EDMOND —
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a weekly series of columns written by attorneys at Lester, Loving & Davies law firm in Edmond.
Last week I discussed the manner in which a parent can nominate a guardian of her children. Those of us with minor children should name the person we want to be guardian of our children in our will or other qualified writing. This is best done through an attorney.
The subject was timely to me last week because my own 14-year-old son was in Japan, and in the care of people I do not know. To my surprise, and to the great pleasure of his mother, our son did not lose himself on the streets of Tokyo or board the wrong train. He returned in one piece, sans luggage, which was lost due to no negligence of his own. We were also relieved to learn that he was well tended. In fact, because his Japanese guardian did his laundry every night, when his suitcase finally arrived, it was full of clean clothes. Turns out Mrs. Osuga’s hands may be more capable than our own.
And that leads to the rest of the guardianship evaluation. Who is qualified to be a guardian? Knowing this up front is important so that you don’t nominate a guardian a judge can’t appoint because of a legal technicality.
No one may be guardian of more than five people. This presents an interesting issue for families with more than five children. In order to keep all children in the same household, the best choice is to choose a husband and wife. Nominate the husband as guardian of some children, and the wife as guardian of the others. You can stipulate that the guardianship remain valid only so long as the husband and wife reside in the same home.
Who else is disqualified? Any person to whom the appointing judge is personally indebted is disqualified. Minors cannot serve. Except for close relatives, a guardian must have been a resident of Oklahoma for at least a year.
If the proposed guardian has been convicted of a crime, is subject to a protective order, is involved in any pending criminal or civil case, is insolvent, owes the child money or has filed bankruptcy in the last five years, the court must be satisfied that such fact does not impair the guardian’s ability to care for the child, and that his appointment is in the child’s interest.
MATT HOPKINS is an attorney for Lester, Loving & Davies P.C. More information is available at lldlaw.com. Send questions to
questions@lldlaw.com.
Local News
ASK A LAWYER: Who can serve as my child's guardian after my death?
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UPDATE: Tornado touches portions of Edmond
Roger Williams and his wife Shellie, residents in Edmond’s Thornbrooke neighborhood since 2004, were watching the weather reports Sunday as a large storm approached the city.
When they heard reports that a tornado was spotted near Broadway and 15th Street, then Broadway and 33rd Street, the couple and their son Ethan, 11, took cover in a reinforced interior closet. After they closed the door it got eerily quiet, like being in the eye of a hurricane, Roger said. As the tornado passed by, they could hear a few bangs outside.
“I was kind of scared,” Ethan said. -
SLIDESHOW: Tornado strikes I-35 area of Edmond
A violent tornado ripped trees out of the ground as it dropped into southern Edmond late Sunday afternoon along areas east and west of Interstate 35 from 15th Street to 33rd Street, according to various reports. Damage in Edmond is confirmed by the city and included blown out windows at the brand new Mercy I-35 facility that was scheduled to open later this year. Hail also peppered northwest Edmond during the violent storm event.
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The Big One
It’s a bleak scenario. A massive earthquake along the New Madrid fault kills or injures 60,000 people in Tennessee. A quarter of a million people are homeless.
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City plans to hire downtown consultant
Conceptual ideas about how the City of Edmond may plan for downtown development were shared this week by David Forrest with members of the business community.
The Central Edmond Urban Development Board has revisited plans made in a 1998 Downtown Master Plan through public meetings and presentations to protect the future development of Broadway. Recommendations by the group will be taken into account by future city councils. -
Feds recommend changing legal alcohol content levels
During the past 15 years alcohol contributed to a third of highway deaths prompting the government this week to recommend reducing state Blood Alcohol Content limits from .08 to .05 or lower.
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St. Mary’s Episcopal School names new Head of School
Pamela Dockter will become the new Head of School at St. Mary’s Episcopal School effective July 1.
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Local girl receives crown
Audrianna Page Fredericks recently was crowned Miss Junior Teen Oklahoma United States 2013.
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‘Locker Hooking’ workshop offers instruction in durable, useful crafting technique
Residents who would like to learn how to use the “locker hooking” technique to make one-of-a-kind items for use in the home or for decoration are invited to attend the “Locker Hooking” Workshop Tuesday from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Oklahoma County OSU Cooperative Extension Service.
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‘Healthy Cooking With Spices and Herbs’ focus of OSU Extension workshop
As Americans try harder to improve their diets by decreasing fat and sugar, the challenge to make dishes tasty as well as healthy becomes that much more important.
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5-18 Calendar
The Edmond Senior Center, 2733 Marilyn Williams Drive, is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. F or information about Edmond senior programs, stop by and pick up a monthly calendar, check out the Web site at edmondseniorcenter.com or call 216-7600.
Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. and reservations are needed a day in advance by 11 a.m. For lunch reservations, call at 330-6293 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. - More Local News Headlines
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