Oklahoma Statutes
Title 16. Conveyances
§16-4. Necessity of writing and signing - Veterans' loans - Homestead - Joinder of husband and wife - Effect of record for 10 years.

A. No deed, mortgage, or conveyance of real estate or any interest in real estate, other than a lease for a period not to exceed one (1) year, shall be valid unless in writing and subscribed by the grantors. No deed, mortgage, or contract affecting the homestead exempt by law, except a lease for a period not exceeding one (1) year, shall be valid unless in writing and subscribed by both husband and wife, if both are living and not divorced, or legally separated, except as otherwise provided for by law.

B. Unless specifically restricted, an attorney-in-fact may execute a valid deed, mortgage or contract affecting the homestead exempt by law including the principal's personal homestead rights on behalf of:
1. A husband;
2. A wife; or
3. A husband and wife.
C. In order for the execution of an instrument affecting the exempt homestead by an attorney-in-fact to be valid, the power of attorney authorizing execution of a deed, mortgage, or contract affecting the homestead exempt by law shall be recorded with the county clerk of the county or counties in which the affected property is located.
D. Nonjoinder of the spouse shall not invalidate the purchase of a home with mortgage loan insurance furnished by the Veteran's Administration or written contracts and real estate mortgages executed by the spouse of a person who is certified by the United States Department of Defense to be a prisoner of war or missing in action. A deed affecting the homestead shall be valid without the signature of the spouse of the grantor, and the spouse shall be deemed to have consented thereto, when said deed has been recorded in the office of the county clerk of the county in which the real estate is located for a period of ten (10) years prior to a date six (6) months after May 25, 1953, and thereafter when the same shall have been so recorded for a period of ten (10) years, and no action shall have been instituted within said time in any court of record having jurisdiction seeking to cancel, avoid, or invalidate such deed by reason of the alleged homestead character of the real estate at the time of such conveyance.
R.L. 1910, § 1143. Amended by Laws 1945, p. 40, § 1; Laws 1953, p. 64, § 1; Laws 1973, c. 24, § 1, emerg. eff. April 17, 1973; Laws 1983, c. 309, § 1, operative Oct. 1, 1983; Laws 1997, c. 80, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1997.

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