Okla. Stat. tit. 41 § 13
Attornment of Tenant to Stranger Shall Be Void
Operative Text
The attornment of a tenant to a stranger shall be void, and shall not affect the possession of his landlord unless it be made with the consent of the landlord, or pursuant to a judgment at law, or the order or decree of a court.
Under Oklahoma law, 41 O.S. § 13, a tenant's acknowledgment of a new party as their landlord—known as an "attornment"—has no legal effect unless it occurs with the original landlord's consent, by court judgment, or by court order or decree. In other words, a tenant cannot unilaterally shift their tenancy obligations to a third party who claims ownership or authority over the property. The rule protects the existing landlord's possessory rights from being undermined by unauthorized transfers of tenant loyalty.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under 41 O.S. § 13, property owners and managers generally maintain their possessory rights even if a third party attempts to claim the tenancy without proper legal authority. Compliant operators typically document any consensual transfer of landlord status in writing and ensure that any change in the landlord-tenant relationship is either court-sanctioned or expressly agreed to by all relevant parties. Keeping clear records of ownership and any authorized transitions helps demonstrate that no unauthorized attornment has disrupted the landlord's legal standing.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Oklahoma's 41 O.S. § 13 means that a tenant is generally not legally obligated to recognize a new party as their landlord simply because that party demands it—unless the original landlord has consented, or a court has ordered the change. Tenants who are approached by a stranger claiming landlord authority may have grounds to question that claim's validity under this provision. Consulting a tenant-rights organization or reviewing court records can help clarify whether any transfer of landlord status was properly authorized.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation