James C. Milton

Trust and estate litigation; probate and trust administration; will and trust contests; fiduciary disputes; guardianship; elder abuse; complex estate planning; mediation and arbitration; appellate litigation involving trusts and estates.

Jim Milton is a shareholder and director at Hall Estill. He represents beneficiaries, fiduciaries, families, financial institutions, and other interested parties in complex trust, estate, probate, and guardianship matters. His practice includes will and trust contests, fiduciary claims, contested accountings, elder-abuse matters, capacity and undue-influence disputes, and difficult questions involving the construction and administration of trusts and estates.

Jim also advises attorneys and fiduciaries on complex probate and trust issues, including case strategy, compliance reviews, title questions, and the preparation of pleadings and legal arguments. He serves as a mediator, arbitrator, and court-appointed discovery master. In addition to his trusts and estates practice, he handles selected commercial litigation, appellate matters, and water-law disputes.

Jim has been actively involved in the development of Oklahoma trust, estate, probate, and civil-procedure law, working with legislators, judges, and members of the bar on statutory and procedural reforms.

Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC); Oklahoma State Chair; Co-Editor of ACTEC State Surveys; Co-Chair, Will and Trust Contests Subcommittee; member of the Fiduciary Litigation, Fiduciary Administration, and Communications Committees.

Oklahoma Bar Association; former Co-Chair, Legislative Committee, Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Section; former Chair, Civil Procedure and Evidence Code Committee.

Tulsa County Bar Association; President, 2019-2020.

Member, Board of Directors, American Cancer Society, Oklahoma.

James C. Milton & Katheleen R. Guzman, “Decision and Persuasion: Re-Conceiving the Role of the Planner Where Undue Influence Is Suspected,” 44 ACTEC L.J. 137 (2019).

James C. Milton & Courtney L. Kelley, “The Right to Trial and Summary Judgment in Probate Proceedings,” 88 Okla. Bar J. 1727 (2017).

James C. Milton & Travis G. Cushman, “What Happens Now? Weighing Section 2056, the Federal Anderson Trilogy Standard and the State Constitutional Right to Trial,” 84 Okla. Bar J. 2105 (2013).

Shareholder, Hall Estill, 2012-present; member of the firm’s Board of Directors, 2016-present. Previously attorney and partner at Doerner, Saunders, Daniel & Anderson, 1995-2012, including service as Trusts and Estates Practice Group Leader.

The University of Texas School of Law

J.D., with honors

1992 - 1995

Oklahoma State University

B.S.B.A., Finance and Economics

1984 - 1988

Tulsa Lawyer of the Year, Litigation - Trusts and Estates

Best Lawyers

2025

Tulsa Lawyer of the Year, Litigation - Trusts and Estates

Best Lawyers

2021

Top 10 Oklahoma Super Lawyers

Super Lawyers

2024

Oklahoma