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Creek County, OK Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Creek County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | District Court of Creek County |
| Main filing location | Creek County Courthouse, 222 East Dewey Avenue, Suite 201, Sapulpa, OK 74066. The court clerk is on the second floor. |
| Second filing location | Bristow division, 110 West 7th Street, Bristow, OK 74010. Mail for Bristow goes to P.O. Box 1055, Bristow, OK 74010. |
| Mailing | Sapulpa uses the street address. Bristow uses P.O. Box 1055. |
| Phone | Sapulpa: (918) 227-2525. Bristow: (918) 367-5537. |
| Fax | Sapulpa: (918) 227-5030. Creek County local Rule 2.5 does not allow pleadings to be submitted by facsimile, email or other electronic means. |
| Hours | Sapulpa: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bristow: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., closed over the lunch hour. No filing cutoff is published. |
| Filing fee | $135.00 statutory flat fee for probate and guardianship (28 O.S. § 152(A)(3)), plus statutory court costs. Creek County publishes no probate filing total, so confirm the amount with the court clerk before filing. |
| Local forms | No Creek County probate forms, probate cover sheet or probate checklist is published. The Oklahoma courts use a civil cover sheet for probate case types. |
| E-filing | Creek County is not one of the thirteen Oklahoma counties where e-filing exists. No Oklahoma county allows a new probate case to be opened electronically. |
| Case search | Creek County dockets appear on the Oklahoma State Courts Network and On Demand Court Records. Each system has separate Sapulpa and Bristow entries. Docket searching is free. |
| Remote appearance | Oklahoma authorizes videoconferencing under 20 O.S. § 130 and Okla. Dist. Ct. R. 34, but use is the presiding judge's decision. Ask the court clerk in the division where the case is set. |
| Website | creekcountyonline.com |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Creek County, list the assets, debts, title documents, beneficiaries and known creditors. The asset list decides whether a court filing is needed at all, whether Sapulpa or Bristow is the more practical division, and whether the estate settlement will need a personal representative with letters.
Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families find accounts, insurance, retirement assets and other property before choosing the next step. That search can prevent a Creek County estate settlement from being filed in the wrong route or without the documents the court will ask for later.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Creek County is filed with the Creek County Court Clerk, in the District Court of Creek County, which sits in Oklahoma's Twenty-Fourth Judicial District together with Okfuskee and Okmulgee counties. The shared district does not move the filing. A Creek County case is filed in Creek County, at the courthouse in Sapulpa or at the Bristow division, not in Okemah and not in the city of Okmulgee.
Oklahoma venue is controlled by 58 O.S. § 5. If the decedent was an Oklahoma resident, the case is filed in the county where the decedent resided at death, regardless of where the death occurred. For a nonresident decedent, 58 O.S. § 5 sets the sequence for choosing the Oklahoma county based on where the decedent died and where Oklahoma property is located.
Creek County has more than one district court filing location. The county's current court clerk page names Sapulpa and Bristow, and the local rules also refer to a division courthouse at Drumright. Because the county's current filing information names only Sapulpa and Bristow, call the court clerk before trying to file anywhere else.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if there is one, title documents, account statements, beneficiary information and a list of known creditors.
- Choose the Oklahoma route before filing. The state page explains the small estate affidavit, summary administration and regular probate routes. In Creek County, the practical question is whether you need a court case and, if so, whether Sapulpa or Bristow is the better filing division.
- File the petition on paper with the Creek County Court Clerk, at the counter or by mail, in Sapulpa at 222 East Dewey Avenue, Suite 201, or at the Bristow division at 110 West 7th Street. Creek County is not one of the thirteen e-filing counties, and no Oklahoma county allows a new probate case to be opened electronically.
- Keep filing in the same division. Rule 1.7 of the local rules of the District Court of Creek County says pleadings related to a case filed in a division are filed in that division and remain there.
- Pay the $135.00 statutory flat fee for probate and guardianship (28 O.S. § 152(A)(3)), plus statutory court costs. Creek County publishes no probate filing total, so confirm the current amount with the court clerk before filing.
- The court sets the petition for a noticed hearing. The order and notice of hearing are filed and served, and the matter is placed on the Creek County probate docket.
- Attend the hearing. The district judge hears the petition, admits the will if there is one, appoints the personal representative, determines the heirs when appropriate and directs issuance of letters testamentary or letters of administration.
- The personal representative signs the oath and posts any bond the court requires. If the personal representative lives outside Oklahoma, 58 O.S. § 162 requires an agent residing in Creek County before the person enters on the duties of the trust.
- Prepare the inventory and appraisement, collect assets, manage bills and keep records for the estate settlement.
- Publish and mail the notice to creditors. The notice states the presentment date, and a claim not presented by that date is barred forever (58 O.S. § 333).
- Allow or reject claims, handle taxes, and request court approval for any estate property sale that needs approval. A proceeding for sale or lease of real or personal property or a mineral interest in probate carries a separate $43.00 charge (28 O.S. § 152(A)(5)).
