Frequently Asked Questions
The following links provide answers to frequently asked questions about or answerable with government information.
select from one of these topics
What is an Advance Directive for Health Care and where can I obtain the form?
The Advance Directive for Health Care can be used to ensure your wishes are followed if you later become incapacitated and incapable of making an informed decision regarding your health care.
The form can be accessed via the Oklahoma Attorney General, Oklahoma Bar Association, or the Oklahoma Palliative Care Resource Center.
Where can I obtain a copy of a birth or death certificate?
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Where to Write for
Vital Records
Alphabetical directory of state and territorial agencies to contact when looking for birth, death, and marriage records.
Oklahoma
Vital Records (Oklahoma State Department of Health)
Request birth and death records from the state of Oklahoma.
Are breaks and lunch periods mandatory?
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According
to the Oklahoma Department of Labor FAQs: Neither federal nor state law
require employers to provide breaks to employees age 16 or older. Mandatory
break laws only apply to children under the age of 16. Breaks and lunch periods
are considered benefits and remain at the discretion of the employer.
I live in Tulsa and need to know which building code was adopted at the time my house was built.
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The Tulsa City-County Library has historic building code ordinances in the
vertical files at Central Library. Here is a list compiled from what is included
in files: http://guides.tulsalibrary.org/buildingcodes.
Please note: this list might not be complete. Please contact that Tulsa City Clerk or the Tulsa Permits Office for additional information.
How can I obtain information on Oklahoma business filings?
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The Oklahoma
Secretary of State Business Filing Department provides basic search services
for free additional information can be obtained for a small fee.
How can I calculate the amount of child support I'll pay or receive?
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Oklahoma
Child Support Services has information on child support in the state of
Oklahoma on their web site including a child
support caluclator based on guidelines from the Oklahoma Statutes Title
43 Section 119. Additionally, the Oklahoma
State Courts Network has information for computing the guidelines and
a form for withholding income to pay child support. From their home
page, click on "forms" in the left frame and then "child support"
in the right frame. For more information on Tulsa County requirements
and forms for divorces involving children go to the Families
in Transition web site.
How do I cite government information sources in my research paper?
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General
Guidelines for Citing Government Publications, from the University of
North Texas, offers some general guidelines for citing government publications.
The University of Michigan has a listing of Online
Citation Guides if you need more information.
Where can I find City Ordinances?
The City of Tulsa provides online access to the City Charter & City Ordinances.
Ordinances for some Tulsa county communities can be accessed online at Municode.com. Or, check the Library's catalog for print editions of city ordinances. If you do not find oridinances in either of these places, try phoning your municipality.
Is Common-Law Marriage recognized in Oklahoma?
According to Title 43 Section 4 "No person shall enter into or contract the marriage relation, nor shall any person perform or solemnize the ceremony of any marriage in this state without a license being first issued by the judge or clerk of the district court, of some county in this state, authorizing the marriage between the persons named in such license."
However, the Cornell University Legal Information Insitute includes the following caveate: "No common-law marriage can be entered into, but these states recognize common law marriages that were entered into before these dates: Oklahoma - entered into prior to November 1, 1998 are recognized, current situation unclear."
Who are my Congressional Representatives?
Oklahoma is represented by two senators and six representatives. The senators each represent the entire state while the representatives are broken down by district. Listing of Oklahoma delegation to Washington (Senators & Representatives).
Not sure which district you are in? The Tulsa County Election Board Precinct Locator will provide federal, state, local and school district information based on your address..
Where can I get copyright forms?
The U.S. Copyright Office encourages electronic registration of copyright via the Electronic Copyright Office. Fillable PDF forms are available on the Copyright website (the registration fee for paper forms is slightling higher). Most copyright related questions can be answered with the Circulars and Brochures available at Copyright.gov.
How can I get my credit report for free?
AnnualCreditReport.com is the only site that provides free copies of your credit report from all 3 credit reporting companies. You can only get free reports once per year.
How can I get an Oklahoma Driver's License or state issued Identification card?
The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety provides information and answers to Frequently Asked Questions regarding Driver's Licenses and State Issued IDs and access to the Oklahoma Driver's Manuals.
Here are lists of Oklahoma Driver's License testing sites and Oklahoma Tag Agencies.
Where can I find information about education in Oklahoma?
The Oklahoma State Department of Education website offers a wealth of information about education standards in Oklahoma.
Access the PASS standards for Pre-K through 12th grade, the subject matter curriculum, except for technology curriculum, adopted by the State Board of Education.
Not sure what district you live in. The Tulsa County Assessor's office has a map of the Tulsa County School Districts in pdf available from their web site. For other counties, the University of Oklahoma Center for Spatial Analysis has access to maps of Oklahoma including school district maps in their Data Warehouse (scroll down to School Districts).
