Estate Planning for Davis County, Utah Property Owners

For most Davis County homeowners, the house is what drags an estate into probate. A transfer-on-death deed or a living trust keeps it out—here is how to set up either one and record it locally.

For a Davis County property owner, the biggest probate risk is the home itself. Real estate is what forces most families into the District Court. The two tools that keep a Davis County home out of probate are a transfer-on-death deed recorded with the County Recorder, and a revocable living trust that holds title to the property.

Skipping this planning step means the District Court decides who receives the property: a simple Utah probate takes 4+ months and opens with $375 in court filing fees.

Record a Transfer-on-Death Deed in Davis County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Davis County property automatically at the owner's death, without probate. It is recorded with the County Recorder during the owner's lifetime and can be revoked at any time.

Before recording, an Utah transfer on death deed is signed with notary acknowledgmentUtah Code 75-6-401 to 75-6-419Verified Oct 19, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded before the owner's deathUtah Code 75-6-401 to 75-6-419Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for Davis County are recorded with the County Recorder at 61 South Main Street, Suite 106, Farmington, UT 84025. Phone: 1-801-451-3225. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.

Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 618, Farmington, UT 84025.

The County Recorder charges $45 flat, regardless of page count. A 2-page transfer on death deed costs $45 to record in Davis County. No transfer tax applies to a transfer on death deed.

Davis County accepts electronic recording.

Recording Office Record

County Recorder

Davis County

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM

Office

61 South Main Street, Suite 106, Farmington, UT 84025

E-recording

available

Mail

P.O. Box 618 Farmington, UT 84025

Verified October 17, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Davis County

Solo PracticeBountiful, UT

Able & Strong Law, Inc.

Serves 3 counties

Bountiful firm serving Davis, Salt Lake, and Weber counties, with a practice built around people with disabilities and their families. Handles probate for personal representatives, estate litigation over wills, trusts, and a personal representative's actions, and guardianship and conservatorship petitions. Also files Social Security Disability claims and drafts special needs trusts.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 3 more

Office
380 N 200 W, #102Bountiful, UT 84010
Free consultation

Solo PracticeSalt Lake City, UT

Alder Law Group

Serves 2 counties

Salt Lake City estate planning practice of attorney James P. Alder, with offices in Sugarhouse and Bountiful. Handles probate and estate and trust administration: opening the estate, presenting the will, inventorying assets, and paying creditors, alongside guardianships, conservatorships, and Medicaid planning. Initial calls and consultations can be held by telephone or Zoom.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 5 more

Office
3216 S. Highland DriveSalt Lake City, UT 84106
Free consultationVirtual consultations

FirmOgden, UT

Froerer & Miles

Since 1979 · Serves 2 counties

Ogden firm that has practiced in the Weber and Davis County courts since 1979, serving Ogden, Layton, Clinton and Syracuse. Advises executors and administrators through informal and formal probate, small estate affidavits, creditor claims, estate tax returns and distribution, and handles contested will and trust litigation. Bills probate at a flat fee where the case allows.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 6 more

Office
2661 Washington Blvd, Suite 201Ogden, UT 84401
Free consultation

FirmSouth Ogden, UT

Helgesen, Houtz & Jones

Since 1982 · Serves 3 counties

Northern Utah firm founded in 1982, with offices in South Ogden and Kaysville serving Weber, Davis and Morgan counties. Guides families through Utah probate, from appointment of a personal representative to payment of debts and transfer of property to heirs, and handles probate disputes over wills, appointments and accountings. Two partners have more than 50 years combined in Utah probate.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationElder Lawand 4 more

Office
5732 S 1475 E, Suite 200South Ogden, UT 84403
Free consultationVirtual consultations

FirmOgden, UT

Kaufman, Nichols & Kaufman, PLLC

Since 1979 · Serves 3 counties

Ogden firm serving Weber, Davis and Box Elder Counties. Handles formal and informal probate, advises personal representatives on their duties, works through creditor claims, and represents any party when a will is contested or a personal representative's administration is disputed, including out-of-state heirs with Utah assets. The firm began in 1979 as Farr, Kaufman, and Hamilton.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 6 more

Office
205 26th St, #34Ogden, UT 84401

FirmLayton, UT

LeBaron & Jensen, P.C.

