WILLS

Norman Will Attorney

Drafting & Updating Wills for Cleveland County Families

A valid will is the clearest way to help your property reach the people you choose. At Nichols Law Firm, our estate planning team drafts and updates wills for Norman families and handles probate when disputes arise, giving clients attorneys who understand the same Cleveland County process their will would eventually enter. That continuity matters when the stakes are your family’s future.

Founded by Drew Nichols and Greg Dixon, who became colleagues at prosecutor school, Nichols Law Firm brings over 35 years of collective legal experience to each client’s situation. Our estate planning work reflects the same deliberate, detail-oriented approach we apply across everything we do.

Ready to put a will in place or update an existing one? Call our Norman office at (405) 294-1511 or reach us through the contact form to schedule a conversation with our estate planning team.

Why Norman Families Work with Our Estate Planning Team

Drew Nichols spent four years as a prosecutor in the Oklahoma District Attorney’s Office before founding this firm. That background shapes how we approach every engagement: we read documents carefully, anticipate challenges, and draft with precision. Drew has been selected for inclusion on the Super Lawyers list in 2023, 2024, and 2025, a recognition based on peer input and independent research.

We don’t hand clients a standard form and call it done. Our approach to estate planning is collaborative. We walk through your family situation, your assets, and your goals before a single provision is drafted. The result is a document that reflects what you actually want, not a generic template.

What Our Will Services Cover

A last will and testament is a written, signed legal document that states who receives your property after death and, when minor children are involved, designates a guardian. It can also name an executor, the person responsible for carrying out your wishes through probate. We draft new wills, update wills that no longer reflect your circumstances, and advise on how a will fits into a broader estate plan.

Documents Beyond the Will

A complete estate plan often goes beyond a will. Our services include living wills, powers of attorney, and revocable, irrevocable, and special needs trusts. A power of attorney appoints someone to make financial or legal decisions if you become incapacitated. A living will records your medical and end-of-life preferences. We help clients understand which documents serve their situation and draft each one with care.

Probate Litigation Support

When a will is disputed after someone dies, our team handles the probate litigation that follows. Attorneys who both draft wills and litigate over them bring a practical perspective that shapes how we write every document from the start.

Schedule a Will Consultation in Norman

Whether you’re starting an estate plan for the first time or revisiting a will after a major life change, Nichols Law Firm is ready to help. Call us at (405) 294-1511 or use our online contact form to reach our Norman estate planning team. We can help you prepare a will that aligns with Oklahoma law and reflects what you intend.

Oklahoma Will Requirements

Understanding what makes a will legally valid in Oklahoma can help protect your family from a costly dispute after you’re gone. The requirements aren’t complicated, but each one matters.

To make a valid will in Oklahoma, the testator must be at least 18 years old and of sound mind. The will must be in writing and signed by the testator, or by another person signing at the testator’s direction and in the testator’s presence. Two witnesses must also sign the will at the testator’s request and in the testator’s presence.

Oklahoma permits a self-proving affidavit: a notarized statement signed by the testator and witnesses at the time the will is executed. A self-proving will can be admitted to probate without the witnesses appearing in court, which can simplify the process. Holographic wills, meaning entirely handwritten and signed by the testator, are recognized under Oklahoma law but carry a higher risk of challenge because they skip the witnessing requirement.

Dying Without a Will in Oklahoma

If someone dies without a valid will, Oklahoma’s intestate succession laws take over. The state distributes the estate according to a fixed formula based on which relatives survive, not according to the deceased person’s wishes. A spouse, children from a prior relationship, and other family members may each receive a share in proportions the deceased never intended. A straightforward will can reduce that uncertainty and keep those decisions with you.

When to Update Your Will

Oklahoma law automatically revokes any provisions favoring a former spouse if the testator divorces after the will was made. The former spouse is treated as having predeceased the testator unless the couple remarries or a new will is executed. This rule offers meaningful protection, but it doesn’t substitute for a properly updated document.

Children receive legal protection under Oklahoma law as well. A child born after a will is executed, or a child unintentionally left out, generally still receives an intestate share of the estate unless the will clearly shows the omission was deliberate. Relying on that rule rather than explicitly addressing each child can invite ambiguity. Marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, and significant changes to your assets are each a reason to revisit what your current will says.

How Probate Works in Cleveland County

Probate is the court-supervised process of validating a will, inventorying and valuing the estate’s assets, paying outstanding debts and taxes, and distributing what remains to the named beneficiaries. In Cleveland County, those matters are handled at the Cleveland County Courthouse in Norman, where the court also oversees estate administration and guardianship cases.

A carefully drafted will can simplify this process for your executor and beneficiaries. When a will lawyer in Norman prepares the document with the court process in mind, the probate proceeding may move more smoothly. Our team drafts with that process in view and, when disputes arise, we’re prepared to represent clients through every stage of the Cleveland County probate process.

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Who We Are At A Glance

Why Nichols Law Firm is Right For You

Trusted Reputation in the Community
Honesty and Integrity are Cherished Values
Experienced with Highly Complex Cases
Highest Level of Professionalism & Dedication
Personalized Strategy for Each Client's Needs
A Team of Attorneys Who Genuinely Care

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CLIENT REVIEWS

Opinions That Matter the Most

"Mr. Nichols knowledge is beyond exemplary. I put all my trust in him and know he will always do what’s best for my family."
Exceptional consult. The only character definition that exceeds the Nichols Dixon law firm’s passion and experience for the law is the character of Integrity and Honesty that they employ to define the firm. Over the last seven years they have cared for my family and I can’t convey enough of the appreciation I have for this law firm. Mr. Nichols knowledge is beyond exemplary. I put all of my trust in him and know he will always do what’s best for my family.

Jonie Murphy
"We no longer see him as just hired service, but as a partner, and a caring advocate for us!"
Mr. Nichols exceeded expectations. We had the need for his legal services from across the country. We no longer see him as just hired service, but as a partner, and a caring advocate for us. I only wish there were 10 stars to offer. Thank you again Drew for your counsel and results.

Ed M.
"I do not know how I would have been able to handle all the stress without them!"
Perfect in every way. I went through a Divorce last year and didnt know what to do or who to turn to, I found Drew Nichols and hired him. I am so glad I found him and his team ( thank you Alicia for putting up with my 100 plus questions) , they helped me with all my questions and put me at ease. I do not know how I would have been able to handle all the stress without them.

Jesse A.
"Best lawyer in Cleveland county by far!!"
Drew has helped me with many of my cases. And he’s got me the best results. Drew helps his clients to their full potential for the best outcome for the case. Best lawyer in Cleveland County by far!! Won’t be disappointed

Joe E.
"Drew Nichols is a wonderful attorney, and a good, honest, decent man."
Drew Nichols is a wonderful attorney, and a good, honest, decent man.

Tammy D.
"I recommend their services to anyone in need!"
I recommend their services to anyone in need.

Isaac B.
"Drew was a knowledgeable, empathetic, and calming presence during the most difficult season of my life!"
Drew was a knowledgeable, empathetic, and calming presence during the most difficult season of my life. He helped me navigate through a divorce process that took nearly a year and a half. Nobody wins in a divorce, but I felt that Drew helped me "win" by achieving the best and fairest results possible for my case.

Lynn N.
"Excellent Attorney!"
We used Mr. Nichols in a divorce case which included child custody, child support, and alimony, he was very professional and wonderful to work with, I highly recommend him.

Tammy

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