Postic & Bates, P.C.

04/23/2024

Conventional wisdom casts trusts, wills, and estate plans as the exclusive domain of the ultra-rich. That sentiment has changed and so has the ability and ease to do one.

08/01/2022

Great article from Forbes about planning for digital assets. Have you organized your online information?

Many people don't realize the extent of their electronic and digital lives and the potential problems they're leaving for others to deal with.

11/06/2021

11/06/2021

Gloria Faith (Coffin) Bates, former judge, attorney, adjunct law professor, high school teacher, Brownie troop leader and Little League manager, passed away peacefully November 3, 2021 and ascended into Heaven to be with her Lord Jesus Christ. Earth is a little darker today but Heaven is brighter.

She was born October 19, 1934 in Dallas TX where she grew up and eventually married. She graduated valedictorian of Woodrow Wilson High School (Dallas) in 1952. On July 2, 1955 Gloria married John Thomas Bates whom she first met on their elementary school playground. She attended the University of Texas at Austin on full scholarship, the University of Oklahoma and Oxford University on full scholarship. She received Bachelor’s, Master’s and Juris Doctorate degrees from OU where she was named to Phi Beta Kappa. As a law student she was a member of the Oklahoma Law Review and received the Eugene K***z Fellowship which fully funded her studies at Oxford University, England.

After law school she was a Judicial Law Clerk for Chief Judge Luther Eubanks, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. As an attorney with Postic & Bates law firm she was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States. She served many years in various Judicial positions: the District Court of Oklahoma County, Oklahoma City Municipal Court, Oklahoma Dept of Labor, and the Appeal Tribunal of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. As President of the Federal Bar Association (OKC chapter) in 1995, she spear-headed disaster relief efforts when the Murrah Federal Building was bombed. She served on the Oklahoma County Bar Board of Directors and was a frequent delegate to state bar conventions.

Gloria was a leader and visionary. In 1990 she co-wrote the original mediation rules, procedures, forms and proposed court orders which were adopted that year by the District Courts of Oklahoma and Canadian counties. She gave numerous mediation training sessions for local judges and attorneys. She mediated hundreds of cases, including many pro bono. As an adjunct professor she taught the first Mediation class offered at OU College of Law. For her trailblazing work in mediation, the Oklahoma Bar Association honored her with its 1995 Outstanding Service to the Public Award.

Gloria and her daughter Julie Bates founded the Ruth Bader Ginsburg American Inn of Court with Gloria as its first president from 1995-97. Under her continued leadership and guidance, the Ginsburg Inn was named the 2006 Outstanding Inn of Court in the nation. She had a special friendship with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who gave one of her lace collar jabots to Gloria in 2018. In 2006 she received the OBA Women in Law Spotlight Award for “women who have distinguished themselves in the legal profession and who have lighted the way for other women.” For 10 years she organized the monthly Women Lawyers’ Luncheon started decades ago by Judge Arthur Lory Rakestraw. Gloria was a friend to all and mentor to many. She was the loving matriarch of her immediate and extended family - always available, attentive and supportive.

She is survived by her husband of 66 years, John Bates, and their 3 children, 7 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren: daughter Julie Elaine Bates, Oklahoma City OK (husband Martin Postic Jr, their sons David Michael Postic, OKC, and John Martin Postic, his wife Jill Marie Bourgeois Postic, their children Hugh Christopher Postic and Naomi Judith Postic, OKC); son Roger David Bates, OKC (wife Carol Fay Benson Bates, daughters Cassandra Fay Bates, OKC, Stephanie Renee Bates, OKC, Allison Ann Bates Snyder and husband Wyatt James Snyder, Austin TX); daughter Brenda Faith Bates Fuller, Colleyville TX (husband Brian Ray Fuller, their son Brandon Thomas Fuller, his children Brinley Ray Fuller, William Sullivan Fuller and Emma Rose Fuller, Bedford TX; and their daughter Breanna Faith Fuller Yeargin, her husband Daniel Keith Yeargin and their daughter Harper Ann Yeargin, Denton TX). Other survivors are brother-in-law Dr James Francis Eades, Houston TX; niece Pamela Kay Eades, Aurora CO (husband Keith Singer, their daughters Emily Kay Singer, Aurora CO and Amanda Leigh Singer, Arvada CO); niece Betsy Ann Eades, Houston TX (husband Greg Allan Renfro, their children Haley Ann Renfro, Nashville TN, Jacob Allan Renfro and wife Kathryn Patricia Lemmons Renfro, San Antonio TX, Audrey Lynn Renfro, Bristol, England); nieces Janet Kay Larsen and Carol Marie Larsen, Mesa AZ; nephew William Henry Larsen, Ft Myers FL (wife Beth and their son Connor William Larsen); all her beloved nieces and nephews of her husband, John; exceptionally close friends Bruce Kerr, OKC, Kelsey Skiba, San Antonio TX, and Pam Mahonchak, Centennial CO. Gloria was predeceased by father William Henry Coffin III, mother Billie Mae Whitehead Coffin, sister Shirley Ann Coffin Eades, sister Barbara Elaine Coffin Larsen and brother-in-law Floyd Eugene Larsen.