Since 2004 · Serves 3 counties

Layton firm serving Davis, Weber and Salt Lake Counties, with a second office in Evanston, Wyoming. Its trust and estate litigators handle will contests, probate and estate litigation, trust disputes and contested claims against estates, and the firm also handles probate and drafts wills, trusts and asset protection trusts. Formed in 2004 by L. Miles LeBaron and Tyler J. Jensen.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 4 more

Office
1241 North Main StreetLayton, UT 84041
Free consultation
See all 19 firms serving Davis County →

Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.

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Legal Sources

Data sourced from Utah statutes and official state code. How we research.

Forms for Planning Your Estate in Utah

Free forms for planning your estate in Utah: will, living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney and TOD deed. Prepare each form for Utah.

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Last Will and Testament

In Utah, a will is signed before 2Utah Code § 75-2-502Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyUtah Code § 75-2-502Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.

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Codicil to a Will

In Utah, a codicil is signed before 2Utah Code § 75-2-502Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, like a will, and the self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyUtah Code § 75-2-504Verified Oct 25, 2026View source.

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Healthcare Power of Attorney

Utah requires 1Utah Code § 75A-9-110 (formerly § 75A-3-303)Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witness for a healthcare power of attorney; notarization is not requiredUtah Code § 75A-9-110 (formerly § 75A-3-303)Verified Oct 15, 2026View source.

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HIPAA Release

In Utah, a HIPAA release names who may receive your records; the state regulates HIV/AIDS-related information, mental health records and substance abuse treatment recordsUtah Code § 26B-7-217(1), (2)(a) (Renumbered & Amended by Ch. 308, 2023 Gen. Sess.); Utah Code § 58-60-114(1) (Amended by Ch. 329, 2023 Gen. Sess.); Utah Code § 62A-15-707(1) (Renumbered 5/3/2023)Verified Jun 19, 2026View source above the federal rule, and the document carries each rule.

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Financial Power of Attorney

Utah treats a power of attorney as durable by defaultUtah Code § 75A-2-105Verified Sep 20, 2026View source, and it is signed before a notaryUtah Code § 75A-2-105Verified Sep 20, 2026View source.

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Transfer on Death Deed

In Utah, a transfer on death deed is signed before a notaryUtah Code 75-6-401 to 75-6-419Verified Oct 19, 2026View source, then recorded with the county before the owner's deathUtah Code 75-6-401 to 75-6-419Verified Oct 19, 2026View source. Utah does not recognize a Lady Bird deed.

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Living Will

In Utah, the living will is the Advance Health Care DirectiveUtah Code Title 75A, Ch. 9 (Uniform Health Care Decisions Act), §§ 75A-9-101 to 75A-9-129 (S.B. 134, 2025 General Session, effective January 1, 2026)Verified Sep 27, 2026View source, a written instruction that is valid with no agent named.

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Pour-Over Will

In Utah, a pour-over will is signed before 2Utah Code § 75-2-502Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.

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How Do I Sign Estate Documents?

In Utah, a will is signed before 2Utah Code § 75-2-502Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and notarization is not requiredUtah Code § 75-2-502Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.

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Will My Estate Documents Transfer?

Utah recognizes a will signed under the law of the place where it was signedUtah Code § 75-2-506Verified Oct 19, 2026View source; a will signed in Utah itself needs 2Utah Code § 75-2-502Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and notarization is not requiredUtah Code § 75-2-502Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.

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Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?

In Utah, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of typically 2.2%Modeled estimate under Utah Code § 75-3-718 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.5%Modeled estimate under Utah Code § 75-3-718 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.

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How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?

An attorney-prepared revocable living trust in Utah runs $3,580Estimate: 10 hours at $358, Clio's Utah Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $5,370Estimate: 15 hours at $358, Clio's Utah Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source for an individual, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.

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An attorney-prepared will in Utah runs $1,167Estimate: 3 hours at $389, Clio's Utah Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,334Estimate: 6 hours at $389, Clio's Utah Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $299 up front with an online service, and probate on a $500,000 estate adds about $27,719Utah Code § 75-3-718 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.

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In Utah, a parent names a guardian for a minor child in a will or a separate signed writingUtah Code §§ 75-5-202, 75-5-202.5, 75-5-203, 75-5-204Verified Sep 16, 2026View source, and the nomination covers the child until the age of majority, 18Utah Code § 15-2-1Verified Sep 16, 2026View source.

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Do I Need a Revocable Trust?

Probate in Utah takes 4 months to 6 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of typically 2.2%Modeled estimate under Utah Code § 75-3-718 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.5%Modeled estimate under Utah Code § 75-3-718 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.

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