Content Spotlight - "Fake Probates"

April 22, 2026 - Summary Administration, Ancillary Probate, etc.

Not every estate requires the long, arduous road of a full-scale probate proceeding. While most practitioners know the standard process, more efficient attorneys know when take the abbreviated track.

This week, we are shining a spotlight on our latest course: "Fake Probates".

Why This Course Matters

Instructor Mark B. Houts calls these "Fake Probates" due to the statutory shortcuts that allow you to bypass regular estate proceedings, saving your clients time, money, and stress. However, these procedures—Summary Administration, Ancillary Probate, and Dispensing with Regular Proceedings—each have strict "gateways" and unique notice requirements that, if missed, can stall a distribution for months.

What You’ll Learn

In this one-hour session, I break down the tactical application of the Oklahoma Statutes to help you move cases faster:

Summary Administration (58 O.S. § 245): Navigating the $200,000 threshold and the 5-year post-death rules.
The Power of the Combined Notice: How to properly execute notice to creditors and heirs in a single filing to trigger the 30-day claim period.
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Ancillary Probate (58 O.S. § 677): The streamlined method for handling Oklahoma real property when the primary probate is in another state.
Small Estate Shortcuts: When to use 58 O.S. § 241 to dispense with regular proceedings for estates under $150,000.
Ancient Titles: Using 84 O.S. § 257 to judicially determine unknown heirs and clear title on property that has been sitting for years.

About the Instructor

Mark B. Houts is an Oklahoma attorney and the founder of OkieCLE.com. With a practice focused on litigation and collections, Mark developed this course to provide practitioners with a clear, statutory roadmap for the procedures that are often overlooked but highly effective in daily practice.

How to Watch

This course is available now on-demand. You can purchase it individually or as part of our 7-Hour Litigation Bundle.

[Click Here to View the Course and Download the Statutory Handout]