Req. No. 3231 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024) SENATE BILL 1661 By: Boren AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to distribution of estates; amending 58 O.S. 2021, Section 693, which relates to disposition of monies to minor; requir ing executor or administrator to mak e certain application to court; clarifying release of certain monies; updating statutory language; and providing an effec tive date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 58 O.S. 2021, Section 693, is amended to read as follow s: Section 693. A. Whenever a final a ccount and order of distribution shall direct the payment of monies to a minor, and no person shall within ninety (90) days thereafter bec ome the legal and qualified guardian for the minor, so that the executor or administrator may be discharged, the court may direct the executor or administrator shall make an application to the co urt for permission to prepare an order directing the county t reasurer to make the deposit of: Req. No. 3231 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1. Specify a bank or financial institution within this state where the funds in a specified institution and for a will be deposited; and 2. State the specified term for when the funds will be released to the legally qualified guardian of the minor, released to the minor upon his or her eighteenth birthday, or released to the State Treasurer as unclaimed property after the minor rea ches twenty-two (22) years of age. Upon receipt of the order, the court clerk shall make a temporary deposit in the case, and forward the court ’s order to the county treasurer for deposit of the funds in a the specified institution for a the specified term, with the same effect as though taken from a legally-qualified legally qualified guardian of the minor; and the treasurer shall hold the monies in trust for the minor until a guardian shal l be appointed and call for the same, or until the minor shall become of age and demand the same , or until released to the Stat e Treasurer as unclaimed property after the minor reaches twenty-two (22) years of age ; provided, that all the monies in the hands of the treasurer at the expiration of the treasurer’s term of office must be turned over to the successor in office. B. Whenever a final account a nd order of distribution shall direct the payment of monies to a legatee, heir, creditor, or claimant, whose address or whereabouts is not known, or who will not Req. No. 3231 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 accept and receipt for said monies within ninety (90) days thereafter, so that the executor or administra tor may be discharged, the court may direct the exec utor or administrator to pr epare an order directing the county treasurer to make the deposit of funds in a specified institution and for a specified term. Upon re ceipt of the order, the court clerk shall make a temporary deposit in the case, and forward the court ’s order to the county treasurer for deposit of the funds in a specified institution for a specified term, with the same effect as though taken from the person; and the treasurer shall hold the mo nies in trust for the person until a legal or personal representative shall dem and and accept the same; provided, that all such monies i n the hands of the treasurer at the expiration of the treasurer ’s term of office must be turned over to the successor in office. C. In the event no person qualified to receive money deposited with the court clerk makes demand therefor within thirty (30) days after receipt by the court clerk and the deposit is in excess of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00), the court clerk is a uthorized and directed to invest such funds in one or more savings accounts or certificates of deposit in a bank or savings and loan ass ociation whose deposits are insured by an agency of the federal government. When the person legally entitled thereto makes request upon the court clerk, the account or fund, together with all accumulations , shall be paid over to the person legally entitled thereto upon the Req. No. 3231 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 court clerk taking a receipt in full for such payment, which receipt shall be filed in and become a p art of the records of the case. D. Whenever a final account and order of distr ibution based thereon shall direct the payment of monies to an heir or legatee who has died during the pendency of the probate proceedings, and no person shall within ninety (90) days thereafter become the legal and qualified personal representative of the decea sed heir or legatee, so that the executor or administrator may be discharged, the court may make an order directing the exec utor or administrator to deposit such money in the hands of the court clerk, ta king a receipt therefor, with the same effect a s though taken from a legally- qualified legally qualified personal representative of the heir or legatee; and the clerk shall hold such monies in trust until a personal representative shall demand and accept the same; provided, that all such monies in the hands of the court clerk at the expiration of the court clerk ’s term of office must be turned over to the successor in office. SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2024. 59-2-3231 TEK 1/16/2024 12:53:06 PM