WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 2650

Probate procedure; petitions for summary administration; increasing value of estate for summary administration.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Todd Gollihare and 1 co-sponsor

The bill raises the estate value threshold for summary administration from $200,000 to $300,000 to speed small-estate probate.

Sent to Governor
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 2650

Summary of HB 2650 (Session 2026, Oklahoma)

1) Purpose and Intent

HB 2650 proposes probate procedure changes focused on expanding the use of summary administration for estates and clarifying the process to obtain letters of special administration. The bill increases the monetary threshold for an estate eligible for summary administration, extends eligibility in certain scenarios, and prescribes the information required in petitions. The overall aim is to streamline small-estate administration and provide a quicker, simpler path when appropriate, while preserving due process protections.

2) Key Provisions and Changes

  • Increase in estate value threshold for summary administration

    • The current threshold is raised from $200,000 to $300,000 for an estate to qualify for summary administration under a petition filed by an interested party.

  • Eligibility criteria for summary administration (A)
    A petition for summary administration may be filed if the estate meets any of the following:

    1. The estate value is $300,000 or less (in practice, the bill increases the cap from $200k to $300k).
    2. The decedent has been deceased for more than five years.
    3. The decedent resided in another jurisdiction at the time of death.

  • Required content of the petition (B)
    The petition must include:

    1. Petitioner’s interest in the estate.
    2. Decedent’s name, age, date of death, domicile (county and state).
    3. If there is a will attached: original/certified copy, with allegations of validity and due diligence confirming it is the last will, and that no revoking instrument is in effect.
    4. Whether the will has been admitted to probate elsewhere.
    5. If intestate: a statement that no will was found after diligent search.
    6. Names/ages/last-known addresses of administrators, executors, nonpetitioning co-nominees, heirs, legatees, devisees known to petitioner.
    7. Names/addresses of all known creditors; evidence of due diligence to identify creditors.
    8. Probable value and character of property, and legal description of all Oklahoma real property.
    9. Whether any application/petition for appointment of a personal representative is pending or granted elsewhere.
    10. Relief requested (e.g., admit will to probate, appoint personal representative, determine heirs/legatees, approve final account, distribute estate, discharge personal representative).
    11. A waiver of final accounting pursuant to Section 541, if applicable.

  • Petition form and verification (C)

    • The petition must be verified by the petitioner or signed by the petitioner’s attorney.

  • Letters of Special Administration (D)

    • The court may issue letters of special administration in a non-hearing proceeding if:
    • The proposed personal representative is named as personal representative in the will;
    • The proposed personal representative has prior right to appointment; or
    • The petition includes a waiver of all persons entitled to letters testamentary and all with prior right of appointment.
    • The appointed special administrator shall have powers set forth in subsection A of Section 215 of the title (terms defined in existing law), and the court may require a bond.

3) Who Is Affected

  • Interested parties in small to mid-size estates who might file for summary administration (including heirs, devisees, creditors, and potential personal representatives).
  • Personal representatives and potential administrators seeking expedited authority via letters of special administration.
  • Creditors and other claimants, who must be identified and their claims considered in the petition.
  • Beneficiaries/legatees seeking to receive distributions under the summary process.

4) Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Trigger for summary administration remains on specified conditions (estate value, time since death, or domicile location).
  • Non-hearing process for issuing letters of special administration, contingent on proper form and qualifying criteria.
  • Bond considerations: the court may require a bond for the special administrator.
  • The bill is structured to expedite small-estate matters by allowing a streamlined petition process with explicit information requirements and a simplified path to appointment of a special administrator without a full probate hearing.
  • The bill has undergone committee amendments and was reported DO PASS by both the House Judiciary (and Public Safety Oversight) Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee, with final cross-chamber passage in April 2026 and subsequent steps noted in the legislative history.

5) Notable Details

  • The title and language indicate alignment with existing Oklahoma probate statutes (58 O.S. 2021, Section 245) and integration with provisions governing final accounting (Section 541) and Section 215 powers for special administration.
  • The bill’s effective date is not specified in the excerpt provided; it would typically become effective upon enactment or a later specified date in the enrolled bill.

This summary highlights the bill’s core changes to increase the summary-administration threshold and codify the petition requirements and non-hearing administration pathway to improve efficiency in handling smaller estates.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.