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Murray County, OK Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Murray County information |
|---|---|
| Court | District Court of Murray County |
| Filing office | Murray County Court Clerk |
| Courthouse address | Murray County Courthouse, 1001 West Wyandotte Avenue, Sulphur, OK 73086 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 578, Sulphur, OK 73086 |
| Phone | (580) 622-3223 |
| Fax | (580) 622-2979 |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, closed for lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. |
| Filing fee | $135.00 probate flat fee under the fee schedule last amended effective November 1, 2025 (28 O.S. § 152), plus statutory add-ons and any case-specific charges. Confirm the current total with the Murray County Court Clerk. |
| Local forms | No Murray County local probate forms or checklist are published. The Twentieth Judicial District has local Probate and Guardianship rules. |
| E-filing | Murray County is not one of Oklahoma's e-filing counties. A new Oklahoma probate case cannot be opened electronically. |
| Case search | Murray County dockets are on ODCR at www1.odcr.com. Free docket searching reaches records from March 4, 1997; document images require a paid ODCR subscription. |
| Remote appearance | Oklahoma allows videoconferencing in district court at the presiding judge's discretion under 20 O.S. § 130 and Okla. Dist. Ct. R. 34. Murray County publishes no local video procedure, so ask when the hearing is set. |
| Court clerk website | No separate Murray County Court Clerk website is published. Use phone, mail or in-person contact. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Murray County, list the assets, debts, account titles, beneficiary designations, land records and any original will. The filing route depends on what must pass through the District Court of Murray County, what may pass outside probate, and whether there is Murray County real property that will need a final decree recorded after estate settlement.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families find accounts, insurance, investments and other property before the first filing. That reduces the risk of opening the wrong estate settlement path or missing an account that changes the probate plan.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Murray County is filed with the Murray County Court Clerk at the courthouse in Sulphur, in the District Court of Murray County, which sits in Oklahoma's Twentieth Judicial District together with Carter, Johnston, Love and Marshall counties. Sharing a judicial district does not move a Murray County filing to Ardmore, Tishomingo, Marietta or Madill.
Oklahoma venue is tied to the county of proper venue. For a resident decedent, the case is filed in the district court of the county where the decedent resided at death. For a nonresident decedent, 58 O.S. § 5 sets the order of venue based on where the decedent died and where Oklahoma property is located.
One courthouse serves Murray County probate filings: the Murray County Courthouse at 1001 West Wyandotte Avenue in Sulphur. Mail for the Murray County Court Clerk goes to P.O. Box 578, Sulphur, OK 73086.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if there is one, asset information, debt information, deeds and beneficiary designations before choosing the estate settlement route.
- Decide whether a court case is needed. Some property may pass outside probate, and Oklahoma also has shorter statewide procedures, but a Murray County court case is needed when the estate requires letters, a judge's order or a decree affecting Murray County land.
- Prepare the petition and any required civil cover sheet, then file on paper with the Murray County Court Clerk at the courthouse in Sulphur or by mail to P.O. Box 578.
- Pay the $135.00 probate flat fee under the fee schedule last amended effective November 1, 2025 (28 O.S. § 152), plus statutory add-ons and any case-specific charges the court clerk collects at filing.
- Get a hearing date before the district judge or associate district judge. The judge, not the court clerk, decides whether to admit a will, appoint a personal representative and issue letters testamentary or letters of administration (58 O.S. § 27).
- Give the required notices for the first hearing. If the court appoints a personal representative, the court issues the authority document needed to collect estate property and act for the estate.
- File the inventory and handle any appraisement, then publish and mail notice to creditors as required. The notice states a presentment date, and claims not presented by that date are barred forever (58 O.S. § 333).
- Administer the estate, including collecting assets, handling creditor claims, asking for court approval when required, and seeking sale authority if estate property must be sold.
- Follow the Twentieth Judicial District's local rule if the personal representative's attorney seeks payment before the estate closes. Early payment requires the personal representative's signature, services already rendered, no harm to timely closing or estate solvency, and court approval needed for orderly administration.
- File the final account and petition for distribution, give notice of the final hearing, attend the hearing and obtain the decree of distribution and discharge.
- If the decree affects Murray County real property, record the certified decree with the Murray County Clerk as the separate land-records officer. If land is in another Oklahoma county, record there too (58 O.S. § 711).
Executor duties
In Murray County, the main local addition is the Twentieth Judicial District rule on attorney-fee timing. If an executor or other personal representative asks the court to approve attorney fees before the estate closes, the request must be personally signed by the personal representative, cover only services already rendered, avoid delaying the closing or harming the estate's solvency, and be necessary for orderly administration.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Murray County
Murray County does not publish local probate forms or a local probate checklist. File paper documents with the Murray County Court Clerk in Sulphur or by mail to the court clerk's P.O. box, and call ahead to confirm any counter requirements before mailing originals.
The Twentieth Judicial District local rules do include a Probate and Guardianship chapter. Rule 3.1 governs when a personal representative's attorney may be paid before the estate closes, and Rule 3.2 addresses annual guardianship reports. Those rules are not a fill-in petition packet, but they can affect how a Murray County case is administered.
Oklahoma also uses a civil cover sheet with probate case-type codes. That cover sheet is separate from the petition, notices, proposed orders and authority documents needed for a particular estate.
Timeline
- Inactive probate cases in the Twentieth Judicial District may be placed on an annual disposition docket in August at the Chief Judge's discretion. That docket is for stalled cases and is not a routine schedule for newly filed Murray County probate hearings.
