Karen Keith Wilkins, Attorney at Law

04/14/2022

https://fb.watch/cnUTwRDffb/ Interview with one of our Plaintiffs and the Lambda Legal attorneys on our Oklahoma birth certificate amendment litigation.

03/14/2022

Proud to be playing a small part in this fight, and grateful to Lambda Legal for taking this on.

“The state’s denial of my existence is discriminatory and puts me in harm’s way."

11/02/2021

Great news re: social security for LGBT individuals who were not able to marry their partner in time to receive Social Security benefits on their record. CRITICAL SOCIAL SECURITY EXPLANATION. As my colleague Karen Loewy from Washington, DC, has explained, "the most important development is that, along with dropping their appeals, SSA will now accept NEW applications from surviving same-sex partners who were never able to marry at all but can show that they would have been married for at least nine months had there been no discriminatory law barring them from doing so. The district court had originally limited relief to those who had already submitted claims for survivor’s benefits prior to the entry of judgment, despite that most folks would have considered it futile. Now survivors can submit claims for benefits no matter how long ago their loved one passed, no matter whether they applied in the past, and no matter whether they are already receiving their own retirement benefits. We have updated our FAQs, which we hope folks will find helpful.
For those who WERE able to marry their same-sex spouse but were unable to have been married for at least nine months because of marriage bans, the FAQ is here.
For those who were NEVER able to marry because their same-sex partners died while marriage bans were still in effect, the FAQ is here.
BOTTOM LINE: All surviving same-sex partners and spouses barred from meeting the spousal requirements by marriage bans are now able to apply for these benefits, reopen previously-denied claims (even if they did not pursue their appeals), and otherwise be restored to the position they should have been in had there been no discrimination.

03/18/2020

I hope all of you are safe and well. The courthouses are currently closed for all but emergency hearings, and I am moving all client meetings to Zoom. E-mail is the easiest way to reach me, so if you have questions about the status of your case or estate plan, please reach out - I'm still working!

08/16/2019

As many of you know, on Nov. 1 a new law will go into effect in Oklahoma which will allow anyone over age 21 to carry a gun, open or concealed, whether or not they have a license to do so. A referendum petition is being circulated in an effort to restore the law to the original concealed carry with a permit status. The issue would then be put to a vote of the people in 2020. We have a very short window of time in which to collect the required signatures. If you are a registered voter in Oklahoma and would like to sign the petition, it will be available at my office (1515 Law Offices, 1515 S. Denver, Tulsa, OK) from 8:30-12 and 1-5 M-F (our receptionist is gone for an hour at lunch). Please feel free to share this post with like-minded voters.

08/08/2019

Are you or someone you know experiencing domestic violence? There is help. Don’t wait until it’s too late.
Domestic Violence Hotline: 405-917-9922
Sexual Assault Hotline: 405-943-7273
State Safeline: 800-522-7233
For Emergencies, dial 911

The signs of domestic abuse may not be as clear as you’d think. Here’s a checklist on how to recognize the warning symptoms of psychological and physical abuse.

05/24/2019

It's a good day for Oklahoma! H.B. 2468 passed, legalizing surrogacy in Oklahoma

04/23/2019

April is Organ Donation Month - did you know there's an App for that?

Apple® and Donate Life America announced today that, for the first time ever, iPhone® users will be able to sign up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor right from the Health app with the release...

03/12/2019

A little insight on why so many people are having unpleasant surprises this tax season despite the the "tax reform".

Changes to the law meant some taxpayers needed to adjust their withholding. Many were confused about how to do so.

12/11/2018

Some good reminders about protecting your identity during the holiday shopping season. Don't log into your bank account to check your balance using a store or cafe's free wi-fi!
ETA - the original article link broke, so here's another article on the same topic:
https://www.lifelock.com/learn-identity-theft-resources-help-protect-yourself-against-holiday-identity-theft.html

With planned giving, your clients can provide long-lasting support for the American Cancer Society while enjoying financial benefits.