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Tillman County, OK Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Tillman County information |
|---|---|
| Court | District Court of Tillman County |
| Courthouse address | Tillman County Courthouse, 201 North Main, Frederick, OK 73542 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 116, Frederick, OK 73542 |
| Phone | (580) 335-3023 |
| Fax | (580) 335-5613 |
| Hours | Posted counter hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. No lunch closure or filing cutoff is published. |
| Filing fee | $135.00 probate and guardianship flat fee under 28 O.S. § 152(A)(3), effective November 1, 2025, plus statutory add-ons. Confirm the current total with the Tillman County Court Clerk. |
| Local forms | No Tillman County local probate forms, cover sheet or checklist are published, and no Third Judicial District local rule is published on OSCN. |
| E-filing | Tillman County is not one of Oklahoma's e-filing counties. Probate filings are made on paper at the counter or by mail. |
| Case search | Tillman County dockets are on ODCR. Docket searching is free, online coverage begins March 18, 1998, and scanned document images are a paid add-on. |
| Remote appearance | Oklahoma allows video proceedings at the presiding judge's discretion under 20 O.S. § 130 and Okla. Dist. Ct. R. 34. Ask the court clerk when the hearing is set. |
| Website | Court information is published through OSCN's Tillman County page and ODCR. No separate Tillman County Court Clerk website is published. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Tillman County, make a clear list of the decedent's assets, debts, beneficiary designations and land records. The right estate settlement path depends on what actually needs court authority, not just whether there is a will.
Sunset can help you search for accounts and property across more than 2,300 financial institutions, then organize the information a lawyer or personal representative needs for an Oklahoma estate settlement.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Tillman County is filed with the Tillman County Court Clerk at the courthouse in Frederick, in the District Court of Tillman County, which sits in Oklahoma's Third Judicial District together with Greer, Harmon, Jackson and Kiowa counties.
For an Oklahoma resident, venue is the district court of the county where the decedent resided at death. For a nonresident decedent, Oklahoma follows the county sequence in 58 O.S. § 5(2). Sharing a judicial district does not move a Tillman County filing to another county.
The Tillman County Clerk is a separate land-records officer. Probate filings start with the Tillman County Court Clerk, while a final decree affecting Tillman County land is recorded with the county clerk after the judge enters it.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if there is one, a list of heirs and devisees, and a working inventory of assets and debts.
- Choose the Oklahoma procedure that fits the estate. Some property may pass outside probate by beneficiary designation, joint tenancy or transfer-on-death deed, while property needing court authority is handled through a Tillman County case.
- Prepare the petition and any required starting papers. Tillman County publishes no local probate form packet, so confirm any counter requirements with the Tillman County Court Clerk before filing.
- File the petition on paper with the Tillman County Court Clerk at 201 North Main in Frederick, or mail it to P.O. Box 116, Frederick, OK 73542. A new Oklahoma probate case cannot be opened electronically.
- Pay the filing fee and statutory add-ons. The probate and guardianship flat fee is $135.00 under 28 O.S. § 152(A)(3), effective November 1, 2025, and the clerk can quote the current total before you file.
- Give the required notices and attend the hearing set by the district judge. The judge, not the court clerk, admits a will, appoints the personal representative and orders letters.
- After appointment, the personal representative receives letters testamentary or letters of administration, completes any oath and court-ordered bond requirement, gathers estate property and prepares the inventory.
- Publish and mail the notice to creditors as required. The notice states a presentment date, and a claim not presented by that date is barred forever under 58 O.S. § 333.
- Resolve allowed claims, handle any needed sale of property, and prepare the final account and petition for distribution.
- Attend the final hearing. After the judge enters the decree of distribution and discharge, record any decree affecting Tillman County land with the county clerk for the land records.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Tillman County
Tillman County does not publish a local probate petition, cover sheet or checklist. No local rules for Oklahoma's Third Judicial District are published on OSCN, and the Tillman County court page does not point to a separate local rule document.
Call the Tillman County Court Clerk at (580) 335-3023 before filing to confirm the number of copies, payment method and whether the clerk wants any local intake information with the petition.