- File the final account and petition for distribution, then attend the final noticed hearing.
- After the decree of distribution and discharge is entered, record a certified copy of any decree affecting real property with the Creek County Clerk, the county's land-records office, and with the equivalent office in every other county where land is located (58 O.S. §§ 247(B), 711). In Creek County, that recording counter closes at 4 p.m.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Creek County
The Creek County Court Clerk does not publish probate forms, a probate cover sheet or a probate checklist, and the local rules of the District Court of Creek County do not add a local probate form requirement. The county forms page lists a utility permit, not a probate form.
Oklahoma law supplies required content and wording for some probate filings, but it does not give Creek County families a fill-in probate packet from the court clerk. Most families either work from an attorney's forms or use Sunset to generate an estate settlement packet before filing on paper in Sapulpa or Bristow.
The Oklahoma courts use a civil cover sheet with probate case type codes, including PB for probate, PC for conservatorship, PG for guardianship, PMI for probate miscellaneous, PT for trust proceedings and FB for full blood. It is a cover sheet, not the petition itself.
Fees
The Creek County Court Clerk does not publish a probate fee total. The statutory flat fee for probate and guardianship is $135.00 (28 O.S. § 152(A)(3)), and statutory court costs are added, so the amount collected at the counter is higher. Call Sapulpa at (918) 227-2525 or Bristow at (918) 367-5537 before filing.
A person who cannot afford costs may ask about filing with an affidavit in forma pauperis. Under 28 O.S. § 152(H), if the poverty showing is satisfactory, no fees or costs are required.
If the estate needs court approval to sell or lease real property, personal property or a mineral interest, that proceeding carries a separate $43.00 charge (28 O.S. § 152(A)(5)).
When a final decree affecting Creek County land is recorded with the Creek County Clerk, the county's land-records office, the undated recording schedule prints $8.00 for the first page of deeds, mortgages and other instruments not subject to the 12A filing fee, $10.00 for preserving, maintaining and archiving each recorded instrument, and $2.00 for each additional page. The same schedule prints $1.00 per page for certified copies and $1.00 per page for photographic copies. Recording hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding approved holidays.
Timeline
- After filing, Creek County places the petition on a probate docket. Recent Sapulpa probate cases were set roughly three to four weeks after the petition was filed, but the county does not publish a calendar rule, so ask the court clerk for the next setting when you file.
- The first setting is a noticed hearing. The court's public dockets show an order and notice of hearing, proof of mailing or publication when required, and a hearing minute before letters are issued.
- Later timing depends on the route, creditor notice, objections, property sales and the final account. Do not assume the first setting completes the estate settlement.
- If you want to appear by video or present testimony by videoconferencing, ask early. Oklahoma allows it under 20 O.S. § 130 and Okla. Dist. Ct. R. 34, but the presiding judge decides, and testimony by video has notice requirements under Rule 34.
Local nuance
Creek County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Creek County filing |
|---|---|
| Two filing divisions | The Creek County Court Clerk runs offices in Sapulpa and Bristow, and both handle probate. Rule 1.7 says a case filed in a division stays in that division for later pleadings. |
| Bristow lunch closure | Sapulpa publishes 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. hours. Bristow publishes 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., closed over the lunch hour. |
| Local rules | Creek County has county-specific local district court rules effective August 1, 2009. They do not impose a local probate form or probate docket requirement, but Rule 2.5 says pleadings are not to be submitted to the court clerk or to any judge by facsimile, email or other electronic means. |
| Two case-search systems | Creek County dockets appear on both the Oklahoma State Courts Network and On Demand Court Records. Each system has separate entries for Sapulpa and Bristow. |
| No e-filing in Creek County | Creek County is on the state court case-management system, but it is not one of the thirteen e-filing counties. File Creek County probate papers on paper. |
| Recording after distribution | A decree affecting land is recorded with the Creek County Clerk, the county's land-records office. That recording window closes at 4 p.m. |
| Restricted interests | Creek County Rule 1.7 requires approval of deeds by restricted Native Americans to be filed in the Sapulpa division. Ordinary Creek County estates are still filed in the District Court of Creek County, and families dealing with trust or restricted land should contact Oklahoma Indian Legal Services. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Summary administration | The summary-administration ceiling rose to $300,000, effective August 12, 2026 (58 O.S. § 245, Laws 2026, HB 2650). Section 245 also covers estates where the decedent has been dead more than five years or resided in another jurisdiction at death. |
