Quick answer

You can verify the math and legal treatment by obtaining the estate accounting and closing documents, checking how the will or Oklahoma intestacy law treats the sale proceeds (gross vs. net), redoing the arithmetic step‑by‑step, and—if needed—asking the court to review the accounting or hiring an attorney. Oklahoma law requires records and gives beneficiaries the ability to request or challenge accountings in probate court.

Detailed answer — what to ask for and what to check

1) Get the right documents

• Final accounting filed with the court (or the informal accounting provided to beneficiaries).
• Home sale closing statement (HUD-1 or Closing Disclosure) showing sale price, buyer credits, real estate commission, and closing costs.
• Recorded payoff statement(s) for any mortgage(s), liens, or judgments paid from sale proceeds.
• Receipts or invoices for repairs, closing/escrow fees, title fees, transfer taxes, and any commissions or fees the personal representative charged or received.
• The decedent’s will (if any) and the probate court file (docket entries, orders authorizing sale, and inventory/appraisement).

2) Understand what “your share” should be applied to: gross vs. net

Determine whether the will or distribution under law gives you a percentage of the “proceeds of sale,” the “net estate,” or a fixed percentage of the entire estate. That language controls whether deductions (mortgage payoff, commissions, repairs, estate debts, administration costs) come off before or after your share is calculated.

3) Typical order of deductions used in Oklahoma probate

Although wording in the will or court orders controls, the usual order is:

1. Payment of closing costs and realtor commissions from sale proceeds.
2. Payoff of mortgages and liens secured by the property.
3. Payment of estate administration expenses (probate court costs, attorney fees, taxes, reasonable repairs to make the property marketable).
4. Remaining cash becomes part of the distributable estate and is split according to the will or intestacy rules.

4) Do the math — simple sample calculation (hypothetical)

Use the documents above and redo the math. Example:

• Sale price: $200,000
• Mortgage payoff: $50,000
• Realtor commission (6%): $12,000
• Repairs/closing/title fees: $6,000
• Net distributable proceeds = 200,000 − 50,000 − 12,000 − 6,000 = $132,000
• If your sibling’s will gives you 50% of the distributable proceeds, your share = 50% × $132,000 = $66,000.

5) What to watch for — common mistakes and red flags

• The executor deducted items that are not estate expenses (personal expenses, unrelated payments).
• Distributions were calculated from gross sale price instead of net distributable proceeds (or vice versa) inconsistent with the will.
• No documentation for big deductions (repairs, repairs billed twice, inflated invoices).
• Executor claimed excessive or unapproved commissions or attorney fees without court approval or statutory basis.
• Required filings (inventory, accounting, petition for allowance of final account) are missing from the probate court file.

6) Your legal rights in Oklahoma and where to look

Under Oklahoma law, the personal representative has duties to collect estate assets, pay valid debts and expenses, and account to the court and beneficiaries. Beneficiaries generally have the right to request and review the accounting and to petition the probate court to compel an accounting or to surcharge an executor for improper acts.

See Oklahoma statutes on wills and administration (Title 58). For the statutory text and related probate rules, consult the Oklahoma Legislature site: Oklahoma Statutes (Title 58, Wills and Administration).

7) If you suspect an error or misconduct

1. Ask the personal representative (in writing) for a detailed accounting and copies of the closing statement, lien payoffs, invoices, and receipts.
2. Compare the accounting to the court file and the documents you received.
3. If answers are incomplete or unsatisfactory, file a motion in the probate court to compel an accounting or to review the final account. A probate court can order corrections, surcharge (money damages) against a personal representative, or other relief.
4. Consider hiring a probate attorney or an accountant to help review complex accounting or to represent you in court.

8) Timing and practical tips

Executors normally complete administration before final distribution, but courts often allow interim distributions with accounting thereafter. Ask whether the amount you received was an interim distribution and whether the executor later filed a final accounting that might change amounts. Keep copies of everything you send and receive.

Helpful Hints

• Request documents in writing and keep a dated record of every request and response.
• Start by redoing the sale closing math (sale price minus mortgage payoff, commissions, closing fees, taxes) — mistakes are often simple arithmetic or omitted payoffs.
• Look at the will’s language closely: “percentage of the proceeds” vs. “percentage of the net estate” matters.
• Check the probate docket online or at the county clerk’s office for filed inventories and accountings.
• If the estate is small, the executor may be entitled only to minimal statutory fees; if fees seem high, ask for the court’s approval records or the statute authorizing them.
• When in doubt about complex deductions (taxes, estate administration costs), consult a probate attorney — many offer an initial consultation.
• Act promptly. Deadlines and statutes of limitation can limit the ability to challenge distributions later.