The family will receive friends at St Luke’s United Methodist Church, 222 NW 15th St, OKC from 6-8 p.m. on Sunday, November 14th. A celebration of Gloria’s life and ascent into Heaven will also be at St Luke’s, where she was a long-time member, at 11:00 a.m. Monday, November 15th. A graveside ceremony will be Tuesday, November 16th at Restland Cemetery, Dallas TX. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Gloria’s name to St Luke’s United Methodist Church OKC Foundation Fund, attention Roxanne Lloyd at the above address.

12/31/2020

We did it you guys. 2020 is finally over!

Aside from celebrating, the end of the year is also a great time to review your estate plan to make sure it still reflects your wishes.

Not sure how to do that? It's okay. Our latest blog post helps you review your plan so that it's ready for whatever 2021 send your way.

An estate plan is only as good as it is current. It is therefore crucial to regularly review your estate planning documents to make sure it still reflects your wishes. Here is a simple checklist to help you ensure your estate plan is ready for whatever 2021 throws at you.

07/01/2020

Did you know that a "Living Will" and a "Last Will and Testament" are completely different things?

Our latest blog post explains which estate planning document might be best for you.

Give it a read and let us know what you think!

Although a Last Will and Testament and a Living Will sound like they should be similar, they are very, very different. This post will explain, in plain English, the differences between Wills and Living Wills and help you decide which might be best for you.

06/18/2020

Your estate plan is probably missing one of the most valuable documents your family can have:

A letter of instruction.

Our latest blog post explains what you should include in an estate planning letter of instruction and why it's so important.

No estate plan is complete without a "letter of instruction" that gives your family or representatives the information they will need to settle your affairs as quickly and easily as possible. And the best part? You can do this yourself.

05/19/2020

Out latest blog post dives into why a Living Trust might be a good estate planning option for you. Take a moment to check it out and let us know what you think about it!

Trusts are amazing estate planning tools. They can be used for tax planning, asset protection, Medicaid planning, business succession, and more (though each of those options has significant downsides). When most people talk about trusts, however, they are referring to living trusts . You might a

05/18/2020

Even though the official "Safer at Home" Order has lifted, we applaud those of you who are staying home and/or practicing social distancing.

As a "thank you," here are 7 Estate Planning Tips you can do at home FOR FREE!

What a strange time to be alive. Some people have been in quarantine for nearly two months, while others are still adjusting after “only” (those are sarcastic quotation marks) a few weeks in…

05/15/2020

A lot of young professionals don't think they need an estate plan because they either (a) don't have a family or (b) don't have many assets.

But a lot of under-40s can benefit from having an estate plan even more than wealthier individuals. Read our blog post explaining why.

If you are a young professional, estate planning is probably not even on your radar. And why on earth should you have to think about it? You’re young. You don’t have many assets. You’re single…

05/12/2020

ICYMI: We recently wrote about how the Coronavirus has made healthcare estate planning documents more important than ever.

Read our blog post about what you can do to best prepare for this strange, unprecedented time in which we live.

Unless you have been living in a bubble (which might actually be a good idea), you have heard about the novel Coronavirus, or COVID-19, which the World Health Organization has declared to be a…

05/04/2020

Obligatory "Star Wars Day" post.

Today is May 4th, which means only one thing… It’s Star Wars Day (as in, “May the Fourth be with you”). Yes, just three days after Justin Timberlake's annual takeover of the Internet, your Facebook news feeds and Twitter timelines are probably now overflowing with Star Wars memes. It's a tr

04/30/2020

It can be tempting to want to make your own Will.

After all, you might feel that your estate is "simple" and does not need a complicated document prepared by an attorney.

But there is a lot that goes into an estate plan, even for "simple" estates.

And if you don't get the documents, the legal requirements, and the wording *exactly* right, a DIY estate plan may cause more harm than good.

Most people know the phrase "Do It Yourself" or “DIY,” especially if you have spent any time at all on Pinterest. For me, “Do It Yourself” calls to mind weekend trips to Home Depot and (most…

04/14/2020

We made a list of things you can do to improve your estate plan while you're stuck at home in quarantine.

Oh, and they're free.

What a strange time to be alive. Some people have been in quarantine for nearly two months, while others are still adjusting after “only” (those are sarcastic quotation marks) a few weeks in isolation. No matter which way you slice it, Coronavirus (COVID-19) has affected all of us. I’ve talked...

03/30/2020

Having up-to-date healthcare documents in your estate plan is more important now than ever before.
Read our latest blog post about some estate planning tools that everyone should consider in light of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Unless you have been living in a bubble (which might actually be a good idea), you have heard about the novel Coronavirus, or COVID-19, which the World Health Organization has declared to be a pandemic. It’s a scary time in the world, and this article isn’t intended to make things scarier. On th...