Where can I find homeschooling information?
The State Department of Education provides resources for home educators.
For information on local organizations, available library materials, and other resources check out the Homeschooling Subject Guide compiled by the Research Center or search the Tulsa Organizations and Services Database for organizations and support groups. Additional ideas are available in the Home Schooling Resource Guide from the Educator's Reference Desk.
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School and District
Report Cards are available for Oklahoma from the Education Oversight Board.
The National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) School
Locator provides basic demographics for schools.
What are the duties and responsibilities of elected officials?
Duties of County Commissioners via OK.gov
The duties of elected city officials are stated in the City of Tulsa Charter.
Where can I get information about upcoming elections or election results?
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The Tulsa
County Election Board website provides elections
schedules (pdf), precinct
locator, election results, sample ballots, voter
registration cards, absentee
ballots, list
of elected officials (pdf) and more..
What are the laws in Oklahoma concerning the emancipation of a minor?
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Oklahoma does not have laws concerning emancipation of minors. Minors are
defined as individuals under the age of 18 in Title
43 Section 551-102 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Title
10 Sections 91-94 provides information on confirmation of majority rights
to a minor. This gives minors the legal right to contract.
Where can I access federal laws?
The United States Code contains the text of laws currently in force.
Laws recently enacted by Congress and not yet codified into the US Code are found in the Public Laws.
Regulations issued by executive branch agencies are available in the Code of Federal Regulations.
Proposed regulations and regulations adopted so recently that they are not yet in the Code of Federal Regulations, may be found in the Federal Register or through Regulations.gov.
For laws of other countries go to the Library of Congress Guide to Law Online.
Do I need a permit to have a garage sale?
Garage Sale ordinances vary between Tulsa County communities. If your community is not included below, phone your local government for more information.
City of Bixby
Title
3, Chpater 6, Part 2 A: Permit Required; Fee: No garage or home sale
may be conducted without first obtaining a valid permit to be issued by
the city clerk's office for a fee in such amount as established by resolution
of the city council. (Ord. 805, 12-13-1999; amd. 2006 Code)
City of Bixby Garage Sale Requirements
City of Sand Springs
Title
5, Chapter 24: It is unlawful for any person or persons to conduct
more than two yard or garage sales within the city or to conduct or have
conducted more than two yard or garage sales at any location not zoned
for business during any one year. No garage or yard sale shall last longer
than two consecutive days. No garage or yard sale shall be conducted without
first securing a permit therefor from the inspections section of the city
and they shall each month forward to the director of finance a list of
all persons and locations of garage or yard sales for the preceding month.
(Prior § 9-207)
City of Owasso
from
their FAQs: Two garage sale signs are allowed per garage sale. One
is allowed at the location of the sale and the second at the entrance
to the neighborhood. Garage sale signs may not be attached to utility
or light poles. No permit is required for garage sale signs. The maximum
size allowed for garage sale signs is 4 square feet.
City of Broken Arrow
from
their FAQs: An Itinerant Merchant is a merchant who either travels
around selling wares, or sets up his/her tent or booth upon property that
is not their primary place of business. The Itinerant Merchant license
is required of anyone wanting to sell goods from a location other than
their primary place of business. Examples may include flower sales, pet
sales, and garage sales that are setup upon property not the vender's
primary place of business.
What are the rules for running a day care in my family home if I live within the City of Tulsa?
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The Tulsa City Ordinances covering Family Day Cares are Title
42 Chapter 4 Section 402.B.5. For licensing requirements visit the Oklahoma
Department of Human Services.
Where can I find information on the annual High School Debate topic?
In addition, you can use the online reference source TopicSearch from EBSCO (you must have a valid TCCL library card to access). Within TopicSearch, the National Debate topic is located in the Topics dropdown menu. Highlight this topic and click Search to access relevant articles and resources.
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The legislative process is detailed in both a senate and a house report. Click
on one of the following links for an explanation of how a bill becomes a law.
- The Legislative Process Tying It All Together, a House description of the legislative process
- How Our Laws Are Made, a summary of the Legislative Process
- Enactment of a Law, the Senate description of the legislative process.
- How A Bill Becomes a Law, a very brief Prezi based on Thomas.gov
Where can I find job openings with the state or federal government?
USAjobs.gov is the portal site for Federal job opportunities. This site includes forms, personalized job searches and resumes and information specifically for veterans.
The Oklahoma Office of Personnel Management provides information regarding employment opportunities with the State of Oklahoma .
I've been summoned for jury duty, what does that mean?