| Combined notice | 58 O.S. § 246 combined-notice publication mechanics change effective November 1, 2026 (Laws 2026, HB 4339). |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Creek County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Check first for joint tenancy, a beneficiary designation or a transfer-on-death deed. If a court step is needed, file in the District Court of Creek County at Sapulpa or Bristow. If the home passes outside probate, the paperwork may end with recording at the Creek County land-records counter, which closes at 4 p.m. | Sunset helps identify the title, locate accounts and organize the documents before deciding whether a court filing is needed. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the Oklahoma affidavit route fits, it is handled without a court filing. If a Creek County case is needed, file by mail or at the counter, and remember that a nonresident personal representative must appoint an agent residing in Creek County under 58 O.S. § 162. Ask the division where the case is set about any Rule 34 video request. | Sunset helps inventory assets, prepare the estate settlement packet and flag when a local attorney should review the filing. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | The parent will usually need letters before signing sale documents for the estate. A sale inside the probate carries a separate $43.00 charge (28 O.S. § 152(A)(5)), and the final decree affecting land is recorded with the Creek County land-records office. | Sunset helps find accounts, organize debts and connect the family with a Creek County probate attorney for the sale and final distribution. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Creek County Court Clerk, Sapulpa | Accepts Creek County probate filings, collects filing fees and keeps the case file. Court staff cannot give legal advice or choose a route for you. | Creek County Courthouse, 222 East Dewey Avenue, Suite 201, Sapulpa, OK 74066. Phone: (918) 227-2525. Fax: (918) 227-5030. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Creek County Court Clerk, Bristow division | Accepts probate filings on the same terms as Sapulpa. Bristow closes over the lunch hour. | 110 West 7th Street, P.O. Box 1055, Bristow, OK 74010. Phone: (918) 367-5537. Hours: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Tulsa office | Free civil legal help for low-income Oklahomans, subject to eligibility and case-type priorities. Its Tulsa office service area includes Creek County. | 907 South Detroit Avenue, Suite 725, Tulsa, OK 74120. Phone: 918-584-3338 or 800-299-3338. Statewide application line: 1-888-534-5243. |
| Oklahoma Indian Legal Services | Helps with restricted land, trust land, wills clinics for elders and protection of mineral interests. It is not a general provider for every Creek County probate. | (405) 943-6457 or 800-658-1497 in Oklahoma. |
| Case lookup | Look up Creek County probate dockets by PB case number or party name. Creek County appears under separate Sapulpa and Bristow entries on both systems. | Oklahoma State Courts Network docket search and On Demand Court Records. |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Creek County probate attorney if anyone may contest the petition, the will is disputed, the estate includes restricted or trust land, mineral interests, a house sale inside the probate, creditor disputes, or family members who cannot easily attend a hearing. Creek County has Sapulpa and Bristow divisions, and a lawyer familiar with the division where the case is filed can help with local scheduling and paper-filing requirements. Sunset connects families with a vetted local probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps build the asset list that drives the Creek County estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family information, asset list and court choices into an organized packet for a paper filing in Sapulpa or Bristow.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate includes a dispute, real property sale, mineral interest or restricted land issue, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Oklahoma probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate settlement, understand next steps and decide whether they need attorney help without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Creek County?
File with the Creek County Court Clerk in Sapulpa at 222 East Dewey Avenue, Suite 201, or with the Bristow division at 110 West 7th Street. Rule 1.7 of the local rules says later pleadings stay in the same division where the case was filed.
Can I e-file a probate in Creek County?
No. Creek County is not one of the thirteen Oklahoma counties where e-filing exists, and no Oklahoma county allows a new probate case to be opened electronically. File the Creek County petition on paper at the counter or by mail.
Can I fax or email the petition to the Creek County Court Clerk?
No. Rule 2.5 of the local rules of the District Court of Creek County says pleadings are not to be submitted to the court clerk or to any judge by facsimile, email or other electronic means.
How much does it cost to file probate in Creek County?
The statutory flat fee for probate and guardianship is $135.00 (28 O.S. § 152(A)(3)), plus statutory court costs. Creek County does not publish a probate filing total, so call Sapulpa at (918) 227-2525 or Bristow at (918) 367-5537 before filing.
When will my Creek County probate hearing be set?
Creek County uses a probate docket. Recent Sapulpa cases were set roughly three to four weeks after filing, but the court does not publish that as a rule. Ask the court clerk for the next setting when the petition is filed.
Can I appear by video in Creek County?
Possibly, but it is not automatic. Oklahoma authorizes videoconferencing under 20 O.S. § 130 and Okla. Dist. Ct. R. 34, and the presiding judge decides whether to allow it. Ask the court clerk in the division where your case is set.
How do I look up a Creek County probate case?
Search either the Oklahoma State Courts Network or On Demand Court Records. Each system separates Creek County into Sapulpa and Bristow entries, and probate case numbers begin with PB.
Does Creek County have its own probate forms?
No. The Creek County Court Clerk does not publish probate forms, a probate cover sheet or a probate checklist, and the county's local rules do not add a local probate form requirement.
Do I have to go to Sapulpa for Creek County probate?
Not necessarily. Sapulpa is the county seat and main office, but the Bristow division also takes probate filings. Bristow closes over the lunch hour, so confirm timing before you go.
Is Creek County probate handled by the Muscogee Creek Nation court?
No. A Creek County probate is heard in the District Court of Creek County. Property held in trust or under federal restriction may involve different rules, and families with that issue should contact Oklahoma Indian Legal Services.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.