Attorney Gary DeWitt

I know first hand how hard it is to lose somebody and the ordeals and nightmares that follow.

My father passed away of a sudden heart attack in 2010. Because of this, mom and I had to take the family ranch through probate – for the third time since 1975.  This was an extremely long and stressful ordeal and it is the last thing that anyone wants to go through while they are suffering from the loss of a loved one.

I decided then and there a better way must exist. And it does. That better way is an effective estate plan.

What motivates me everyday is helping you meet your goals. Only once I have a complete idea of what is going on will I make a recommendation that meets your goals.

Youth

I had a normal life for a boy growing up in Northeastern Oklahoma on a cattle ranch. I spent my days going to school and my mornings, afternoons and nights working on my family’s farm. At an early age, I learned the importance of hard work. My family raised me with strong values: Perseverance, Honesty, Integrity & Service. I was also taught that my life should be conducted in the order of God, Family, Country.

I was blessed to be able to attend Oklahoma State University, majoring in Business Administration and Computer Science. After graduation, I spent the next 20 years working as a computer professional & consultant. Most of that time was spent working in the agriculture industry at a very large poultry company & providing consultation services to numerous Fortune 100 companies. Although I was successful, I felt something was missing in my life.

The Turning Point

In February of 2010, my father died of a sudden heart attack. Because of this, Mom and I had to take the family farm through probate – for the third time since 1975. This time it was 10 months of probate – really short, by probate standards. The problem was, he kept all the farm records in his head. Mom and I were literally trying to run an obstacle course in the dark. His lack of planning and record keeping created an ordeal and nightmare for us. We had to clean up the family mess.

Later that year, I experienced heart problems. While lying in the hospital and reflecting on my future, I decided to take my life and career in a new direction. Because of the experience (and the stress) of going through the Probate Court, I decided I wanted to help families navigate their own probate issues. And through proper planning, guide others in avoiding this stress, altogether.

Although not many people go to Law School with the goal of becoming an Estate Planner, that’s exactly what I did! I attended the University of Arkansas Law School, graduated, passed the bar and was reborn as an attorney.

I opened the DeWitt Law Firm and I limit my practice to the areas of Estate Planning, Elder Law, Probate, and business law. Growing up on a farm, it was understood that during the good times, you should prepare for the not-so-good times (accidents are not uncommon on a farm).

Most people don’t think about Estate Planning, often until it is too late.

I feel with proper Estate Planning your family should not have to go through Probate. Nobody should have to add extra strain to an already emotional time. Families deserve to be protected from the dangers they don’t know about. If you are already going through Probate Court, my goal is to help guide your family though the process, as stress-free as possible.

The best part of being an Estate Planner, what motivates me every day are the families I get to work with. Meeting you, hearing your stories & counseling you on creating a practical & effective plan for your future, is a gratifying experience. I truly enjoy taking you through the planning process, explaining and simplifying the “legalese” along the way — so you understand all your options and make the best decisions for you and your loved ones.

My education, coupled with my valuable life experiences, gives me a unique perspective, and allows me to bring Estate Planning and Elder Law solutions to your family, in a way that goes beyond the traditional lawyer/client relationship. I don’t provide canned, one-size-fits-all plan.

Education

Oklahoma State University

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Bachelor of Science in Business

Northwest Arkansas Community College

First Responder

Emergency Medical Technician

University of Arkansas

Juris Doctor of Law (JD)

University of Western New England

Master of Laws (LLM) in Estate Planning and Elder Law