For most Sanpete 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 Sanpete 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 Sanpete 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.
Without a recorded beneficiary designation or a trust, Sanpete County property passes through the District Court — even simple Utah probates run 4+ months and start with $375 in filing fees.
A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Sanpete 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.
Deeds and other real property documents for Sanpete County are recorded with the County Recorder at 160 North Main Street, Suite 204, Manti, UT 84642. Phone: 1-435-835-2181 ext. 3. Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM-6:00 PM; Friday 8:00 AM-noon.
The County Recorder charges $45 flat, regardless of page count. Recording a 2-page transfer on death deed in Sanpete County comes to $45. No transfer tax applies to a transfer on death deed.
Sanpete County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile, CSC, Hopdox and ePN.
Recording Office Record
Sanpete County
Hours
Office
Website
E-recording
Fees
Recording fees
| Flat fee (any length) | $45 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | No transfer tax applies to TOD deeds |
Utah Code 17-71-407 (formerly 17-21-18.5)
Verified October 17, 2026 · Source
FirmProvo, UT
Provo firm two blocks from the Provo courthouse, serving Utah County and central Utah. Handles probate and estate administration (petitions to appoint a personal representative, creditor claims, court representation), estate and trust litigation, and guardianships and conservatorships. Family-run since its founding in 1957.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 6 more
Solo PracticeProvo, UT
Provo estate planning practice of attorney Marne Pehrson, with offices in Lehi, Sandy, Salt Lake City, Park City and Heber City, serving Duchesne, Uintah and Daggett counties through virtual meetings and in-person appointments. Drafts wills and trust-based estate plans for parents and homeowners, including guardian nominations for minor children, at flat fees set at the first planning meeting.
PracticesEstate Planning
Solo PracticeOrem, UT
Orem solo practice with a satellite office in Spanish Fork, serving Utah, Juab, Sanpete, Salt Lake and Wasatch counties. Kenneth Prigmore handles probate for families settling a relative's estate, including less expensive alternatives where a full probate is not required, with flat-fee and hourly billing. Also prepares wills, trusts, powers of attorney and trust deeds.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateBusiness LawReal Estate
FirmSt. George, UT
St. George firm with its main office downtown and offices in Mesquite, Nevada, plus by-appointment offices in Hurricane, Cedar City, Panguitch, and Richfield. Practices estate planning alongside business, real estate, and litigation work, with attorneys licensed in Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, and California.
PracticesEstate Planning
FirmDraper, UT
Draper estate planning firm with a second office in Kaysville, working with clients throughout Utah. Handles uncontested informal probate for a $2,000 flat attorney fee plus court filing fees, preparing the paperwork to appoint a personal representative; the firm does not take contested probate, will challenges, or inheritance disputes. Also prepares flat-fee will- and trust-based estate plans.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateSpecial Needs PlanningAsset Protection
FirmProvo, UT
Provo firm of about 20 attorneys serving Utah Valley, with offices in Murray, St. George, and Gilbert, Arizona. Assists executors and administrators through probate, helps trustees meet their deadlines and fiduciary duties, defends trust administrators in litigation, and handles guardianships, conservatorships, Medicaid planning, and elder abuse matters.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 9 more
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.
Data sourced from Utah statutes and official state code. How we research.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Free tools for planning your estate in Utah: will and trust costs, trust or TOD deed, and the signing rules. Run each tool for Utah and read its answer.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Compare what it costs to make a trust official across SimplyTrust, LegalZoom, Trust & Will, Rocket Lawyer, and Quicken WillMaker.
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.
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.
Estate planning articles for Utah.
Estate planning articles for Utah.
