A decedent (pronounced da-See-dunt) is a deceased person. This term is commonly used to refer to a deceased person in the law of wills, trusts, and estates.
In Oklahoma, the term 'decedent' refers to an individual who has passed away. In the context of wills, trusts, and estates law, the decedent is the person whose estate is being managed or distributed after their death. Oklahoma statutes provide guidelines for the administration of a decedent's estate, including the probate process, which is the court-supervised procedure for validating a will, paying debts, and distributing the estate to rightful heirs or beneficiaries. If the decedent died intestate (without a will), Oklahoma law sets forth the rules of intestate succession to determine how the estate will be distributed. These laws are designed to ensure that the decedent's assets are transferred according to their wishes, if known, or according to state law if no valid will exists.