For most Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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, Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington County are recorded with the County Recorder at 111 East Tabernacle Street, St. George, UT 84770. Phone: 1-435-301-7680. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.
The County Recorder charges $45 flat, regardless of page count. Recording a 2-page transfer on death deed in Washington County comes to $45. No transfer tax applies to a transfer on death deed.
Washington County accepts electronic recording through CSC, Indecomm and Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
Washington County
Phone
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
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
FirmSt. George, UT
St. George firm founded in 2004, where M. Sean Sullivan practices only estate planning, probate, asset protection, guardianships, conservatorships, and fiduciary rights. Handles probate and estate administration, from appointment of the personal representative through inventory, debts, and closing. Consultations are free except one-hour consultations with Brent Brindley, which cost $100.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateConservatorshipGuardianshipand 2 more
Solo PracticeSt. George, UT
St. George estate planning practice of attorney Ben E. Connor serving Washington County, with a second office in Scottsdale, Arizona. Handles probate and estate settlement, including informal probate and small estate affidavits, alongside revocable living trusts, supplemental needs trusts, and Utah asset protection trusts. Connor has practiced estate planning for 29 years.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateSpecial Needs PlanningAsset Protection
FirmCedar City, UT
Cedar City office of a Nevada estate and probate firm, serving Iron, Kane, Washington, Beaver and Garfield counties through a partnership with W. Kent Corry, who has practiced in the area for over 40 years. Handles probate and the trust administration that follows a death, including creditor notices, specific bequests and estate tax returns. Most matters can be handled virtually.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 4 more
Solo PracticeCedar City, UT
Cedar City office serving Iron, Washington, Beaver and Kane Counties in southern Utah. Attorney James W. Jensen drafts wills, codicils, living trusts and living wills, works through estate tax issues and the choice of an executor, and names guardians for minor children; the firm lists no probate or estate administration work. Also practises real estate and business law.
PracticesEstate PlanningTax PlanningBusiness LawReal Estate
FirmSt. George, UT
St. George firm focused on trust, estate and tax matters, serving Washington, Iron, Kane and Garfield counties. Handles probate and trust administration, including valuing estate assets, managing the estate's tax responsibilities, and defending the estate or heirs in court when disagreements arise. Planning work includes Medicaid planning, special needs trusts and asset protection trusts.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 7 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.