Tile 38 of the Oklahoma Statutes covers jurors
The Oklahoma Bar Association provides information for trial jurors.
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Title
38, Section 18 covers who is summoned for jury duty in detail, but here
it is in brief:
A list by county of resident of that county, who are eighteen (18) years of age or older, and who have a current driver license or a identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety. The list is issued by October 1 of each year and contains the name, date of birth, and mailing address of each person listed.
Where can I find the Oklahoma Residential Landlord Tenant Act?
A PDF of the Nonresidential/Residential Landlord and Tenant Acts available from the Oklahoma Real Estate Commission.
What are your rights as a landlord? & What are your rights and duties as a tenant? -- informational brochures from the Oklahoma Bar Association.
What are the laws governing Squatter's Rights (Adverse Possession) in Oklahoma?
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Adverse possession laws can be found in the Oklahoma Statutes Title
12 Section 93 and Title
60 Section 333. To get a full understanding of these laws you will need
to look at the case laws listed at the end of the sections. An important case
in deciding the 15 year period of adverse possession before granting a title
by prescription is Wilp v. Magnus, 204 Okla. 448, 230
P.2d 733 (1951).
For state labor laws see Title 40 of the Oklahoma State Statutes. Oklahoma Department of Labor provides relevant workplace and safety information.
Federal labor laws can be found in Title 29 of the U.S. Code. Labor questions might be addressed by the FAQs at the U.S. Department of Labor.
Can I work if I'm under 16?
No child under the age of sixteen (16) shall be permitted to work
in any occupation or in any establishment other than those occupations permitted
by the "Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938", as amended 29 U.S.C.,
Sections 201 through 219, and any regulations related thereto.
Additional child labor information can be found on the Oklahoma Department of Labor website.
Access fillable forms or court samples via the Gale Legal Forms database -- a valid Tulsa City County Library card is needed to access this resource.
Many internet sites charge for legal forms. A few free forms are available from OSCN.
Families in Transition has forms for family law matters.
Small Claims forms are available on the Tulsa Small Claims Court website (choose a fill-in form).
The Tulsa City County Library Research Center has some reproducible forms and Vernon's Civil Procedure available for in-library use.
Is there a Lemon Law in Oklahoma?
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Title
15, Chapter 22, Section 901 defines the rights of the consumer and roles
of the dealers and manufacturers on the sale of a motor vehicle.
Also have a look at the FTC's Facts for Consumers: Buying a Used Car.
How can I locate an Oklahoma marriage license?
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Marriage records are held by the Oklahoma district courts. You can search
court records at OSCN
or at ODCR.
Limit the case type to marriage and search by the bride or grooms name.
Is information available about medical professionals?
The Oklahoma
Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision has information about licensed
medical doctors in Oklahoma.
Nurses' licenses can be verified via the Oklahoma
Board of Nursing.
For licensing of Osteopathic doctors see the Oklahoma
Board of Osteopathic Examiners.
The Oklahoma
Board of Dentistry verifies licenses for dentists, hygienists, dental
assistants with permits and labs with permits.
Title 12, Chapter 33, Sections 1631-1637 of the Oklahoma Statutes outline the necessary steps to petition for a legal name change. Access a name change form here.
If the name change is due to a marriage, it is not necessary to formally request a name change. The marriage license is acceptable as official proof of a name change. The license can be presented to the Social Security Office and the Oklahoma Tax Commission to change your name on your social security card and drivers license.
Where can I find laws defining nusiances?
The Oklahoma Statutes define nuisance in Title 50 Section 1 and Title 76 Section 1.
Title 24 (pdf) of the City of Tulsa Ordinances defines nuisances in the city limits. For communities other than Tulsa, check the city's website or Municode.com for online availability of ordinances.
My neighbor's tree is causing problems in my yard. What can I do about it?
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Using state nuisance definitions several cases have
been brought before Oklahoma courts to determine responsibility for damages
caused by tree roots. Two cases worth looking at are Mead
v. Vincent 1947 OK 295 and Higdon
v. Henderson 1956 OK 296. The Tulsa City Ordinances Title
27 Chapter 21 Section 2104 (pdf) deals with destruction of trees or vegetation
that is the property of another.
Where can I find the laws for Oklahoma?
The Oklahoma State Courts Network (OSCN) provides online access to the Oklahoma State Statutes, as well as the State Constitution, case law and Session Laws.
Statutes for other states can be found using the following sources: State Statutes and Legislation (from the Legal Information Institute) and FindLaw State Resources.
Can I park my car in my yard if I live within the City of Tulsa?