12/18/2019

ICYMI: Our latest blog post helps out with your Christmas shopping this year! Read why an estate plan can be the perfect gift for your loved ones.
Click here to read: https://www.posticbates.com/blog/estate-planning-for-christmas

12/12/2019

Still looking for that perfect Christmas present for a loved one? Consider getting them an estate plan. Kids: ask your parents or grandparents for one (it's so responsible, they can't say no). Parents and grandparents: buy one for a child -- or for yourself, so your children or grandchildren won't have to deal with probating your estate.

This post is for parents. It’s for kids. It’s for grandkids. It’s for anyone who wants to give or receive a present for Christmas or any other holiday you celebrate. In short, this post is for…

11/27/2019

If you or someone close to you changes their name (due to marriage, divorce, or some other reason), what effect does that have on your estate plan?

Check out our latest blog post for the details. As always, comment below or shoot us a message if you ever have any questions about .

Most people have the same questions about estate planning. What is the difference between a will and a trust? or do I need to go through probate? or will I need to pay estate taxes? Since one of the goals of this website is to help you learn more about estate planning, I figured that I would share

11/22/2019

Life insurance is a great estate planning tool. Check out this article for a few examples of how you can use life insurance to supplement your estate plan.

Are you using your life insurance policy to its fullest benefits? Read here for more!

11/20/2019

Think you don't have digital assets?

"Digital assets include any online account or service protected by log-in security, such as identification and passwords, such as email, social media, message board accounts, and subscriptions. Your computer, computer files, files you store on "cloud accounts" and any web domains you own are digital assets. Online financial accounts of course are digital assets. A smart phone and all the apps and other items on it are digital assets. Medical records are being digitized and accessible online, making them part of your digital estate."

Digital assets cause a lot of anxiety, inconvenience and cost if they aren't in your estate plan.

11/13/2019

"These legal documents can't just be put in a drawer and forgotten for years and years. They need to be tended to periodically, or else they may cause problems when you need them the most."

These legal documents can't just be put in a drawer and forgotten for years and years. They need to be tended to periodically, or else they may cause problems when you need them the most.

11/07/2019

Yesterday the IRS announced an increase in the estate tax exemption for 2020. What does this mean for you? Check out our latest blog post explaining this announcement.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) just announced that the estate and gift tax exemption for 2020 is increasing to $11.58 million per person — up from $11.40 million in 2019. If you are like most people, you are probably asking, “What does that actually mean?” What is the Estate & Gift T

11/01/2019

Estate planning is important for everyone, but ESPECIALLY for parents with minor children.

"All adults, regardless of whether they have children or not, should execute a last will and testament. For parents, this is especially important because the document nominates a guardian to raise minor children in the event of death."

Having the last wills, health care proxies, and powers of attorney already intact will surely make your hospital bag a lot lighter.

10/25/2019

Every young professional should have some sort of estate plan in place. You don't need assets, you don't need a spouse, you don't need kids. All you need is the fear of imminent death or incapacity... or something like that. This blog post debunks some of the common reasons people avoid creating an estate plan.

According to a survey conducted earlier in 2019 , only 40% of American adults have a Will or Trust. That percentage drops dramatically for younger age groups. For example, only 19% of people ages…

10/23/2019

Do you or your parents have a Will or Trust? If so, then this blog post is a must-read. Although Wills and Trusts don't necessarily "go bad," there are some circumstances when they need to be changed or amended -- otherwise, your estate could end up going to someone you don't want to have it.

When I was a kid, I really wanted a remote-controlled hovercraft. I thought it looks awesome. I mean, just the idea of a flying remote-controlled car was amazing. So I saved up my money and bought…

10/21/2019

Do-it-yourself Wills can look appealing (and inexpensive), but we have seen firsthand that they can cause a LOT of problems down the line.

"Here is my caution, based on my experience: You don’t know what you don’t know. You know some things about how you want to dispose of your assets after you die. What you may not know is all the case law and legislation that have evolved into your state’s probate code."

Often those DIY wills can lead to expensive and unpleasant estate planning mistakes.

10/18/2019

Practically EVERYONE has digital assets nowadays. And just like your other assets, digital assets should be included in your estate plan. Read this article to learn what your estate plan might be missing.

Digital property (or digital assets) can be understood as any information about you or created by you that exists in digital form, either online or on an electronic storage device, including the…

10/15/2019

Beneficiary designations can be an easy way to avoid probate; however, they can also cause unintended consequences if not used carefully. Read this short article for how you can avoid those pitfalls.

Beneficiary designations are a crucial part of estate planning, yet they are often overlooked. Make sure that your named beneficiaries are consistent with your estate planning documents so that you don't unintentionally undermine your carefully executed estate plan.

10/10/2019

Being a new parent can be overwhelming, and creating an estate plan might be the last thing on your mind. But there are several simple things you should do to protect your little bundle of joy.

Your baby is counting on you to provide -- so take care of these essential steps.

09/12/2019

"Out of date estate plans could cause assets to pass to undesirable parties like the government or an unintended beneficiary, or to be taxed at higher rates. ... Take the time to update your estate plan, because it’s more than just a will – it’s a way."

A will isn't an estate plan, it is a part of an estate plan. Many people set up a will and think they are done. But in reality there is much more to do. You need to properly title assets, protect against theft, and manage the growing world of digital assets.