Local nuance
Murray County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means in Murray County |
|---|---|
| Shared judicial district | Murray County shares Oklahoma's Twentieth Judicial District with Carter, Johnston, Love and Marshall counties, but Murray County probate filings stay with the Murray County Court Clerk in Sulphur. |
| Separate land-records officer | The Murray County Clerk is not the filing officer for probate. That office matters at the end when a certified decree affecting Murray County land must be recorded. |
| Local Probate and Guardianship rules | The Twentieth Judicial District has local rules for probate and guardianship, including Rule 3.1 on early attorney-fee approval. |
| Lunch closure | The Murray County Court Clerk's office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, with a lunch closure from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. |
Recent updates
| Change | What changed |
|---|---|
| Summary administration ceiling | Oklahoma's summary administration ceiling is $300,000, effective August 12, 2026, under 58 O.S. § 245 as amended by Laws 2026, HB 2650. |
| Combined notice publication rule | A 2026 amendment to 58 O.S. § 246 changes the combined-notice publication mechanics effective November 1, 2026. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Murray County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | First check the deed, beneficiary designations and any transfer-on-death deed. If the home passes outside probate, the estate settlement may focus on accounts or title cleanup. If a decree is needed for Murray County land, file with the Murray County Court Clerk in Sulphur and record the final decree with the Murray County Clerk. | Sunset helps identify accounts, review title clues, organize documents and connect the spouse with counsel if the deed or title history is unclear. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Start by determining whether property can be collected without a Murray County court case or whether letters are needed. If a court case is needed, the filing is still on paper in Sulphur or by mail, and a nonresident personal representative may need to appoint an in-county agent under 58 O.S. § 162. | Sunset helps the child find assets, build a filing packet, track notices and coordinate with a local attorney so travel can be limited where the judge allows. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of a Murray County home usually requires letters and court authority before closing. A probate sale or lease proceeding may add a $43.00 charge (28 O.S. § 152), and the final decree must be recorded with the Murray County Clerk for land records. | Sunset helps organize the asset list, prepare the probate packet, identify creditor issues and connect the parent with a Murray County probate attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Murray County Court Clerk | Accepts probate filings, collects fees, issues case documents and provides access to filed papers. Staff do not choose the probate route, draft the petition or advise on strategy. | Murray County Courthouse, 1001 West Wyandotte Avenue, Sulphur, OK 73086. Mail: P.O. Box 578, Sulphur, OK 73086. Phone: (580) 622-3223. Fax: (580) 622-2979. |
| Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Ardmore Office | Free civil legal help for eligible low-income Oklahomans, subject to eligibility and case priorities. Ask directly about whether help is available for your issue. | 14 E Street Southwest, Ardmore, OK 73401. Phone: 580-226-4863 or 800-421-8007. Fax: 580-226-4865. Statewide application line: 1-888-534-5243. |
| Oklahoma Indian Legal Services | Helps with restricted and trust land issues, title clearing, mineral interests and wills clinics for eligible Native clients. Property held in trust or under federal restriction may require special handling outside ordinary county estate settlement. | (405) 943-6457 or 800-658-1497. Email: [email protected]. |
| ODCR case search | Search Murray County docket entries online. Murray County records on ODCR go back to March 4, 1997, and document images require a paid ODCR subscription. | www1.odcr.com |
When to hire an attorney
A Murray County probate attorney is especially useful when the estate includes real property, mineral interests, creditor disputes, a will contest, a nonresident personal representative, a sale of estate property or a request to approve attorney fees before the estate closes under the Twentieth Judicial District's local rule. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps organize insurance, bank, investment, retirement and other asset information for Murray County estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family details, asset list and court path into an organized probate packet so you can file on paper with the Murray County Court Clerk in Sulphur or review it with counsel.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Murray County estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Oklahoma probate attorney who understands district court filing, creditor notice, hearings and real property issues.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, find assets, prepare for probate and get matched with help without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Murray County?
File with the Murray County Court Clerk at the Murray County Courthouse, 1001 West Wyandotte Avenue, Sulphur, OK 73086. Mail filings to P.O. Box 578, Sulphur, OK 73086.
Does Murray County let me e-file a probate case?
No. Murray County is not one of Oklahoma's e-filing counties. Also, a new Oklahoma probate case cannot be opened electronically in any county, so the petition is filed on paper.
Will there be a hearing in a Murray County probate?
Yes. Oklahoma probate filings are decided by a district judge after notice and a hearing. Murray County also falls under a Twentieth Judicial District rule that lets inactive probate cases be placed on an August disposition docket at the Chief Judge's discretion.
Can I appear by video for a Murray County probate hearing?
Oklahoma district courts may allow videoconferencing under 20 O.S. § 130 and Okla. Dist. Ct. R. 34, but it is up to the presiding judge. Murray County publishes no local video procedure, so ask the Murray County Court Clerk when the matter is set.
How do I look up a Murray County probate case?
Murray County dockets are on ODCR at www1.odcr.com, not OSCN. Free docket searching reaches Murray County records from March 4, 1997. Scanned document images require a paid ODCR subscription.
Are there Murray County probate forms?
Murray County does not publish local probate forms or a local checklist. The Twentieth Judicial District does publish local Probate and Guardianship rules, including a rule on attorney-fee approval before the estate closes.
How much does it cost to open probate in Murray County?
The probate flat fee is $135.00 (28 O.S. § 152), under the fee schedule last amended effective November 1, 2025, plus statutory add-ons and any case-specific charges. Call the Murray County Court Clerk for the current total before filing.
Do I have to travel to Sulphur if I live out of state?
The case is filed in Sulphur, but some paperwork may be handled by mail and some hearings may be considered for video at the judge's discretion under Rule 34. If you are seeking appointment as personal representative and live outside Oklahoma, ask counsel about the in-county agent requirement in 58 O.S. § 162.
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.