Estate Planning & Probate in Uintah County, Utah
There are two reasons people look up Uintah County probate: to keep a family out of it, or to get a loved one's estate through it. Pick the path that fits, then work from the local District Court details.
Someone died — settling an estate
Filing probate at the District Court, what it costs, transferring property, and local attorneys.
What to do when someone dies in Uintah County →Planning ahead as a property owner
Keep a Uintah County home out of probate with a transfer-on-death deed or a living trust.
Estate planning in Uintah County →The Probate Process in Uintah County
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Uintah County, probate runs through the District Court at 920 East Highway 40, Vernal. The court sits in the 8th Judicial District. Uintah County shares the 8th Judicial District with Daggett and Duchesne.
Full Uintah County probate guide: cost, how to file & attorneys →Probate Court Record
Uintah County District Court
Uintah County · 8th Judicial District
Phone
Hours
Office
Website
E-filing
Filing in person
Self-represented filing
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Uintah County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Recording Office Record
County Recorder
Uintah County
Phone
Hours
Office
Website
Recording fee
E-recording
Verified October 17, 2026 · Source
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
Uintah County · TriCounty Health Department Vital Records, Vernal
Phone
Hours
Office
Website
Certified copies
Certified copy fee
Full death certificate details →
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
State Medical Examiner
Uintah County · Office of the Medical Examiner
Phone
Hours
Office
Website
Serves this county
Full coroner or medical examiner details →
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Local Procedures at the District Court
The statewide Self-Help Center serves every Utah county by phone, email and text. Its staff attorneys answer questions about the law and court process and help with court forms; they do not give legal advice or represent anyone in court. The text line is 801-742-1898.
Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Utah
Free Utah forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for Utah and download the PDF.
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.
Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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.
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.
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.
Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Utah
Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in Utah: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool for Utah.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Utah: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 90 daysUtah Code §§ 75-3-705, 75-3-706, 75-3-707Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 3 monthsUtah Code §§ 75-3-801, 75-3-803, 75-3-805, 75-3-806Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 4 months to 6 months.
How Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in Utah happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust CodeUtah Code Title 75B, Chapter 2 (Uniform Trust Code)Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 60 daysUtah Code § 75B-2-811 (formerly § 75-7-811; renumbered eff. 5/7/2025)Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
Do I Need Probate?
In Utah, estates valued at $100,000Utah Code § 75-3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less skip probate with the Small Estate AffidavitUtah Code § 75-3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, 30 daysUtah Code § 75-3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death.
Who Inherits Without a Will?
Without a will in Utah, a surviving spouse takes the entire estateUtah Code § 75-2-102Verified Oct 21, 2026View source when every child of either spouse is a child of both, and descendants divide what passes to them per capita at each generationUtah Code § 75-2-106Verified Oct 21, 2026View source.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Utah costs an estimated $27,719Utah Code § 75-3-718 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees run 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 under a reasonable-compensation standard.
Utah Estate Planning Articles
Articles about estate planning, probate, and trusts relevant to families in Uintah County.
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