives to create a customized estate plan, considering probate costs and potential tax law changes.
3. Plan Development: Our team drafts your documents—wills, trusts, powers of attorney—ensuring compliance with Oklahoma law and your unique needs.
4. Review and Signing: We walk you through your plan, answer questions, and oversee proper execution to ensure legal validity.
5. Ongoing Support: We offer updates and revisions as your life changes, keeping your estate plan current, especially with potential shifts in federal estate tax exemptions post-2026.