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Tulsa City Ordinances Title
37 Chapter 5 Section 522.R states that vehicles must be parked on a hard
surface area constructed of an all-weather material. What about parking my
RV within the City of Tulsa? Rules for parking and storing recreational vehicles
can be found in the Tulsa City Ordinances Title
42 Chapter 4 Section 402.B.7
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The U.S.
State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs provides the forms, fees,
and process to apply for a passport, renewal or replacement passport.
How do I know if my profession requires a license and if it does, where can I obtain a professional license?
CareerOneStop.gov's Licensed Occupations Tool allows you to search by state or occupation to find out about licensing requirements for specific occupations.
Professional Licensing information can be found at OK.gov and the Oklahoma State Department of Health license for many professions. Many professions are licensed by individual boards.
Can I build a shed or fence in my yard if I live within the City of Tulsa?
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For information on obstructions in private yards see Tulsa City Ordinances
Title
42 Chapter 2 Section 210.B. For communities other than Tulsa, check the
city's website or Municode.com
for online availability of ordinances.
How can I get a new or replacement Social Security card?
The Social Security Administration provides the forms, necessities and instructions for requesting a new or replacement Social Security card.
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The Social Security Administration
website serves as a one-stop for estimating benefits and applying for
retirement
benefits or disability
& SSI benefits.
I'm looking for information to start and finance a business.
SBA.gov is the Small Business Administration's portal site for business information. Use this site to answer basics questions about starting a business and connect to other federal resources.
Starting a Business at IRS.gov provides answers to new business owner on how and when to file, a basic checklist and more.
The Oklahoma Secretary of State has all of the forms needed to start a business in Oklahoma available on their website.
Permits for businesses in Tulsa can be obtained at the One Stop permitting office at 175 E 2nd St, Tulsa.
For other business related questions, please visit the Research Center on the 4th Floor of the Central Library or use the AskUs Hotline.
Project VoteSmart
looks up both the Senator and Representative for your district by zip code.
Enter your nine digit zip code in the search box on the left hand side of
the page. If you do not know your nine digit zip code, visit the U.S.
Postal Service zip code look up page.
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The Oklahoma Legislature
website provides a search service for legislative activity from 1993-present.
Choose to the Basic
Search form; you will need the bill number and the legislative session.
I'm looking for information about State Parks.
TourOklahoma.com is the official site of Oklahoma State Parks. This site will give you information about state parks, locate campgrounds; cabins and more.
For information about National Parks, visit the National Park Service.
The United States Census Bureau is the best place to start looking for statistics. The Census Bureau will connect you to Demographics via the American FactFinder and Economic Statistics.
Additional statistics can be access from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis, and the National Agricultural Statistics Service. If you need additional help with statistical information, phone the AskUs Hotline at 918-596-7977.
Statutes of Limitations for the State of Oklahoma
Civil Action Statutes of Limitations
Oklahoma Statutes Title
12 Civil Actions Chapter 3 Limitations of Actions
from section 92 "Civil actions can only be commenced within the periods prescribed in this article, after the cause of action shall have accrued; but where, in special cases, a different limitation is prescribed by statute, the action shall be governed by such limitation."
Sections 93-95 offer specific terms of limitation for a variety of civil and real property actions
Criminal Action Statutes of Limitations
Title
22, Chapter 3, Section 151 No Limitation on Prosecution for Murder
Title
22, Chapter 3, Section 152 Limitations in General
for additional information on statutes of limitations for criminal matters refer to Oklahoma Statutes Title 22 Criminal Procedure.
What can and can't I take with me on an airplane?
The Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) maintains a list of prohibited items.
Visit the TSA's What to Know Before You Go page before you travel for helpful tips to get you through the line faster, what is different when traveling with children, acceptable forms of identification and more.
I'm about to travel out of the country, what do I need to know?
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The U.S. State Department has a handy International
Travel A-Z list that answers nearly every question relating to international
travel - from giving birth abroad to packing for your tip, the State Department
is here to help.
Is it safe to travel outside of the U.S.?
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The State Department lets you look at information by country
and provides up to date travel
warnings and travel
alerts.
How can I locate unclaimed property?
For unclaimed property in the State of Oklahoma visit the Unclaimed Property Program through the State Treasurer's office.
The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators can connect you with unclaimed property offices in all 50 states.
How can I file my unemployment claim?
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The Oklahoma Employment
Security Commission handles unemployment claims. Claim applications can
be made online via the Unemployment
Insurance website.
IRS.gov
Forms & Publications
All things form & publication related from IRS.gov
Forms
from the Oklahoma Tax Commission
Current and past years forms for individuals and businesses
I need information about Oklahoma Workers' Compensation.
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The Oklahoma Workers'
Compensation Court website provides information for workers' compensation
claims. Included on this site are necessary forms, laws & charts, and
more.