Is there a way to avoid probate appointment in Utah?

Yes. A revocable living trust passes assets to beneficiaries without any court appointment — no petition, no Letters, no bond. A revocable trust built with SimplyTrust takes about 15 minutes.

How Do I Get Appointed as Executor in Utah?

See the appointing court, the petition that opens the estate, what to file, and bond rules to be appointed in your state.

Got the Letters? Run the whole estate from here.

State

Document Type

Getting Appointed in Utah

Personal Representative (executor if testate, administrator if intestate)

Where you file

Utah District Court (the county where the decedent resided or owned property)

The form that opens the estate

1002ESApplication for Informal Probate of Will and Informal Appointment of Personal Representative · Attorney-drafted pleading · View source

What the court issues (with a will)

Letters Testamentaryissued by District court — the registrar in informal proceedings; Letters issue after the personal representative files an Acceptance of Appointment (1008ES)

Letters are an output — the court issues them after granting the petition.

At a glance

UPC adoptedInformal trackE-filingSelf-represented filingLocal/county forms

E-filing is mandatory for attorneys in civil/probate/domestic cases but optional for self-represented filers, who may use MyCase (the self-represented e-filing portal) or file by paper/email. E-filing is available statewide.

Bond

Required before Letters: No
Waivable by will: Yes
Waivable by beneficiaries: No

Other official forms

Informal application: 1002ES (with will) / 1001ES (no will); Statement of Informal Probate 1007ES (with will) / 1006ES (no will)View source
Letters form: 1010ES / 1009ESView source

What to file with the petition

Certified copy of the death certificate
Original will and any codicils (where there is a will) (Utah Code 75-3-301(3))
Utah District Court Cover Sheet for Probate Actions
Acceptance of Appointment as Personal Representative (1008ES) — required before Letters issue (Utah Code 75-3-601)
Waiver of Notice / Renunciation or Nomination from persons with equal or higher priority (1006/1007 series renunciation forms)
Bond only if required by the will, demanded by an interested party, or ordered (Utah Code 75-3-603, 75-3-605)

Small-estate alternative

Bypasses full Letters: Yes
Form: 1110XXView source
Form name: Affidavit for Collecting Personal Property in a Small Estate Proceeding

State-specific notes

Two tracks: INFORMAL (registrar, no hearing) is the default and is fully form-driven; FORMAL testacy/appointment (Utah Code 75-3-401, 75-3-402) is contested litigation decided after notice and hearing and is drafted to statute with no statewide fillable petition form. Utah Code 75-3-601: "Prior to receiving letters, a personal representative shall qualify by filing with the appointing court any required bond and a statement of acceptance of the duties of the office" — which is the Acceptance of Appointment (1008ES); the court then issues 1010ES (Letters Testamentary) with a will or 1009ES (Letters of Administration) without. Timing: no proceeding more than three years after death (75-3-107(1)), and the registrar may not order an informal appointment until 10 days after the 75-3-310 notice, or 120 hours after death if everyone entitled to notice has waived it in writing (75-3-307(1)). Venue is the county of the decedent's domicile at death, or (nonresident) any county where the decedent's property was located (75-3-201(1)). Small estates up to $100,000 (Utah Code 75-3-1201) use a collection-by-affidavit presented to third parties, not the court, and never produce Letters; it cannot transfer real property.

A revocable living trust passes assets to your family without this court appointment process — no petition, no Letters, no bond.

Create a Revocable Trust in 15 minutes

This tool provides general information about how a personal representative is appointed and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.Data verified 2026-07-15

Frequently Asked Questions

Utah has no single statewide fill-in petition; the opening document is prepared to statute and filed with the Utah District Court (the county where the decedent resided or owned property). After the court grants the petition, District court — the registrar in informal proceedings; Letters issue after the personal representative files an Acceptance of Appointment (1008ES) issues your Letters Testamentary (with a will) or Letters of Administration (without a will).

Along with the petition, Utah generally requires: Certified copy of the death certificate; Original will and any codicils (where there is a will) (Utah Code 75-3-301(3)); Utah District Court Cover Sheet for Probate Actions; Acceptance of Appointment as Personal Representative (1008ES) — required before Letters issue (Utah Code 75-3-601); Waiver of Notice / Renunciation or Nomination from persons with equal or higher priority (1006/1007 series renunciation forms); Bond only if required by the will, demanded by an interested party, or ordered (Utah Code 75-3-603, 75-3-605).

Utah does not require a bond by default before Letters issue, though the court can order one.

Utah permits self-represented filers to open an estate. E-filing is available. The Self-File Probate Assessment compares self-filing and attorney costs for Utah.

Yes. A revocable living trust passes assets to beneficiaries without any court appointment in Utah — no petition, no Letters, no bond. A revocable trust built with SimplyTrust takes about 15 minutes.

Getting Appointed in Utah

In Utah, a personal representative is appointed by the Utah District Court (the county where the decedent resided or owned property). District court — the registrar in informal proceedings; Letters issue after the personal representative files an Acceptance of Appointment (1008ES) issues the Letters that prove authority over the estate — Letters Testamentary when there is a will, Letters of Administration when there is not. Utah's Uniform Probate Code adoption status: Yes.

Utah publishes no single statewide fill-in petition; the opening document is prepared to statute and filed with the court. The court filing fee runs $375, and an informal appointment track for qualifying estates is available: Yes.

Utah does not require a bond by default before Letters issue, though the court can order one where it is needed to protect creditors or heirs.

Estates under $100,000 in Utah may qualify for a simplified procedure that avoids a full appointment entirely (1110XX). See the self-file probate assessment for a Utah cost comparison.

SimplyTrust Editorial·Updated July 14, 2026

Legal Sources

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

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Utah Estate Planning Resources

In-depth guides covering Utah probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.

How Do I Get Appointed as Executor in Utah?

Getting Appointed in UtahUtah Code 75-3-301 (informal application to registrar); 75-3-401, 75-3-402 (formal testacy & appointment petition); 75-3-103, 75-3-601 (qualification & Letters)Verified Jul 15, 2026View source

At a glance

BondUtah Code 75-3-603 (bond not required — exceptions); 75-3-604 (amount); 75-3-605 (demand for bond)Verified Jul 15, 2026View source

Other official forms

What to file with the petition

Small-estate alternative

State-specific notes

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this your situation?

Named as Executor

Your kids shouldn't have to do this.

Utah Estate Planning Resources

Getting Appointed in UtahUtah Code 75-3-301 (informal application to registrar); 75-3-401, 75-3-402 (formal testacy & appointment petition); 75-3-103, 75-3-601 (qualification & Letters)Verified Jul 15, 2026View source

At a glance

BondUtah Code 75-3-603 (bond not required — exceptions); 75-3-604 (amount); 75-3-605 (demand for bond)Verified Jul 15, 2026View source

Other official forms

What to file with the petition

Small-estate alternative

State-specific notes

Is this your situation?

Named as Executor

Getting Appointed in Utah

Bond

Getting Appointed in Utah

Bond