Local nuance
Tillman County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Shared judicial district | Tillman County shares Oklahoma's Third Judicial District with Greer, Harmon, Jackson and Kiowa counties, but Tillman County filings stay in Frederick. |
| Street and mailing addresses differ | Use 201 North Main for the courthouse and P.O. Box 116 for mail to the court clerk. |
| ODCR records | Tillman County dockets are on ODCR, with online coverage beginning March 18, 1998. The OSCN case-search link is not the practical docket system for Tillman County. |
| Paper filing | Tillman County is not one of Oklahoma's e-filing counties, and no Oklahoma county accepts an electronic filing to open a new probate case. |
| Forms | No Tillman County probate form packet or Third Judicial District local rule is published. Confirm counter requirements with the court clerk before filing. |
| Fax numbers | The court clerk fax is (580) 335-5613. Do not use a fax number for another office in the courthouse unless that office asks for it. |
Recent updates
| Update | Current rule |
|---|---|
| Summary administration ceiling changed | The summary administration value condition is $300,000 under 58 O.S. § 245, effective August 12, 2026, by Laws 2026, HB 2650. Section 245 also allows summary administration when the decedent has been dead more than five years or resided in another jurisdiction at death, and those two conditions have no dollar cap. |
| Summary administration notice change coming | A change to 58 O.S. § 246 takes effect November 1, 2026, under Laws 2026, HB 4339. Ask the Tillman County Court Clerk or your attorney which version applies when your case is filed. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Tillman County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | First check the deed, mortgage, transfer-on-death deed, beneficiary designations and joint tenancy paperwork. If the home passes outside probate, a full Tillman County case may not be needed for that asset. If court authority is needed, file with the Tillman County Court Clerk in Frederick. | Sunset helps identify accounts, deeds and beneficiary-designated assets so the spouse can see what belongs in the estate settlement and what may pass outside the court case. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Start by checking whether the Oklahoma affidavit route under 58 O.S. § 393, effective November 1, 2017, fits the property. If a court case is needed, an out-of-state personal representative may need to appoint an in-county agent under 58 O.S. § 162. | Sunset organizes the asset list, flags institutions to contact and can help the family decide whether a Tillman County filing or an affidavit path is the next question for counsel. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires court authority unless title passes outside probate. File the probate petition in Frederick, obtain letters for the personal representative, and expect a separate $43.00 charge under 28 O.S. § 152(A)(5), effective November 1, 2025, if the probate case includes a sale or lease proceeding. | Sunset helps gather mortgage, tax, title and account information, then connects the family with a local probate attorney when a sale order or title work is needed. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Tillman County Court Clerk | Tillman County Courthouse, 201 North Main, Frederick, OK 73542. Mail: P.O. Box 116, Frederick, OK 73542. Phone: (580) 335-3023. Fax: (580) 335-5613. The office accepts filings and collects fees, but court staff cannot give legal advice. |
| Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Lawton Office | 323 South West C Avenue, Lawton, OK 73501. Phone: 580-248-4675 or 800-850-5950. Statewide application line: 1-888-534-5243. Free civil legal help for low-income Oklahomans in Tillman County, subject to eligibility and case priorities. |
| Oklahoma Indian Legal Services | Phone: (405) 943-6457 or 800-658-1497. This resource is for restricted and trust land, wills clinics and mineral-interest issues. |
| ODCR case search | www1.odcr.com holds Tillman County district court dockets. Searching docket entries is free, online coverage begins March 18, 1998, and document images require paid access. |
When to hire an attorney
Consider talking with an Oklahoma probate attorney if the estate includes real property, mineral interests, creditor disputes, missing heirs, a contested will, restricted or trust land, or a sale that needs a court order. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help identify bank, investment, retirement and insurance accounts that may affect the estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family intake, asset list and court information into an organized packet you can review with an attorney or use to prepare for a Tillman County filing.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Tillman County estate needs court filings, letters, a property sale or advice about Oklahoma procedure, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted local attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset helps families move from scattered paperwork to a clearer estate settlement plan without charging families for the core service.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Tillman County?
File with the Tillman County Court Clerk at the Tillman County Courthouse, 201 North Main, Frederick, OK 73542. Mail can be sent to P.O. Box 116, Frederick, OK 73542.
Is Tillman County in a shared judicial district?
Yes. Tillman County is in Oklahoma's Third Judicial District with Greer, Harmon, Jackson and Kiowa counties. That does not change where you file. A Tillman County probate case is filed in Frederick.
Can I e-file a Tillman County probate petition?
No. Tillman County is not one of Oklahoma's e-filing counties. The petition that opens a new probate case is filed on paper at the counter or by mail.
How do I look up a Tillman County probate case?
Tillman County dockets are on ODCR at www1.odcr.com. Docket searching is free, online coverage begins March 18, 1998, and scanned document images are a paid add-on.
Does Tillman County publish local probate forms?
No Tillman County local probate petition, cover sheet or checklist is published. No Third Judicial District local probate rule is published on OSCN. Call the court clerk before filing to confirm local counter requirements.
How much is the Tillman County probate filing fee?
The probate and guardianship flat fee is $135.00 under 28 O.S. § 152(A)(3), effective November 1, 2025, plus statutory add-ons. Call the Tillman County Court Clerk for the current total before filing.
Can I appear remotely for a Tillman County probate hearing?
Oklahoma allows video proceedings at the presiding judge's discretion under 20 O.S. § 130 and Okla. Dist. Ct. R. 34. Tillman County does not publish a local remote-appearance procedure, so ask the court clerk when the matter is set.
Do I have to travel to Frederick for every step?
Not necessarily. Some filings can be mailed, and an attorney may be able to handle many filing tasks. Hearings are set by the judge, so ask about appearance requirements when the hearing is scheduled.
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.